On the Kneser-Tits problem for triality forms. (Q951971)

Let \(G\) be a simply connected triality form of \(k\)-rank \(1\) over a field \(k\). Let \(G(k)^+\) denote the normal subgroup of \(G(k)\) generated by the \(k\)-rational elements of the unipotent radicals of parabolic \(k\)-subgroups of \(G\). Recall that the Kneser-Tits problem is the question whether \(G(k)^+=G(k)\). If \(k\) is a global field then the author provides a proof of the affirmative solution. This is an old theorem of Prasad with Raghunathan, whose proof had not yet been published. As the author explains, this paper completes a story, cf. \textit{G. Prasad, M. S. Raghunathan} [Comment. Math. Helv. 60, 107-121 (1985; Zbl 0574.20033)]. Before concentrating on global fields, a concrete description is given for the `Whitehead group' \(W(k,G)=G(k)/G(k)^+\), with \(k\) an arbitrary field. -- A note added in proof tells that \textit{P. Gille} [Sémin. Bourbaki 983 (2007)] has now shown that \(W(k,G)\) vanishes if our triality group \(G\) is absolutely simple.