Exponentiality of algebraic groups (Q1125869)

A connected real Lie group \(G\) is called exponential if the exponential map from the Lie algebra of \(G\) to \(G\) is surjective. The question of which connected real Lie groups are exponential has long been a matter of interest and was investigated by several authors. Exponentiality can be reformulated in different ways, and one of these leads to the following definition for algebraic groups, where the exponential map is in general not even defined. Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero and \(G\) an algebraic group defined over \(k\). Then \(G\) is said to be exponential if each point of \(G\) lies on some Zariski closed connected Abelian \(k\)-subgroup. In the paper under review, the author studies exponentiality of algebraic groups over \(k\), and he obtains various interesting results of which we list some. Firstly, analogous to the real Lie group case, Zariski connected nilpotent groups over \(k\) turn out to be exponential. Turning to complex algebraic groups, the author produces a number of exponential algebraic groups such as the affine group. He also shows that if a complex connected algebraic group has the property that \((\exp X-1)/X\) is invertible for each \(X\) in the Lie algebra of a Levi factor, then \(G\) is exponential. In addition, the converse question is addressed, namely, which properties are forced by exponentiality. In this direction, it is shown that if \(G\) is an exponential connected linear algebraic group over \(\mathbb{C}\) which is either reductive or whose Levi factor is semisimple, then the centre of \(G\) is connected. This result has interesting consequences. For instance, let \(G\) be a connected reductive complex linear algebraic group and \(B\) a Borel subgroup. Then \(G\) is exponential if and only if \(B\) is. Moreover, since a complex semisimple Lie group \(G\) can be realized as a connected linear algebraic group over \(\mathbb{Q}\), if such a \(G\) is exponential, it must be the adjoint group.