Second Order Zarankiewicz Number

We introduce the \emph{second order Zarankiewicz number} $z_2(m,n)$ for irreducible doubly simple biquadratic forms with $\mathrm{\mid }{E}_1\mathrm{\mid }=z(m,n)$, and the intermediate recursive-line parameter $z_{RL}(m,n)$. They satisfy the unconditional hierarchy $$\mathrm{BSR}(m,n)\ge z_2(m,n)\ge z_{RL}(m,n)\ge z_{wL}(m,n)\ge z(m,n),$$ where $z_{RL}$ is defined directly by the strengthened recursive rectangle criterion $(RW{3}^{+})$ together with the conditions $(S)$ and $C_4$-freeness of $G_1$. We show that $(RW{3}^{+})$ is sound and strictly weaker than the literal weak cross-cell test $(W3)$ on the weak-admissible class. At $(5,4)$ this yields the strict separation $$z_{RL}(5,4)=13>12=z_{wL}(5,4)\mathrm{.}$$ In three columns this yields $$z_2(m,3)=z_{RL}(m,3)=2m\text{for all }m\ge 3,$$ with strict separation from $z_{wL}(m,3)$ for every $m\ge 10$, and exact gap $\lfloor (m-3)\mathrm{/}3\rfloor$ for $m\ge 16$. Further finite computations give $z_{RL}(5,5)=17$, $z_{RL}(7,4)=19$, and $z_{RL}(7,7)\ge 32>28=z_{wL}(7,7)$. Along $N=2p$ with $p$ an odd prime, we obtain the cubic asymptotic separation $$z_2\text{\hspace{0.17em}⁣}(\left(\genfrac{}{}{0px}{}{N}{2}\right),N)-z_{wL}\text{\hspace{0.17em}⁣}(\left(\genfrac{}{}{0px}{}{N}{2}\right),N)\ge (\frac{1}{16}-o(1))N^3\mathrm{.}$$ The conjectural equality $z_2=z_{RL}$ is supported by the exact two-column, three-column, and odd-prime incidence families.