Complete reducibility of subgroups of reductive algebraic groups over nonperfect fields. I. (Q2630886)

This is the first in a series of papers exploring Serre's notion of \(G\)-complete reducibility for subgroups of a reductive group \(G\) over a non-perfect field \(k\). For definitions and basic theory of \(G\)-complete reducibility see [\textit{J.-P. Serre}, in: Séminaire Bourbaki. Volume 2003/2004. Exposés 924--937. Paris: Société Mathématique de France. 195--217, Exp. No. 932 (2005; Zbl 1156.20313)]. In contrast with the well-established theory over algebraically closed \(k\) (or, more generally, over perfect \(k\)), the theory is not so developed for non-perfect fields. As an illustration of the problems one experiences in this set-up, the main results of this paper exhibit examples of subgroups of a split simple group \(G\) of type \(E_6\) or \(G_2\) which are completely reducible over \(k\) but not over the algebraic closure of \(k\). The methods employed include applications of the centre conjecture of Tits, the proof of which was completed in [\textit{C. Ramos-Cuevas}, Geom. Dedicata 166, 349--407 (2013; Zbl 1283.51006)].