The orders of nonsingular derivations of Lie algebras of characteristic two (Q2480565)

A result of Jacobson states that in characteristic zero a finite-dimensional Lie algebra, which admits a nonsingular derivation, is nilpotent. On the other hand, in positive characteristic \(p\) there are finite-dimensional simple Lie algebras which admit a nonsingular derivation. However, if the derivation has order dividing \(p-1\), then \textit{A. Shalev} has shown [Invent. Math. 115, No. 2, 315--345 (1994; Zbl 0795.20009)] that the Lie algebra is nilpotent. Shalev has thus suggested to study the set \(\mathcal{N}_{p}\) of the positive integers that occur as the orders of nonsingular derivations of finite-dimensional, nonnilpotent Lie algebras in characteristic \(p\). It can be shown that \(n \in \mathcal{N}_{p}\) if and only if there is \(\alpha\) in the algebraic closure of the field \(F\) with \(p\) elements, such that \((\alpha + \lambda)^{n} = 1\) for all \(\lambda \in F\). The paper under review continues the study of \(\mathcal{N}_{p}\), initiated by \textit{A. Shalev} in [J. Aust. Math. Soc., Ser.~A 67, No.2, 254--260 (1999; Zbl 1015.17020)], and follows up a previous paper by the author [Isr. J. Math. 132, 265--275 (2002; Zbl 1041.17021)]. Shalev had shown that \(p^{k} - 1 \in \mathcal{N}_{p}\), for \(k \geq 2\). Also, multiples of elements of \(\mathcal{N}_{p}\) are again in \(\mathcal{N}_{p}\). The paper deals in particular with the case \(n = 2\), and shows among others that \(\mathcal{N}_{p}\) contains all divisors of \(2^{k} - 1\) that are large enough in some sense. We refer to the paper, and its informative and clearly written introduction, for further details.