Generalised polygons admitting a point-primitive almost simple group of Suzuki or Ree type

Abstract

Let $G$ be a collineation group of a thick finite generalised hexagon or generalised octagon $\Gamma$. If $G$ acts primitively on the points of $\Gamma$, then a recent result of Bamberg et al. shows that $G$ must be an almost simple group of Lie type. We show that, furthermore, the minimal normal subgroup $S$ of $G$ cannot be a Suzuki group or a Ree group of type $^2\text{G}_2$, and that if $S$ is a Ree group of type $^2\text{F}_4$, then $\Gamma$ is (up to point--line duality) the classical Ree--Tits generalised octagon.