Products and commutators of classes in algebraic groups. (Q2516869)

The authors are motivated by a question about a generalization of the Baer-Suzuki theorem. Here they consider almost simple algebraic groups. -- An almost simple algebraic group is a possibly disconnected linear algebraic group whose connected component \(G^\circ\) is simple and such that \(C_G(G^\circ)=Z(G^\circ)\). The main result that the authors obtain is: Theorem. Let \(G\) be an almost simple algebraic group over an algebraically closed field and let \(C,D\) be \(G^\circ\)-classes. The following are equivalent: (i) \(CD\) is a finite union of \(G^\circ\)-conjugacy classes. (ii) \(C_{G^\circ}(x_1)\backslash G^\circ/C_{G^\circ}(x_2)\) is finite for all \((x_1,x_2)\in C\times D\). iii) \(\langle x_1,x_2\rangle\) normalizes some Borel subgroup of \(G^\circ\) for every \((x_1,x_2)\in C\times D\). Moreover, any of the above conditions implies: (iv) \([C,D]:=\{[x,y]\mid (x,y)\in C\times D\}\) is a finite union of \(G^\circ\)-conjugacy classes.