Upper bounds for the essential dimension of \(E_7\). (Q2862960)

The essential dimension of an algebraic group \(G\) defined over a field \(k\), denoted \(\mathrm{ed}(G)\), can be defined as the minimum value of \(\dim(X)-\dim(G)\), where \(X\) runs over all generically free \(G\)-varieties admitting a \(G\)-equivariant dominant map \(V\dashrightarrow X\) for some generically free linear representation \(V\) of \(G\). Moreover there is a \(p\)-localized version, denoted \(\mathrm{ed}_p(G)\), for a prime \(p\). See the articles by \textit{Z. Reichstein} [Proceedings of the international congress of mathematicians (ICM 2010), Hyderabad, India, August 19-27, 2010. Vol. II: Invited lectures. Hackensack: World Scientific; New Delhi: Hindustan Book Agency. 162-188 (2011; Zbl 1232.14030)] and \textit{A. S. Merkurjev} [Transform. Groups 18, No. 2, 415-481 (2013; Zbl 1278.14066)] for recent surveys.NEWLINENEWLINE The paper under review improves upon previous upper bounds on the essential dimension and essential 2-dimension of the split simply connected group \(E_7\) over a field characteristic not \(2\) or \(3\).NEWLINENEWLINE The best previously known upper bounds were \(\mathrm{ed}_2(E_7)\leq\mathrm{ed}(E_7)\leq 33\), which can be proven by considering the \(E_7\) action on \(X:=V_{56}\times\mathbb P(V_{56})\times\mathbb P(V_{56})\), where \(V_{56}\) is the faithful \(56\)-dimensional representation of \(E_7\), as the author points out.NEWLINENEWLINE These values are improved as follows: \(\mathrm{ed}(E_7)\leq 29\) and \(\mathrm{ed}_2(E_7)\leq 27\). More precisely the values \(29\) and \(27\) are shown to be upper bounds on \(\mathrm{ed}(E_6\rtimes\mu_4)\) and \(\mathrm{ed}_2(N_{E_6\rtimes\mu_4}(T))\), where \(T\) is a maximal torus of \(E_6\rtimes\mu_4\). Using the fact that the inclusions \(N_{E_6\rtimes\mu_4}(T)\subset E_6\rtimes\mu_4\subset E_7\) induce surjections in Galois cohomology over every field extension the author obtains the desired result on \(E_7\). The inequality \(\mathrm{ed}(E_6\rtimes\mu_4)\leq 29\) is shown via a careful analysis of stabilizers in general position for the action of \(E_6\rtimes\mu_4\) and some of its subgroups on certain linear subvarieties of \(X\).NEWLINENEWLINE More recently the author has further improved the upper bound to \(\mathrm{ed}(E_7)\leq 17\), see the slides of his talk in the Conference on Torsors, Nonassociative Algebras and Cohomological Invariants in Ottawa, June 10-14, 2013.