Complete reducibility and subgroups of exceptional algebraic groups
The paper under review is a survey aimed to outline the results related to the study of the subgroup structure of exceptional algebraic groups. In the paper, the main tool for this study is given by the notions of \(G\)-complete reducibility, \(G\)-irreducibility and related to them the concept of \(G\)-indecomposable group.\N\NThe idea of \(G\)-complete reducibility arising in [\textit{J. P. Serre}, ``1998 Moursund Lectures at the University of Oregon, Preprint, \url{arXiv:math/0305257}] generalizes the property of a representation \( \rho\colon H\rightarrow \Gamma = \mathrm{GL}( V ) \) of a group \(H\) being complete reducible, by restating the definition in terms of the relationship between the subgroup \( \rho ( H )\le \Gamma \) and the parabolic subgroups of \( \Gamma \). More precisely, let \(G\) be a connected reductive algebraic group over an algebraically closed field. A subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) is called \(G\)-completely reducible (\(G\)-cr) if, whenever \(H\) is contained in a parabolic subgroup \(P\) of \(G\), there exists a Levi subgroup \(L\) of \(P\) with \( H\subseteq L\). Similarly, \(H\) is called \(G\)-irreducible (\(G\)-irr) if \(H\) is contained in no proper parabolic subgroup of \(G\). Along with this line, \(H\) is \(G\)-reducible if it is not \(G\)-irr. Finally, \(H\) is \(G\)-indecomposable if \(H\) is in no proper Levi subgroup of \(G\) and \(G\)-decomposable otherwise.\N\NIn the first part of the paper, these notions are highlighted for the situation of classical linear groups. In addition, the paper contains the results on the interrelationship between \(G\)-cr, \(G\)-irr and \(G\)-indecomposable groups and different concepts used in the theory of algebraic groups. In particular, it provides the explanation of the importance which the notion of reductive algebraic group has for the study of general algebraic groups. The strategy for classifying semisimple subgroups viewing the cases of \(G\)-cr subgroups and non-\(G\)-cr subgroups is given. Abelian and non-abelian homologies are treated as a significant part for the achievement of the purpose of the paper.\N\NThe second part of the paper is devoted to the subgroup structure of exceptional algebraic groups itself, maximal subgroups being handled first. Then, the connected \(G\)-irreducible subgroups together with \(G\)-conjugacy and non-\(G\)-completely irreducible subgroups are considered. Also, the paper covers the results related to semisimple subgroups with no proper reductive groups as well as the results about unipotent elements in exceptional algebraic groups. All of this stems from the fact that the rank of any simple group \(G\) of exceptional type is at most \(8\) and consequently, any semisimple subgroup \( H\le G \) is of rank at most \(8\) too. As an example of the general theory application, the authors expose the results concerning finite subgroups, groups of Lie type along with the results on the structure of Lie algebras of exceptional algebraic groups.\N\NThe article under review is supplied with a vast bibliography which allows it to serve as a good introduction to the subject under discussion.\N\NFor the entire collection see [Zbl 1555.20001].
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