On blocking sets of external lines to a hyperbolic quadric in PG\((3,q), \, q\) even (Q1021352)

This article characterizes the smallest blocking sets in PG\((3,q)\), \(q\) even, with respect to the external lines to a hyperbolic quadric in PG\((3,q)\). This article uses the result of \textit{M. Giulietti} [Eur. J. Comb. 28, No. 1, 36--42 (2007; Zbl 1113.51004)] on the smallest blocking sets with respect to the external lines to a conic in PG\((2,q)\), \(q\) even. More general, this article is situated within a larger group of articles on the smallest blocking sets with respect to particular line sets with respect to a conic in PG\((2,q)\), and on the smallest blocking sets with respect to the external lines to a quadric in PG\((d,q)\), such as [\textit{P. Biondi, P. M. Lo Re} and \textit{L. Storme}, Innov. Incidence Geom. 5, 1--11 (2007; Zbl 1159.51005)].