Generators of simple Lie algebras in arbitrary characteristics (Q2391112)

Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(0\) or \(p>3\). All Lie algebras over \(k\) are supposed to be finite dimensional. It is shown that any simple Lie algebra over \(k\) is generated by \(2\) elements. Furthermore, it is shown that if \(k\) is of characteristic \(0\) and \(L\) a simple Lie algebra or if \(k\) is of characteristic \(p>3\) and \(L\) is a classical simple Lie algebra, then every nonzero element of \(L\) can be included in a generating pair. These questions were first studied for finite simple groups and after that for simple Lie algebras in characteristic \(0\). The introduction contains an overview of this work and its relevance for other problems. The author uses a geometric method that works in arbitrary characteristic; he uses the so-called \textit{generating variety} of \(L\). Furthermore, the classification theorem of Block-Wilson-Premet-Strade is needed.