A generalization of Wilson's theorem on Cartan subalgebras of simple Lie algebras (Q1333213)

The results established in this paper appear to constitute significant progress toward the classification of simple finite-dimensional Lie algebras over algebraically closed fields of characteristics 5 and 7 for they extend to these characteristics key steps in the classification already accomplished for characteristic \(p>7\). In particular, Wilson's theorem [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 234, 435-446 (1977; Zbl 0366.17002) and ibid. 305, No. 2, 851-855 (1988; Zbl 0635.17003)] that a Cartan subalgebra of such an algebra is triangulable is found to hold also in characteristic 7, and fails in characteristic 5 only for algebras containing subalgebras with quotients isomorphic to the Melikyan algebra \(g(1,1)\). The list of simple Lie algebras of toral rank one remains the same for characteristics \(p=5\) and 7 as it is for \(p>7\). The author obtains considerable information on the structure of \(g(1,1)\). He concludes by conjecturing that any finite-dimensional simple Lie algebra over an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p>3\) contains a maximal subalgebra satisfying all the conditions of the recognition theorem.