The Hesselink stratification of nullcones and base change. (Q1943674)

Let \(G\) be a connected reductive algebraic group over an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p\geq 0\). The paper gives a case-free proof of Lusztig's conjectures on so-called unipotent pieces, [cf.\ \textit{G. Lusztig}, Transform. Groups 10, No. 3-4, 449-487 (2005; Zbl 1107.20036)]. This is done by characterizing the pieces in terms of Hesselink's theory of stratifying nullcones. The authors develop the theory in three situations. To begin with, one has the conjugation action of \(G\) on the unipotent variety. Then one has the adjoint action on the nilpotent variety. And finally the coadjoint action on the nullcone in \(\mathfrak g^*\). For proving the fifth axiom of Lusztig they have to consider representations of a Chevalley group scheme over \(\mathbb Z\). An application of the work states that the centralizer \(C_G(g)\) of an element \(g\in G\) is reductive if and only \(g\) is semisimple.