The structure of the group \(G(k[t])\): variations on a theme of Soulé. (Q2270640)

Following Soulé's ideas, a presentation of the abstract group \(G(k[t])\) for any semisimple (connected) simply connected absolutely almost simple \(k\)-group \(G(k[t])\) is given. As an application, a description of \(G(k[t])\) in terms of direct limits is given, and it is shown that the Whitehead group and the naive group of connected components of \(G(k[t])\) coincide.