Non-separability and complete reducibility: \(E_n\) examples with an application to a question of Külshammer (Q2406662)

Let \(G\) be a connected reductive algebraic group over an algebraically closed field \(k\) of characteristic \(p\). A closed subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) is called \(G\)-completely reducible if, whenever \(H\) is contained in a parabolic subgroup \(P\) of \(G\), \(H\) is contained in a Levi subgroup of \(P\). The author constructs triples \((H,M,G)\) where \(G\) is of type \(E_6\), \(E_7\) or \(E_8\), \(p=2\), \(H< M < G\), \(H\) is finite, \(M\) is semisimple, \(H\) is \(G\)-completely reducible but not \(M\)-completely reducible, and \((G, M)\) is a reductive pair (i.e. Lie \(M\) is an \(M\)-module direct summand of Lie \(G\)). These triples lead to examples of finite groups \(\Gamma\) with Sylow 2-subgroups \(\Gamma_2\), and to pairwise non-conjugate homomorphisms \(\rho_a : \Gamma \to G\), for \(a \in k\), such that the restricted homomorphisms \(\rho_a | \Gamma_2\), \(a \in k\), are all conjugate. This gives negative answers to a question of this reviewer, for \(G\) of type \(E_6\), \(E_7\) or \(E_8\).