Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 April 2006
We prove that the permutation representation of the finite orthogonal group $\Omega^{\varepsilon}(n,q)$, where $\varepsilon=+$ or $-$, on the set of anisotropic lines is multiplicity-free, if q is a power of 2 and $n\ge 6$ is even. This result is established by giving a description of orbitals of this action. The rank of this action is $(q^2+2q)/2$ if $\varepsilon=+$ and $n=6$, and $(q^2+2q+2)/2$ otherwise. Moreover, we compute the subdegrees of the orbitals of $\Omega^{\varepsilon}(n,q)$.