Defining \(R\) and \(G(R)\) (Q6172700)

Summary: We show that for Chevalley groups \(G ( R )\) of rank at least 2 over an integral domain \(R\) each root subgroup is (essentially) the double centralizer of a corresponding root element. In many cases, this implies that \(R\) and \(G ( R )\) are bi-interpretable, yielding a new approach to bi-interpretability for algebraic groups over a wide range of rings and fields. For such groups it then follows that the group \(G ( R )\) is (finitely) axiomatizable in the appropriate class of groups provided \(R\) is (finitely) axiomatizable in the corresponding class of rings.