On Non Generic Finite Subgroups Of Exceptional Algebraic Groups

This paper is a contribution to the study of the subgroup structure of excep-tional algebraic groups over algebraically closed fields of arbitrary characteristic. Following Serre, a closed subgroup of a semisimple algebraic group G is called irreducible if it lies in no proper parabolic subgroup of G. In this paper we com-plete the classification of irreducible connected subgroups of exceptional algebraic groups, providing an explicit set of representatives for the conjugacy classes of such subgroups. Many consequences of this classification are also given. These include results concerning the representations of such subgroups on various G-modules: for example, the conjugacy classes of irreducible connected subgroups are determined by their composition factors on the adjoint module of G, with one exception. A result of Liebeck and Testerman shows that each irreducible connected sub-group X of G has only finitely many overgroups and hence the overgroups of X form a lattice. We provide tables that give representatives of each conjugacy class of connected overgroups within this lattice structure. We use this to prove results concerning the subgroup structure of G: for example, when the characteristic is 2, there exists a maximal connected subgroup of G containing a conjugate of every irreducible subgroup A1 of G.

The theory of simple algebraic groups is important in many areas of mathematics. The authors of this book investigate the subgroups of certain types of simple algebraic groups and obtain a complete description of all those subgroups which are themselves simple. This description is particularly useful in understanding centralizers of subgroups and restrictions of representations.

View the abstract.

The goal of this book is the determination of the maximal closed connected subgroups of the simple algebraic groups of exceptional type. The main result recovers the results of Dynkin and extends them to cover the case of algebraic groups over algebraically closed fields of positive characteristic.

Let [italic]Y be a simply-connected, simple algebraic group of exceptional type, defined over an algebraically closed field [italic]k of prime characteristic [italic]p > 0. The main result describes all semisimple, closed connected subgroups of [italic]Y which act irreducibly on some rational [italic]k[italic]Y module [italic]V. This extends work of Dynkin who obtained a similar classification for algebraically closed fields of characteristic 0. The main result has been combined with work of G. Seitz to obtain a classification of the maximal closed connected subgroups of the classical algebraic groups defined over [italic]k.

In this paper, we complete the determination of the maximal subgroups of positive dimension in simple algebraic groups of exceptional type over algebraically closed fields. This follows work of Dynkin, who solved the problem in characteristic zero, and Seitz who did likewise over fields whose characteristic is not too small. A number of consequences are obtained. It follows from the main theorem that a simple algebraic group over an algebraically closed field has only finitely many conjugacy classes of maximal subgroups of positive dimension. It also follows that the maximal subgroups of sufficiently large order in finite exceptional groups of Lie type are known.

This volume contains 19 articles written by speakers at the Advanced Study Institute on 'Modular representations and subgroup structure of al gebraic groups and related finite groups' held at the Isaac Newton Institute, Cambridge from 23rd June to 4th July 1997. We acknowledge with gratitude the financial support given by the NATO Science Committee to enable this ASI to take place. Generous financial support was also provided by the European Union. We are also pleased to acknowledge funds given by EPSRC to the Newton Institute which were used to support the meeting. It is a pleasure to thank the Director of the Isaac Newton Institute, Professor Keith Moffatt, and the staff of the Institute for their dedicated work which did so much to further the success of the meeting. The editors wish to thank Dr. Ross Lawther and Dr. Nick Inglis most warmly for their help in the production of this volume. Dr. Lawther in particular made an invaluable contribution in preparing the volume for submission to the publishers. Finally we wish to thank the distinguished speakers at the ASI who agreed to write articles for this volume based on their lectures at the meet ing. We hope that the volume will stimulate further significant advances in the theory of algebraic groups.