Reality properties of conjugacy classes in \(G_2\). (Q1775471)

Let \(G\) be an algebraic group over a field \(k\). An element \(g\in G(k)\) is called real if \(g\) is conjugate to \(g^{-1}\). As a main result the authors obtain the following theorem: Let \(G\) be a group of type \(G_2\) over a field \(k\) of characteristic not \(2\). Then every unipotent element in \(G(k)\) is a product of two involutions in \(G(k)\). Let \(g\in G(k)\) be a semisimple element. Then \(g\) is real in \(G(k)\) if and only if it is a product of two involutions in \(G(k)\). The authors also investigate the reality for \(G_2\) over special fields. They give examples of nonreal elements in \(G_2\) over finite fields.