Spreads and classes of maximal subgroups ofGLn(q),SLn(q),PGLn(q) andPSLn(q)

SummaryIf r divides n then the points of PG(n−1, q) can be partitioned by the (r−1)-subspaees of a classical spread Sr. The underlying finite geometry of this configuration, in particular the orbits of lines, is used to prove that if r is a proper prime divisor of n then the stabilizers of Sr in PGLn(g) and PSLn(q) are maximal subgroups of PGLn(q) and PSLn(q respectively. Special attention is needed for the case of PSLn(q) when n/r=2 and r divides q− 1. An explicit description is found for the stablizers.