On nilpotent generators of the Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{sl}_n\) (Q1794315)

In this paper, the author shows that for any infinite field \(\mathbb{K}\) of characteristic \(p\neq 2\) and an arbitrary non-zero nilpotent matrix \(X\in\mathfrak{sl}(n,\mathbb{K})\), there always exists a nilpotent matrix \(Y\in\mathfrak{sl}(n,\mathbb{K})\) such that the pair \(X,Y\) generates \(\mathfrak{sl}(n,\mathbb{K})\). This results refines an analogue property obtained in [\textit{T. Ionescu}, Linear Algebra Appl. 15, 271--292 (1976; Zbl 0358.17014)]. The main result is proved by means of a sequence of reductions, based on the notion of consistent sets and structural properties of rank one nilpotent matrices that are extended to higher ranks. Some illustrative examples are presented. In particular, it is shown that for characteristic \(2\), there does not necessarily exist a pair of matrices that generate \(\mathfrak{sl}(n,\mathbb{F}_2)\), so that additional assumptions would be necessary to extend the property to such Lie algebras. This leads to the interesting question on the cardinal of minimal sets of nilpotent matrices that generate \(\mathfrak{sl}(n,\mathbb{K})\) for finite fields.