Simple Lie algebras having extremal elements (Q1005522)

Let \(L\) be a Lie algebra over a field \(\mathbb F\) of characteristic distinct from 2. An element \(x\in L\) is said to be extremal if \([x, [x, L]]\subseteq \mathbb Fx\). If \([x, [x, L]]=0\) then \(x\) is said to be a sandwich. By Premet, every finite-dimensional simple Lie algebra over an algebraically closed field of characteristic distinct from 2 and 3 is known to have an extremal element. If a simple Lie algebra is finite-dimensional and generated by extremal elements then it is of classical type. This fact follows from the classification of finite dimensional simple Lie algebras, it can be also derived from geometric arguments using the theory of buildings. Now the authors prove an independent result in direction of a revision of the classification of simple Lie algebras of classical type. The current proof closes a gap in a geometric proof that every simple Lie algebra containing no sandwiches is in fact of classical type. Theorem. Let \(\mathbb F\) be a field of characteristic distinct from 2 and 3, and let \(L\) be a simple Lie algebra over \(\mathbb F\). Suppose that \(L\) contains an extremal element that is not a sandwich. Then \(\mathbb F\) either has characteristic 5 and \(L\) is isomorphic to the 5-dimensional Witt algebra \(W_{1,1}(5)\), or \(L\) is generated by extremal elements.