Aspects of the conjugacy class structure of simple algebraic groups. (Q968249): Difference between revisions

Let \(G\) be an adjoint simple algebraic group over an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p\), \(\Phi\) the root system of \(G\), and \(t\in\mathbb{N}\). Lawther has proven that the dimension of the set \(G_{[t]}=\{g\in G:g^t=1\}\) depends only on \(\Phi\) and \(t\). In particular the dimension is independent of \(p\); which was observed for small \(t\) by Liebeck. Since \(G_{[t]}\) is clearly a disjoint union of conjugacy classes, the question arises whether a similar result holds if we replace \(G_{[t]}\) by one of those classes. This paper provides a partial answer to that question. E.g., take \(p,q\) to be distinct primes and \(G_p\) and \(G_q\) to be adjoint simple algebraic groups with the same root system and over algebraically closed fields of characteristic \(p\) and \(q\), respectively. If \(s\in G_p\) has order \(q\) then there exists an element \(u\in G_q\) of the same order such that \(\dim u^{G_q}=\dim s^{G_p}\).