The closure diagram for nilpotent orbits of the real form EIX of \(E_ 8\). (Q700519)

Let \({\mathfrak O}_1\) and \({\mathfrak O}_2\) be adjoint nilpotent orbits in a real semisimple Lie algebra. Write \({\mathfrak O}_1 \geq {\mathfrak O}_2\) if \({\mathfrak O}_2\) is contained in the closure of \({\mathfrak O}_1\). This defines a partial order on the set of such orbits, known as the closure ordering. In this paper, the author determines this order for the noncompact nonsplit real form of the simple complex Lie algebra \(E_8\). The closure diagrams for adjoint nilpotent orbits in noncompact real form of \(F_4\), \(G_2\), \(E_6\) were determined by the author in [ J. Lie Theory 10, 491--510 (2000; Zbl 0974.17010)], and for the noncompact and nonsplit real forms of \(E_7\) in [ Represent. Theory 5, 17--42 (2001; Zbl 1031.17004)].