Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4584385 | Journal of Algebra | 2015 | 30 Pages |
Let GG be a simple algebraic group defined over an algebraically closed field K and let G=G(K)G=G(K). We consider here the problem when an element g∈Gg∈G can be presented in the form g=en(g1,g2):=[g1,[g1,⋯[g1︸n-times,g2]⋯]] for some g1,g2∈Gg1,g2∈G. This can always be done if g is a semisimple or a unipotent element. Also, it is known that this holds for G=SL2(K)G=SL2(K). Here we prove that g=en(g1,g2)g=en(g1,g2) for every n if GG is a group of type B2B2 or G2G2 and we prove g=e2(g1,g2)=[g1,[g1,g2]]g=e2(g1,g2)=[g1,[g1,g2]] if G=PGL3(K)G=PGL3(K). We also show g=e2(g1,g2)=[g1,[g1,g2]]g=e2(g1,g2)=[g1,[g1,g2]] if g is a regular element of G and GG is a group of rank 3. For any simple group GG we give a criterion for some “general” regular elements of G to be presented in the form [g1,[g1,g2]][g1,[g1,g2]].