A construction of certain maximal subgroups of the algebraic groups \(E_ 6\) and \(F_ 4\) (Q1120676)

This article completes the author's work [Mem. Am. Math Soc. 390 (1988; Zbl 0662.20037)] where all possible closed subgroups of exceptional algebraic groups of nonzero characteristic acting irreducibly on some nontrivial rational module for the overgroup are determined. There in three cases \((A_ 2<E_ 6\), \(G_ 2<E_ 6\) and \(G_ 2<F_ 4)\) the proof of the existence of an appropriate subgroup was omitted; this is contained here. The case of classical groups was settled by \textit{G. Seitz} [in ibid. 365 (1987; Zbl 0624.20022)]. The analogous problem for algebraic groups in characteristic zero was solved by \textit{E. B. Dynkin} [in Mat. Sb., Nov. Ser. 30(72), 349-462 (1952; Zbl 0048.017); English translation: Transl., II. Ser., Am. Math. Soc. 6, 111-243 (1957)]. Thus all irreducible embeddings of semisimple algebraic groups are known now. Let k be a field of characteristic p, \(\bar k\) be the algebraic closure of k. The main results of the paper are the following. a) If \(p\neq 2\), 7 and \((-7)^{1/2}\in k\), the group \(E_ 6(k)\) has a subgroup isomorphic to \(G_ 2(k)\) which acts irreducibly on the restricted 27-dimensional rational modules for the group \(E_ 6(\bar k)\). If \(k=\bar k\), the group \(E_ 6(k)\) has two conjugacy classes of such subgroups; these subgroups are maximal among closed connected subgroups of \(E_ 6(k)\) and the two classes are conjugate in \(Aut(E_ 6(k)).\) b) If \(p\neq 2,5\) and \((-1)^{1/2}\in k\), the group \(E_ 6(k)\) has a subgroup isomorphic to \(PSL_ 2(k)\) which acts irreducibly on the modules from point a). If \(k=\bar k\), the group \(E_ 6(k)\) has exactly two conjugacy classes of such subgroups; these subgroups are maximal among closed connected subgroups of \(E_ 6(k)\) iff \(p\neq 3\); the two classes are conjugate in \(Aut(E_ 6(k))\). If \(p=5\), \(k=\bar k\), two conjugacy classes of subgroups of type \(A_ 2\) which are maximal among closed connected subgroups of \(E_ 6(k)\) and act reducibly on every nontrivial rational \(E_ 6(k)\)-module are constructed. These classes are conjugate in \(Aut(E_ 6(k)).\) c) If \(p=7\), the group \(F_ 4(k)\) has a subgroup isomorphic to \(G_ 2(k)\) which acts irreducibly on the restricted 26-dimensional rational module for \(F_ 4(\bar k)\). If \(k=\bar k\), all such subgroups are conjugate in \(F_ 4(k)\) and they are maximal among closed connected subgroups of \(F_ 4(k).\) Detailed information on irreducible representations of the groups \(E_ 6(k)\), \(F_ 4(k)\), \(G_ 2(k)\) and \(A_ 2(k)\) which appear in the paper is given in the appendix. The proofs of the main results are based on the study of embeddings of parabolic subgroups.