A reduction theorem for the chain length of an odd characteristic Lie type group (Q1320150)

The author considers the maximal length \(l(G)\) of a chain of subgroups \(G = G_ 0 > G_ 1 > \dots > G_ k = 1\) in a finite group of Lie type in arbitrary odd characteristic. His study is focused on groups which have hyperbolic length and the author promises to determine all groups of hyperbolic length in small characteristic in future papers. Given any group \(G = G_ r(q)\) of Lie type of rank \(r\) defined over the field with \(q\) elements, then for any Borel subgroup \(B\) of \(G\), the Borel length of \(G\) is defined to be \(l_ b(G) = r + l(B)\). The parabolic length of \(G\) denoted by \(l_ \pi(G)\) is defined to be \(\max\{l(P) + 1\}\) where \(P\) ranges over all parabolic subgroups of \(G\). If \(l(G) = l_ \pi(G)\), then we say that \(G\) has parabolic length and otherwise we say that \(G\) has hyperbolic length. In [\textit{G. M. Seitz, R. Solomon}, and \textit{A. Turull}, J. Algebra 132, No. 1, 174-184 (1990; Zbl 0714.20011)] a formula for the maximal length of a chain of subgroups in a finite simple group of Lie type in characteristic 2 is found and in [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 42, No. 1, 93-100 (1990; Zbl 0728.20018)] the corresponding length has been investigated for Lie type groups in odd characteristic. As a result of this paper the author hopes to find an explicit formula for the length of any Lie type group in characteristic \(p\), where \(p\) is a small prime. To determine the groups of hyperbolic length one should know the structure of maximal subgroups which can support a longest chain in the groups under investigation and this is done in the present paper.