On generalized hexagons of order $(3, t)$ and $(4, t)$ containing a subhexagon

Abstract

We prove that there are no semi-finite generalized hexagons with $q + 1$ points on each line containing the known generalized hexagons of order $q$ as full subgeometries when $q$ is equal to $3$ or $4$, thus contributing to the existence problem of semi-finite generalized polygons posed by Tits. The case when $q$ is equal to $2$ was treated by us in an earlier work, for which we give an alternate proof. For the split Cayley hexagon of order $4$ we obtain the stronger result that it cannot be contained as a proper full subgeometry in any generalized hexagon.