Representatives for unipotent classes and nilpotent orbits

Abstract

Let $G$ be a simple algebraic group over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p$. The classification of the conjugacy classes of unipotent elements of $G(k)$ and nilpotent orbits of $G$ on $\operatorname{Lie}(G)$ is well-established. One knows there are representatives of every unipotent class as a product of root group elements and every nilpotent orbit as a sum of root elements. We give explicit representatives in terms of a Chevalley basis for the eminent classes. A unipotent (resp. nilpotent) element is said to be eminent if it is not contained in any subsystem subgroup (resp. subalgebra), or a natural generalisation if $G$ is of type $D_n$. From these representatives, it is straightforward to generate representatives for any given class. Along the way we also prove recognition theorems for identifying both the unipotent classes and nilpotent orbits of exceptional algebraic groups.