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Let $G$ be a Linear Algebraic Group (over algebraically closed field). We know that the connected component $G^o$ is a normal subgroup of finite index in $G$. Let $g$ be an element of $G$ which is not in $G^o$.

I want to understand Jordan decomposition of $g$ as a product of semisimple and unipotent elements.

Modification from earlier question:

Can I choose representatives for $G/G^o$ consisting of semisimple elements alone? Of course the answer is 'no' in char p. But how bad is the scene.

Thanks a lot.

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    $\begingroup$ there is no reason for $g$ to be semi-simple; you can take $G=G^0\times F$ where $F$ is a finite group, and take $g=(u,f)$ for some unipotent element $u\in G^0$. $\endgroup$ Sep 30, 2015 at 5:42
  • $\begingroup$ thanks! actually my problem is "can I choose F consisting of semisimple elements only?". Which often looks like the case. $\endgroup$ Sep 30, 2015 at 8:22
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    $\begingroup$ My first thought: if you have a coset $gG_0$, then you could only hope to have a semisimple representative if the field characteristic doesn't divide the order of $gG_0$ (as an element of $G/G_0$)... I wouldn't like to speculate whether this necessary condition is also sufficient... $\endgroup$
    – Nick Gill
    Sep 30, 2015 at 8:41
  • $\begingroup$ right! usually finite order elements are semisimple (in non-modular set up) so one expects that. $\endgroup$ Sep 30, 2015 at 9:08
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    $\begingroup$ The homomorphism of algebraic groups $G\to G/G^{\circ}$ is compatible with Jordan decompositions, and so this is just a question of understanding the Jordan decompositions in the finite group (scheme) $G/G^{\circ}$. $\endgroup$
    – anon
    Sep 30, 2015 at 11:21

2 Answers 2

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The question itself falls somewhat short of being "research-level", but maybe it's useful to expand a little on the comment by anon (which the proposed "answer" by Anupam doesn't improve on).

The Jordan-Chevalley decomposition in an arbitrary linear (= affine) algebraic group $G$ over an algebraically closed field $K$ involves the fundamental insight that being defined by finitely many polynomial conditions somehow guarantees that $G$ contains the semisimple and unipotent parts of its elements while these are independent of the linear realization of $G$. More precisely, any morphism $G \rightarrow H$ of algebraic groups takes semisimple (resp. unipotent) elements to semisimple (resp. unipotent) elements. These ideas go back to a 1948 paper by Ellis Kolchin, but were only explored systematically by Chevalley when he laid foundations in the 1950s for the theory in arbitrary characteristic. The older language of algebraic geometry can be updated to scheme language, but without serious effect on the Jordan decomposition idea.

As pointed out in the comment by anon, the canonical morphism of algebraic groups $G \rightarrow G/G^\circ$ has as image a finite group. The latter can be viewed as a linear algebraic group, and its Jordan-Chevalley decomposition reduces to the usual elementwise decomposition in a finite group. If the characteristic of $K$ is $p>0$, one gets an element of order prime to $p$ times an element of order a power of $p$ (each being a power of the given element). If char $K = 0$, on the other hand, all elements of the finite group are semisimple: this follows from linear algebra, since the minimal polynomial of a matrix of finite order divides some $x^n-1$ by Cayley-Hamilton and thus has distinct roots. In this case, it's clear that a set of coset representatives for $G/G^\circ$ can alwqays be chosen to consist of semisimple elements: all unipotent elements of $G$ lie in $G^\circ$, so the semisimple parts of an arbitrary set of coset of representatives also form such a set.

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  • $\begingroup$ Surely the last words ("must consist of semisimple elements") isn't what you mean; for example, if $G$ is connected, then any element of $G$, even a unipotent one, can be taken to be the single element of a set of coset representatives. Rather, I guess the point is that, since one already knows in characteristic 0) that all unipotent elements of $G$ lie in $G^\circ$ (because they map to (semisimple and unipotent) = trivial elemens of the quotient), every coset has a semisimple representative. $\endgroup$
    – LSpice
    Jan 12, 2016 at 12:07
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    $\begingroup$ @L Spice: Thanks for pointing this out. I was writing too fast, so my edit may clarify what I intended. $\endgroup$ Jan 12, 2016 at 20:47
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Based on the discussion, I think a reasonable answer is that, look at $G/G^o$ which is a finite group. For finite group Jordan decomposition is simple looking at the p-powers of the element and coprime-to-p powers of the element.

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