On the structure of algebraic groups over global fields (Q584413)

Let G be an absolutely simple, simply connected algebraic group defined over a global field K and K-anisotropic. Let S be the set of all non- archimedean places v of K such that G is \(K_ v\)-anisotropic. The topology induced on G(K) through the diagonal imbedding of G(K) in \(\prod_{v\in S}G(K_ v)\) is called S-topology. There is a conjecture (*) (due to V. Platonov (1975) when \(S=\emptyset\) and to G. Margulis (1979) for any S) that every non-central normal subgroup of G(K) is open in the S-topology of G(K). This conjecture is proved if G is of type \(A_ 1\) or G splits over a quadratic extension of K and \(S=\emptyset\). The main result of the present paper is the proof of conjecture (*) for all groups of type \(A_ 3\) (Theorem 1). This allows to prove conjecture (*) for all classical groups of type \(D_ n\) (Theorem 2). Also the following reduction result (Theorem 3) is proved: Let \(G(K)=SU(F^ n,h)\), \(n\geq 2\), where F is a division algebra over a quadratic extension L over K with an involution of the second kind \({}^*: F\to F\) and h is an anisotropic hermitian form on \(F^ n\) with respect to \({}^*\). Then if conjecture (*) is true for \(n=2\) it is also true for \(n\geq 2\). In particular, conjecture (*) is true when F is a quaternion algebra or \(F=L\). (In the particular case \(F=L\) Theorem 3 has been obtained by M. Borovoj.)