Automorphisms of Cayley algebras over finite fields (Q909775)

By \textit{M. J. Wonenburger} [J. Algebra 12, 441-452 (1969; Zbl 0177.057)] every automorphism of a Cayley algebra C is the product of at most 3 involutory automorphisms. The author first gives some sufficient criteria for the existence of automorphisms which require 3 involutions. For the Cayley algebra C over a finite field F of odd characteristic, Theorem 4 provides information on the length (in terms of involutions) of automorphisms of C. In particular, suitable elements of the finite algebraic groups \(G_ 2(F)\) do require 3 involutions, cf. \textit{Z. Arad}, \textit{C. Chillag} and \textit{G. Moran} [Chapter 4 in ``Products of conjugacy classes in groups'', ed. \textit{Z. Arad} and \textit{M. Herzog}, Lect. Notes Math. 1112, 222-244 (1985; Zbl 0561.20004)]. If F is an infinite algebraic extension of a finite field of characteristic \(\neq 2,3\), and if \(F=F^ 3\), then very automorphism of C is a product of 2 involutions.