On minimal epimorphic subgroups in simple algebraic groups of rank \(2\) (Q6199037)

Let \(\phi: H \rightarrow G\) be a homomorphism of linear algebraic groups defined over an algebraically closed field. The map \(\phi\) is an epimorphism if it admits right cancellation, i.e. whenever \(\psi_{1} \circ \phi =\psi_{2} \circ \phi\) for homomorphisms \(\psi_{1} ,\psi_{2}\) we have \(\psi_{1}=\psi_{2}\). An epimorphic subgroup \(H \leq G\) is a subgroup for which the inclusion map is an epimorphism. If \(\phi\) is a non-surjective epimorphism then \(\phi(H)\) is a proper epimorphic subgroup of \(G\). In the paper under review the authors show that, for simple algebraic groups of rank \(2\) defined over algebraically closed fields, the minimal dimension of a closed epimorphic subgroup is \(3\).