Examples of algebraic groups of type \(G_2\) having the same maximal tori (Q2631138)

Genus theory of semisimple algebraic \(k\)-groups is the study of groups \(G_1\), \(G_2\) which are \(\overline{k}\)-isomorphic such that each embedding of a maximal torus \(T\) in \(G_1\) corresponds to an embedding of \(T\) in \(G_2\) and vice versa. A finer version of groups being of the same genus which has been studied by \textit{G. Prasad} and \textit{A. S. Rapinchuk} [Publ. Math., Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci. 109, 113--184 (2009; Zbl 1176.22011)] talks of two \(k\)-groups having coherently equivalent systems of maximal \(k\)-tori; they obtained far-reaching applications in their work. \textit{S. Garibaldi} and \textit{D. J. Saltman} [Dev. Math. 18, 225--238 (2010; Zbl 1226.16011)] also made constructions for groups of type \(A_1\) in the spirit of Prasad and Rapinchuk's notion [loc. cit.]. Inspired by this construction, the authors of this paper construct a field \(F\), and two non-isomorphic semisimple \(F\)-groups \(G\), \(G'\) of type \(G_2\) which possess coherently equivalent systems of maximal \(k\)-tori. This answers affirmatively a question posed by Andrei Rapinchuk. As observed by Prasad and Rapinchuk [loc. cit.], such an example cannot exist over a number field. So, the fields constructed by the authors are large and use the theory of Pfister forms. The authors also use the embedding criterion for maximal tori earlier proved by them in [Pac. J. Math. 279, No. 1--2, 101--134 (2015; Zbl 1356.20029)].