London Algebra Colloquium abstract

Finite Subgroups of Exceptional Algebraic Groups

Mr Alastair Litterick (Imperial), 21st March 2013

Abstract

The subgroup structure of simple algebraic groups is a long-studied area with a number of open problems remaining. Here we’ll take a look at the problem of classifying finite subgroups up to isomorphism and up to conjugacy, presenting new results on the latter. This has applications in numerous areas, such as geometry (when we work over the complex numbers) and in the study of the maximal subgroups of the finite simple groups (working over fields of positive characteristic).