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# Homomorphisms of the alternating group 𝒜₅ into reductive groups

## Introduction

### 0.1

Let $`𝒜_5`$ be the group defined by generators $`x_2,x_3,x_5`$ and relations $`x_2^2=x_3^3=x_5^5=x_2x_3x_5=1`$. It is well known that $`𝒜_5`$ is isomorphic to the alternating group in $`5`$ letters. Let $`k`$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $`p`$ where $`p=0`$ or a prime $`7`$. Let $`G`$ be a connected reductive algebraic group over $`k`$. We shall be interested in the classification of homomorphisms $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ up to conjugation by $`G`$. When $`G=GL_n`$ this is the same as the classification of $`n`$-dimensional representations of $`𝒜_5`$ over $`k`$ up to isomorphism; this can be reduced to the classification of irreducible representations of $`𝒜_5`$ which is classical (there are five of them up to isomorphism, of degrees $`1,3,3,4,5`$). In the general case, there is again something analogous to the notion of irreducible representation, which we call a regular homomorphism $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$. This is, by definition, a homomorphism $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ whose image is not contained in a Levi subgroup of a proper parabolic subgroup of $`G`$. Again the classification of homomorphisms $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ up to conjugacy can be more or less reduced to the analogous question for regular homomorphisms (for $`G`$ and also for smaller groups).

D.D.Frey \[F1\],\[F2\],\[F3\] has classified up to conjugacy the homomorphisms (resp. non-regular homomorphisms) $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ for $`G`$ of type $`E_6,E_7`$ (resp. $`E_8`$) over $``$. For $`G`$ of type $`E_8`$ he showed that there is at least one regular homomorphism $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$, but the problem of classifying up to conjugacy the regular homomorphisms $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ remained open.

Serre \[S\] has suggested that this problem could be attacked using the complex representation theory of $`E_8(𝔽_q)`$, $`𝔽_q`$ a finite field. He showed that the number $`d`$ of conjugacy classes of regular homomorphisms $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>E_8(k)`$ can be extracted from a certain sum over all irreducible characters of $`E_8(𝔽_q)`$, if this sum can be computed.

The purpose of this paper is to show that this sum can be computed with enough precision so that a solution of the above problem is obtained. (See Theorem 4.5.) In fact, we show that $`d=1`$. Thus, our results, in conjunction with the earlier work of Frey, complete the classification up to $`G`$-conjugacy of homomorphisms $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ for $`G`$ adjoint simple.

One of the key ingredients in our proof is a collection of inequalities (see 2.2) involving representations of Weyl groups. While these inequalities are conjectural in general, enough of them can be verified (with the aid of a computer) so that the proof goes through.

I want to thank R.Griess for introducing me to this problem. I also want to thank J.-P.Serre for making \[S\] available to me and for some useful discussions.

## 1. Examples

### 1.1

If $`G`$ is a group we denote by $`Z_G`$ the centre of $`G`$ and by $`G_{der}`$ the derived group of $`G`$; we set $`G_{ad}=G/Z_G`$. If $`gG`$ let $`Z_G(g)`$ be the centralizer of $`g`$ in $`G`$ and let $`𝒞_G(g)`$ be the conjugacy class of $`g`$ in $`G`$. If $`H`$ is a subgroup of $`G`$ let $`Z_G(H)`$ (resp. $`N_G(H)`$) be the centralizer (resp. normalizer) of $`H`$ in $`G`$. If $`G,G^{}`$ are groups, let $`\text{Hom}(G,G^{})`$ be the set of group homomorphisms $`G\mathrm{@}>>>G^{}`$.

If $`G`$ is an affine algebraic group over $`k`$ (as in 0.1), let $`G^0`$ be the identity component of $`G`$ and let $`\overline{G}=G/G^0`$.

For a finite set $`Y`$ let $`\overline{)Y}`$ or $`\mathrm{}(Y)`$ be the cardinal of $`Y`$.

### 1.2

Assume now that $`G`$ is connected, reductive algebraic group over $`k`$ of simply laced type. Let $`\pi :\stackrel{~}{G}\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ be the simply connected covering of $`G_{der}`$. Let $`𝒯(G)`$ be the set of maximal tori in $`G`$. Let $`r(G)`$ be the rank of $`G`$ and let $`\nu (G)`$ be half the number of roots of $`G`$.

Since $`𝒜_5`$ is perfect, any homomorphism $`\psi :𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ has image contained in $`G_{der}`$. This gives us a bijection between the set of $`G`$-orbits on $`\text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$ and the set of $`G_{der}`$-orbits on $`\text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G_{der})`$. Now, the obvious map from $`G`$-orbits on $`\text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$ to $`G_{ad}`$-orbits on $`\text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G_{ad})`$ is injective.

(It is enough to show that, if $`\psi ,\psi ^{}\text{Hom}(𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G)`$ are such that $`h\psi =h\psi ^{}`$ where $`h:G\mathrm{@}>>>G_{ad}`$ is the obvious map, then $`\psi =\psi ^{}`$. For $`x𝒜_5`$ we have $`\psi ^{}(x)=\psi (x)z(x)`$ where $`z\text{Hom}(𝒜_5,Z_G)`$. Since $`𝒜_5`$ is perfect and $`Z_G`$ is abelian, we have $`z(x)=1`$ for all $`x`$, hence $`\psi =\psi ^{}`$.)

###### Lemma 1.3 (Serre \cite{\SE})

Let $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$. We have

$`_{n=2,3,5}dimZ_G(\psi (x_n))=dim(G)+2dimZ_G(\psi (𝒜_5))`$.

This is equivalent to its Lie algebra analogue

$$\underset{n=2,3,5}{}dim𝔤^{\psi (x_n)}=dim𝔤+2dim𝔤^{𝒜_5}$$

where $`𝔤=\text{Lie }G`$, and the upper index denotes the fixed point set of the appropriate automorphism or group of automorphisms of $`𝔤`$. More generally, this holds when $`𝔤`$ is replaced by a finite dimensional $`k`$-vector space $`V`$ with an $`𝒜_5`$-action; we may assume that $`V`$ is an irreducible representation of $`𝒜_5`$ (we have complete reducibility since $`\frac{1}{30}k`$) and in that case the equality is checked by direct computation.

###### Lemma 1.4

If $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$, then $`Z_G(\psi (𝒜_5))`$ is a reductive group.

Let $`𝒞(n)=𝒞_G(\psi (x_n)),n=2,3,5`$. Then $`𝒞(n)`$ is an affine variety since $`\psi (x_n)`$ is a semisimple element. Consider the affine variety

$$𝕏=\{(g_2,g_3,g_5)𝒞(2)\times 𝒞(3)\times 𝒞(5);g_2g_3g_5=1\}.$$

The group $`G`$ acts on $`𝕏`$ by conjugation on all factors. By 1.3, the dimension of the $`G`$-orbit of $`(g_2,g_3,g_5)𝕏`$ equals

$$dim(G)(\underset{n=2,3,5}{}dimZ_G(g_n)dim(G))/2=\underset{n=2,3,5}{}dim𝒞(n)/2;$$

in particular it is independent of the choice $`(g_2,g_3,g_5)`$. Since any $`G`$-orbit of minimum dimension must be closed in $`𝕏`$, it follows that any $`G`$-orbit in $`𝕏`$ is closed in $`𝕏`$; hence it is affine. By a known criterion (Richardson) it follows that the isotropy group in $`G`$ of any point of $`𝕏`$ is reductive. The lemma is proved.

###### Lemma 1.5

The following four conditions for $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$ are equivalent:

(i) $`dimZ_G(\psi (𝒜_5))=dimZ_G`$;

(ii) $`Z_G(\psi (𝒜_5))/Z_G`$ is finite;

(iii) any subtorus of $`Z_G(\psi (𝒜_5))`$ is contained in $`Z_G^0`$;

(iv) $`\nu (G)_{n=2,3,5}\nu (Z_G^0(\psi (x_n)))=r(G_{ad})`$.

This follows from Lemmas 1.3, 1.4.

### 1.6

We say that $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$ is regular if the conditions of Lemma 1.5 are satisfied. Let $`\text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)=\{\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G);\psi \text{ regular}\}`$. Note that $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$ is regular if and only if its image in $`\text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G_{ad})`$ is regular.

We show that the classification of homomorphisms $`\psi :𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ up to $`G`$-conjugacy can be essentially reduced to the analogous problem for regular homomorphisms. Let $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$. Let $`S`$ be a maximal torus of $`Z_G(\psi (𝒜_5))`$ and let $`L=Z_G(S)`$. (A Levi subgroup of a parabolic subgroup of $`G`$.) Using 1.5(iii), we see that $`\psi `$ defines a regular homomorphism $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>L`$. This gives us a bijection between the set of $`G`$-orbits on $`\text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$ and the disjoint union over all $`G`$-conjugacy classes of Levi subgroups $`L`$ of the sets of $`N_G(L)`$-orbits on $`\text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,L)`$.

### 1.7

A 235-triple for $`G`$ is a triple $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ of conjugacy classes in $`G`$ such that, if $`g_nC_n`$, then $`g_n^n=1`$, $`n=2,3,5`$. The type of a 235-triple is by definition the sequence $`X_2,X_3,X_5`$ where $`X_n`$ is the type of the root system of $`Z_G^0(g_n)`$. Clearly, $`G`$ has only finitely many 235-triples. As pointed out in \[S\], of particular interest are the 235-triples $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ in $`G`$ such that

$$\nu (G)\underset{n=2,3,5}{}\nu (Z_G^0(g_n))=r(G_{ad})$$

where $`g_nC_n`$. Such 235-triples are called regular. If $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ and $`C_n=𝒞_G(\psi (x_n))`$, $`n=2,3,5`$ then $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is a regular 235-triple.

Let $`\iota `$ be an automorphism of order $`2`$ of $`𝒜_5`$ such that $`\iota (x_2)`$ is conjugate to $`x_2`$, $`\iota (x_3)`$ is conjugate to $`x_3`$, $`\iota (x_5)`$ is conjugate to $`x_5^2`$. For any $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$ let $`{}_{}{}^{\iota }\psi =\psi \iota `$. If $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is a regular 235-triple of $`G`$, then $`{}_{}{}^{\iota }(C_2,C_3,C_5)=(C_2,C_3,C_5^{})`$, where $`C_5^{}=\{g^2;gC_5\}`$, is again a regular 235-triple of $`G`$.

### 1.8

Assume that $`G=G_{ad}`$ is simple of type $`A_{m1}`$. If $`m\{2,3\}`$ then $`G`$ has exactly two regular 235-triples (interchanged by $`\iota `$) and there are exactly two $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ up to conjugacy (interchanged by $`\iota `$). If $`m=4`$, then $`G`$ has exactly one regular 235-triple and there are exactly two $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ up to conjugacy. If $`m\{5,6\}`$ then $`G`$ has exactly one regular 235-triple and there is exactly one $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ up to conjugacy. If $`m7`$, then $`G`$ has no regular 235-triple and therefore $`\text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)=\mathrm{}`$.

The type of a regular 235-triple is $`(\mathrm{},\mathrm{},\mathrm{})`$ (if $`m=2`$),$`(A_1,\mathrm{},\mathrm{})`$ (if $`m=3`$), $`(A_1^2,A_1,\mathrm{})`$ (if $`m=4`$), $`(A_2A_1,A_1^2,\mathrm{})`$ (if $`m=5`$), $`(A_2^2,A_1^3,A_1)`$ (if $`m=6`$).

For $`m=3,5`$ (resp. $`m=2,6`$), $`\psi `$ comes from an irreducible $`m`$-dimensional representation of $`𝒜_5`$ (resp. of the duble cover $`SL_2(𝔽_5)`$ of $`𝒜_5`$, regarded as a projective representation of $`𝒜_5`$). For $`m=4`$, one $`\psi `$ comes from an irreducible $`4`$-dimensional representation of $`𝒜_5`$, the other $`\psi `$ comes from an irreducible $`4`$-dimensional representation of $`SL_2(𝔽_5)`$ which does not factor through $`𝒜_5`$.

### 1.9

Assume that $`G=G_{ad}`$ is simple of type $`D_m`$.

(a) If $`m=4`$, then $`G`$ has exactly four regular 235-triples: two of type $`(A_1^4,A_1^3,\mathrm{})`$ (interchanged by $`\iota `$) and two of type $`(A_1^4,A_2,\mathrm{})`$ (interchanged by $`\iota `$); correspondingly, it has exactly four $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ up to conjugacy: two of them (interchanged by $`\iota `$) come from $`8`$-dimensional orthogonal representations of $`𝒜_5`$ which decompose as $`1+3+4`$ into irreducibles and two of them (interchanged by $`\iota `$) come from $`8`$-dimensional orthogonal representations of $`𝒜_5`$ which decompose as $`3+5`$ into irreducibles.

(b) If $`m=5`$, then $`G`$ has exactly one regular 235-triple; it has type $`(A_3A_1^2,A_2A_1^2,A_1^2)`$; also $`G`$ has exactly two $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ up to conjugacy; one of them comes from a $`10`$-dimensional orthogonal representation of $`𝒜_5`$ which decomposes as $`3+3+4`$ into irreducibles; the other comes from a $`10`$-dimensional orthogonal representation of $`𝒜_5`$ which decomposes as $`1+4+5`$ into irreducibles.

(c) If $`m=6`$, then $`G`$ has exactly three regular 235-triples; one has type $`(A_3^2,A_3A_1^2,A_1^4)`$ and the other two (interchanged by $`\iota `$) have type $`(A_3^2,A_3A_1^2,A_2A_1)`$; correspondingly, it has exactly three $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ up to conjugacy: one of them comes from a $`12`$-dimensional orthogonal representation of $`𝒜_5`$ which decomposes as $`1+3+3+5`$ into irreducibles; the other two (interchanged by $`\iota `$) come from $`12`$-dimensional orthogonal representations of $`𝒜_5`$ which decompose as $`3+4+5`$ into irreducibles.

(d) If $`m=8`$, then $`G`$ has exactly one regular 235-triple; it has type $`(D_4A_3,A_4A_3,A_2^2A_1^2)`$; it also has exactly one $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ up to conjugacy: it comes from a $`16`$-dimensional orthogonal representation of $`𝒜_5`$ which decomposes as $`1+3+3+4+5`$ into irreducibles.

If $`m=7`$ or $`m>9`$ then $`G`$ has no regular 235-triples; therefore,$`\text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)=\mathrm{}`$.

We see that in these cases each regular $`\psi `$ comes from a homomorphism $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>SO_{2m}`$.

### 1.10

Assume that $`G=G_{ad}`$ is simple of type $`E_m`$. From \[F1\], \[F2\],\[F3\] we see that:

if $`m=6`$, then $`G`$ has exactly two regular 235-triples (interchanged by $`\iota `$); they have type $`(A_5A_1,A_2^3,A_2A_1^2)`$;

if $`m=7`$, then $`G`$ has exactly two regular 235-triples (interchanged by $`\iota `$); they have type $`(A_7,A_5A_2,A_3A_2A_1)`$;

if $`m=8`$, then $`G`$ has exactly one regular 235-triple; it has type $`(D_8,A_8,A_4^2)`$.

From \[F1\],\[F2\],\[F3\] we see also that in each of these cases, a regular 235-triple is associated with at least one $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$. (Another proof of this fact is given by Lemma 4.3.) This $`\psi `$ is in fact unique up to conjugacy. (See \[F2\], \[F3\] for $`E_6,E_7`$ and $`p=0`$; see 4.5, 4.6 for the general case.)

## 2. Inequalities

### 2.1

Let $`W`$ be a Weyl group and let $`V`$ be the reflection representation of $`W`$ (over $``$). Let $`𝕍=_{j0}𝕍_j`$ be the algebra of polynomials $`V\mathrm{@}>>>`$ modulo the ideal generated by the $`W`$-invariant polynomials of degree $`>0`$; here $`𝕍_j`$ is the image of the space of polynomials of degree $`j`$. Now $`dim𝕍=\overline{)W}`$ and $`W`$ acts naturally on $`𝕍`$ preserving the grading. Let $`(W)`$ be the set of irreducible representations of $`W`$ over $``$ (up to isomorphism). For any $`E(W)`$ let $`b_W(E)`$ (resp. $`b_W^{}(E)`$) be the smallest (resp. largest) integer $`j`$ such that $`\text{Hom}_W(E,𝕍_j)0`$. Note that $`b_W(E),b_W^{}(E)`$ are well defined.

Assume now that $`W`$ is the Weyl group of $`G`$ as in 1.2. Let $`\nu =\nu (G)`$. Let $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ be a 235-triple for $`G`$. Let $`(g_2,g_3,g_5)C_2\times C_3\times C_5`$. We denote by $`W_n`$ (resp. by $`\nu _n`$) the Weyl group (resp. the number of positive roots) of $`Z_G^0(g_n)`$, $`n=2,3,5`$. We may regard $`W_2,W_3,W_5`$ as Weyl subgroups of $`W`$. Let $`𝕍^{(n)}=_j𝕍^{(n)}`$ be defined in terms of $`W_n`$ in the same way as $`𝕍=_j𝕍_j`$ is defined in terms of $`W`$. For any $`E(W)`$ let $`b_n(E)`$ (resp. $`b_n^{}(E)`$) be the smallest (resp. largest) integer $`j`$ such that $`\text{Hom}_{W_n}(E|_{W_n},𝕍_j^{(n)})0`$. Note that $`b_n(E),b_n^{}(E)`$ are well defined for $`n=2,3,5`$.

Let sgn be the sign representation of $`W`$. We have

$$b(E)=\nu b^{}(E\text{sgn}),b_n(E)=\nu _nb_n^{}(E\text{sgn}),n=2,3,5.$$
$`a`$
Now $`(W)`$ is a union of equivalence classes called families, see \[L,  4.2\]. For example the unit representation $`1`$ is a family by itself. If $``$ is a family, then $`\{E\text{sgn};E\}`$ is again a family. For any family $``$ of $`W`$ we set

$$a()=\underset{E}{\mathrm{min}}b(E),a^{}()=\underset{E}{\mathrm{max}}b^{}(E),$$

$$a_n()=\underset{E}{\mathrm{min}}b_n(E),a_n^{}()=\underset{E}{\mathrm{max}}b_n^{}(E).$$

From (a) we deduce that

$$a()=\nu a^{}(\text{sgn}),a_n()=\nu _na_n^{}(\text{sgn}),n=2,3,5.$$
$`b`$
###### Proposition 2.2

In the setup of 2.1, assume that either

(1) $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is regular, or

(2) any simple component of $`G_{ad}`$ has rank $`8`$ and is not of type $`E_8`$.

Then for any family $``$ we have

(a) $`a()_{n=2,3,5}a_n()r(G_{ad})`$;

equivalently (see 2.1(b)),

(b) $`_{n=2,3,5}a_n^{}()a^{}()\nu +_n\nu _n+r(G_{ad})`$.

Moreover, if $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is not regular, then (a) and (b) are strict inequalities. If $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is regular, then (a) is strict for $`\{\text{sgn}\}`$ and (b) is strict for $`\{1\}`$. If $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is regular, then (a) is an equality for $`=\{\text{sgn}\}`$ and (b) is an equality for $`=\{1\}`$.

This can be checked with the aid of a computer. We may assume that $`G=G_{ad}`$ is simple. In the case where $`G`$ is of type $`E_8`$ and $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is regular, I have used tables in \[BL\], \[A\]. If we are not in this case then $`G`$ has rank $`8`$ and is not of type $`E_8`$. Then, instead of \[BL\], \[A\], one can use the CHEVIE package \[C\] to get tables for the quantities $`b_n(E)`$ (or rather the analogous quantities where $`W_n`$ is replaced by any reflection subgroup of $`W`$). From this information, one can check the required inequalities by hand. (I am grateful to M. Geck for his help with the CHEVIE package.)

### 2.3

We expect that 2.2 continues to hold even if we drop the assumptions (1),(2). One can check that 2.2(a),(b) hold for $`G`$ of type $`A`$ without the assumptions (1),(2). When $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is regular, then 2.2(a) for $`=\{\text{sgn}\}`$ is just the equality $`\nu _{n=2,3,5}\nu _n=r(G_{ad})`$.

### 2.4

We illustrate 2.2(a) in the case when $`G=G_{ad}`$ is of type $`E_8`$ and $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is regular. The subgroups $`W_n`$ of $`W`$ are as in 1.10. In the following list, there is one line for each family $``$ of $`W`$, containing the information

$`D;a()a_2()a_3()a_5()=\mathrm{?}`$

where $`D`$ is the degree of the ”special” representation in $``$. Note that $``$ is determined by $`D`$ and $`a()`$.

$`1;0000=0`$

$`8;1111=2`$

$`35;2210=1`$

$`112;3000=3`$

$`210;4010=3`$

$`560;5110=3`$

$`567;6211=2`$

$`700;6100=5`$

$`1400;7200=5`$

$`1400;8200=6`$

$`3240;9310=5`$

$`2268;10420=4`$

$`2240;10310=6`$

$`4096;11421=4`$

$`525;12431=4`$

$`4200;12420=6`$

$`2800;13431=6`$

$`4536;13520=6`$

$`2835;14620=6`$

$`6075;14631=4`$

$`4200;15531=6`$

$`5600;20852=5`$

$`4480;16630=7`$

$`5600;21852=6`$

$`4200;21952=5`$

$`6075;221052=5`$

$`2835;221052=5`$

$`4536;23952=7`$

$`2800;251173=4`$

$`4200;241062=6`$

$`525;361695=6`$

$`4096;261173=5`$

$`2240;281273=6`$

$`2268;301284=6`$

$`3240;311384=6`$

$`1400;321495=4`$

$`1400;371695=7`$

$`700;4218126=6`$

$`567;4622137=4`$

$`560;4721137=6`$

$`210;5224168=4`$

$`112;63281810=7`$

$`35;74342212=6`$

$`8;91432816=4`$

$`1;120563620=8`$.

## 3. $`𝔽_q`$-structures

### 3.1

In this section we fix $`G`$ as in 1.2. We assume that $`p`$ is a prime $`7`$ and that $`k`$ is an algebraic closure of the field with $`p`$ elements. Let $`q`$ be a power of $`p`$ and let $`𝔽_q`$ be the subfield of $`k`$ with $`q`$ elements. Let $`F:G\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ be the Frobenius map corresponding to an $`𝔽_q`$-rational structure on $`G`$.

For any integer $`m1`$ we write $`m=m_pm_p^{}`$ where $`m_p`$ is a power of $`p`$ and $`m_p^{}`$ is prime to $`p`$. If $`\varphi `$ is a map of a set $`Y`$ into itself, we set $`Y^\varphi =\{yY;\varphi (y)=y\}`$.

### 3.2

Let $`ϵ_G=(1)^{𝔽_q\text{rank of }G}`$. For any $`T𝒯(G)^F`$ and any $`\vartheta \text{Hom}(T^F,^{})`$ let $`R_{T,G}^\theta :G^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ be the character of the virtual representation denoted in \[DL,  4.3\] by $`R_T^\theta `$. (We choose a prime number $`l,lp`$, an algebraic closure $`\overline{Q}_l`$ of the $`l`$-adic numbers and a field isomorphism $`\overline{Q}_l`$; then $`R_T^\theta `$, a virtual representation over $`\overline{}_l`$, can be viewed as a virtual representation over $``$.) Let $`(G^F)`$ be the set of irreducible (complex) characters of $`G^F`$. Let $`_1(G^F)`$ be the set of irreducible unipotent characters of $`G^F`$ that is, the irreducible characters $`\rho `$ of $`G^F`$ such that $`(\rho :R_{T,G}^1)_G0`$ for some $`T𝒯^F`$. Here $`(:)_G`$ is the standard hermitian inner product of class functions $`G^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$. Let $`𝒪(G^F)`$ be the set of all class functions $`\varphi :G^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ such that $`(\varphi :R_{T,G}^\theta )_G=0`$ for any $`T𝒯(G)^F`$ and any $`\vartheta \text{Hom}(T^F,^{})`$.

###### Lemma 3.3

Let $`\rho _1(G^F)`$. There exists a unique $`G^F`$-invariant function $`f^\rho :𝒯(G)^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ and a unique $`\xi 𝒪(G^F)`$ such that

$$\rho =G_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}\underset{T𝒯(G)^F}{}\overline{)T^F}f^\rho (T)R_{T,G}^1+\xi .$$

This follows immediately from the definition of $`_1(G^F)`$ and from the orthogonality relations \[DL,  6.8\].

###### Lemma 3.4

Let $`gG^F`$ be semisimple. Let $`T𝒯(G)^F,\vartheta \text{Hom}(T^F,^{})`$. We have

$$R_T^\vartheta (g)=ϵ_{Z_G^0(g)}ϵ_TT_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}\overline{)Z_G(g)}_p^{}\underset{g^{}𝒞_{G^F}(g)T}{}\vartheta (g^{}).$$

See \[DL,  7.2\].

### 3.5

For any $`G^F`$-invariant function $`f:𝒯(G)^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ let

$$R_{f,G}=G_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}\underset{T𝒯(G)^F}{}\overline{)T^F}f(T)R_{T,G}^1.$$

If $`H`$ is a connected reductive $`F`$-stable subgroup of $`G`$ with $`r(H)=r(G)`$ and $`f`$ is as above, we shall write $`R_{f,H}`$ instead of $`R_{f|_{𝒯(H)^F},H}`$.

###### Lemma 3.6

In the setup of 3.5 we have $`_{T𝒯(G)^F}ϵ_Gϵ_Tf(T)=G_p^FR_{f,G}(1)`$.

$`R_{f,G}(1)`$ may be computed using the formula in \[DL,  7.1\] for $`R_{T,G}^1(1)`$; the lemma follows.

### 3.7

We denote by $`G_{}^F`$ (resp. $`G_{}^F`$) the group of all $`\theta \text{Hom}(G^F,^{})`$ such that $`\theta |_{\pi (\stackrel{~}{G})^F}=1`$ (resp. $`\theta |_{\pi (\stackrel{~}{G}^F)}=1`$). Clearly, $`G_{}^FG_{}^F`$.

If $`T𝒯(G)^F`$ and $`\vartheta \text{Hom}(T^F,^{})`$, let $`S(T,\vartheta )`$ be the subgroup of $`G`$ defined as in \[DL,  5.19\]. If $`H`$ is an $`F`$-stable connected reductive subgroup of $`G`$ with $`r(H)=r(G)`$, let $`H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$ be the set of all $`\theta H_{}^F`$ such that for some (or equivalently, any) $`T𝒯(H)^F`$ we have $`S(T,\theta |_{T^F})=H`$. Let $`H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$ be the set of all $`\theta H_{}^F`$ such that $`\theta =\theta ^{}\theta ^{\prime \prime }`$ for some $`\theta ^{}H_{\mathrm{}}^F,\theta ^{\prime \prime }H_{}^F`$.

Let $`𝒳_{G,F}`$ be the set of all pairs $`(H,\theta )`$ where $`H`$ is an $`F`$-stable connected reductive subgroup of $`G`$ with $`r(H)=r(G)`$ and $`\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$. Let $`𝒳_{G,F}^{}`$ be the set of all $`F`$-stable connected reductive subgroups $`H`$ of $`G`$ such that $`H_{\mathrm{}}^F\mathrm{}`$.

###### Lemma 3.8

Assume that $`Z_G=Z_G^0`$. Let $`H𝒳_{G,F}^{}`$. Then any orbit of the obvious $`N_G(H)^F`$-action on $`H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$ has cardinal $`\overline{)N_G(H)^F/H^F}`$.

Let $`\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$. Let $`S_\theta `$ be the stabilizer of $`\theta `$ in $`N_G(H)^F`$. We show that $`S_\theta =H^F`$. The inclusion $`H^FS_\theta `$ is immediate. Now let $`gS_\theta `$. We must show that $`gH^F`$. Let $`T𝒯(H)^F`$ be maximally split. Since $`gHg^1=H`$, we see that $`gTg^1𝒯(H)^F`$ is maximally split hence $`gTg^1=hTh^1`$ for some $`hH^F`$. Replacing $`g`$ by $`gh^1`$ we see that we may assume that $`gTg^1=T`$. Now conjugation by $`g`$ keeps fixed $`\theta |_{T^F}`$. By \[DL,  5.13\], $`g`$ is a product of elements in $`N_H(T)`$. In particular, $`gH`$. Hence $`gH^F`$. The lemma is proved.

### 3.9

Let $`(H,\theta )𝒳_{G,F}`$. Let $`_{H,\theta }(G)`$ be the set of all $`\rho (G^F)`$ such that $`(\rho :R_{T,G}^{\theta _T})_G0`$ for some $`T𝒯(H)^F`$. (We write $`\theta _T`$ instead of $`\theta |_{T^F}`$.) According to \[DL,  6.3,  5.20\], if $`Z_G=Z_G^0`$, we have a partition

(a) $`(G^F)=_{(H,\theta )}_{H,\theta }(G^F)`$

where $`(H,\theta )`$ runs over a set of representatives for the $`G^F`$-orbits on $`𝒳_{G,F}`$.

According to \[L\], if $`Z_G=Z_G^0`$, for any $`(H,\theta )𝒳_{G,F}`$, there exists $`\kappa \{1,1\}`$ and a bijection

(b) $`_1(H^F)_{H,\theta }(G^F)`$

(denoted by $`\rho \rho ^{H,\theta }`$) such that for any $`\rho _1(H^F)`$ and any $`T𝒯(H)^F`$ we have $`(\rho :R_{T,H}^1)_H=\kappa (\rho ^{H,\theta }:R_{T,G}^{\theta _T})_G`$.

###### Lemma 3.10

Assume that $`Z_G=Z_G^0`$. Let $`(H,\theta )𝒳_{G,F}`$. Let $`\kappa `$ be as above. Let $`\rho _1(H^F)`$. Let $`f^\rho :𝒯(H)^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ be the $`H^F`$-invariant function such that $`\rho =H_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}_{T𝒯(H)^F}\overline{)T^F}f^\rho (T)R_{T,H}^1+\xi `$, $`\xi 𝒪(H^F)`$ (see 3.3).

(a) We have $`\rho ^{H,\theta }=\kappa H_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}_{T𝒯(H)^F}\overline{)T^F}f^\rho (T)R_{T,G}^{\theta _T}+\xi ^{}`$ with $`\xi ^{}𝒪(G^F)`$.

(b) Let $`gG^F`$ be semisimple. We have

$$\rho ^{H,\theta }(g)=\kappa \overline{)Z_G(g)^F}_p^{}\underset{g^{}}{}ϵ_{Z_G^0(g)}ϵ_{Z_H^0(g^{})}\overline{)Z_H(g^{})^F}_p^{}^1R_{f^\rho ,Z_H^0(g^{})}(1)\theta (g^{})$$

where $`g^{}`$ runs through a set of representatives for the conjugacy classes in $`H^F`$ that are contained in $`𝒞_{G^F}(g)`$.

(c) We have $`\rho ^{H,\theta }(1)=\kappa G_p^{}^FH_{}^{F}{}_{p^{}}{}^{1}ϵ_Gϵ_HR_{f^\rho ,H}(1)`$.

To prove the identity in (a) it is enough to show that both sides have the same inner product with $`R_{T^{},G}^{\theta _T^{}}`$ for any $`T^{}𝒯(H)^F`$. By \[DL,  6.8\], the inner product of the right hand side with $`R_{T^{},G}^{\theta _T^{}}`$ is

$$\kappa \underset{T𝒯(H)^F}{}\frac{f^\rho (T)}{\overline{)H^F}}\mathrm{}(g_1G^F;g_1Tg_1^1=T^{},\text{Ad}(g_1)\text{ carries }\theta _T\text{ to }\theta _T^{})$$
$`d`$
For any $`g_1`$ in (d) we see that $`\text{Ad}(g_1)`$ carries $`S(T,\theta _T)`$ to $`S(T^{},\theta _T^{})`$ hence it carries $`(H,\theta )`$ to $`(H,\theta )`$. By the argument in the proof of 3.8 we have $`g_1H^F`$. Thus, (d) is equal to

$$\kappa H_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}\underset{T𝒯(H)^F}{}f^\rho (T)\mathrm{}(g_1H^F;g_1Tg_1^1=T^{}).$$

Now

$`(\rho ^{H,\theta }:R_{T^{},G}^{\theta _T^{}})_G=\kappa (\rho :R_{T^{},H}^1)_H`$
$`=\kappa H_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}{\displaystyle \underset{T𝒯(H)^F}{}}f^\rho (T)\mathrm{}(hH^F;hTh^1=T^{}).`$
This proves (a). We prove (b). By \[DL,  7.5\] we have $`\xi ^{}(g)=0`$. Hence

$`\rho ^{H,\theta }(g)=\kappa H_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}{\displaystyle \underset{T𝒯(H)^F}{}}\overline{)T^F}f^\rho (T)R_{T,G}^{\theta _T}(g)`$
$`=\kappa H_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}{\displaystyle \underset{T𝒯(H)^F}{}}f^\rho (T)ϵ_{Z_G^0(g)}ϵ_T\overline{)Z_G(g)^F}_p^{}{\displaystyle \underset{g^{}𝒞_{G^F}(g)T}{}}\theta (g^{})`$
$`=\kappa H_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}{\displaystyle \underset{g^{}𝒞_{G^F}(g)H}{}}ϵ_{Z_G^0(g)}ϵ_{Z_H^0(g^{})}{\displaystyle \underset{T𝒯(H)^F;g^{}T}{}}f^\rho (T)`$
$`\times ϵ_{Z_H^0(g^{})}ϵ_T\overline{)Z_G(g)^F}_p^{}\theta (g^{})`$
$`=\kappa H_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}{\displaystyle \underset{g^{}𝒞_{G^F}(g)H}{}}ϵ_{Z_G^0(g)}ϵ_{Z_H^0(g^{})}\overline{)Z_H^0(g^{})^F}_pR_{f,Z_H^0(g^{})}(1)\overline{)Z_G(g)^F}_p^{}\theta (g^{})`$
and (b) follows. Now (c) is a special case of (b). The lemma is proved.

The following result is well known.

###### Lemma 3.11

Let $`A,B,C`$ be three conjugacy classes in $`G^F`$ and let $`(a,b,c)A\times B\times C`$. We have

$$\mathrm{}\{(\stackrel{~}{a},\stackrel{~}{b},\stackrel{~}{c})A\times B\times C;\stackrel{~}{a}\stackrel{~}{b}\stackrel{~}{c}=1\}=\frac{\overline{)A}\overline{)B}\overline{)C}}{\overline{)G^F}}\underset{\rho (G^F)}{}\frac{\rho (a)\rho (b)\rho (c)}{\rho (1)}.$$
$`a`$
### 3.12

If $`A,B,C`$ are three semisimple conjugacy classes in $`G^F`$, we set

$`𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}={\displaystyle \underset{\rho _1(G^F)}{}}q^{\nu (Z_G^0(a))\nu (Z_G^0(b))\nu (Z_G^0(c))+\nu (G)r(G_{ad})}`$
$`\times R_{f^\rho ,Z_G^0(a)}(1)R_{f^\rho ,Z_G^0(b)}(1)R_{f^\rho ,Z_G^0(c)}(1)R_{f^\rho ,G}(1)^1`$
where $`f^\rho :𝒯(G)^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ are defined as in 3.3 and $`(a,b,c)A\times B\times C`$.

If, in addition, $`H𝒳_{G,F}^{}`$ and $`A^{},B^{},C^{}`$ are three semisimple conjugacy classes in $`H^F`$ such that $`A^{}A,B^{}B,C^{}C`$, we set

$`t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}=ϵ_{Z_G^0(a^{})}ϵ_{Z_H^0(a^{})}ϵ_{Z_G^0(b^{})}ϵ_{Z_H^0(b^{})}ϵ_{Z_G^0(c^{})}ϵ_{Z_H^0(c^{})}`$
$`\times {\displaystyle \frac{\overline{)A}\overline{)B}\overline{)C}}{\overline{)G^F}}}{\displaystyle \frac{\overline{)Z_G(a)^F}_p^{}\overline{)Z_G(b)^F}_p^{}\overline{)Z_G(c)^F}_p^{}}{\overline{)Z_H(a^{})^F}_p^{}\overline{)Z_H(b^{})^F}_p^{}\overline{)Z_H(c^{})^F}_p^{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{H_p^{}^F}{G_p^{}^F}}`$
$`\times q^{\delta +\nu (Z_H^0(a^{}))+\nu (Z_H^0(b^{}))+\nu (Z_H^0(c^{}))\nu (H)+r(H)}`$
where $`(a^{},b^{},c^{})A^{}\times B^{}\times C^{}`$ and

$$\delta =3\nu (G)\nu (Z_G^0(a))\nu (Z_G^0(b))\nu (Z_G^0(c)).$$

Note that $`ϵ_{Z_G^0(a)}=ϵ_{Z_G^0(a^{})},ϵ_{Z_G^0(b)}=ϵ_{Z_G^0(b^{})},ϵ_{Z_G^0(c)}=ϵ_{Z_G^0(c^{})}`$. We set

$`Y_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}`$
$`=t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}𝒢_{H,F;A^{},B^{},C^{}}q^{dimZ_H^0}{\displaystyle \underset{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}{}}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{}),`$
$$X_{G,F;H;A,B,C}=\underset{A^{},B^{},C^{}}{}Y_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}},$$

where $`A^{}`$ (resp. $`B^{},C^{}`$) runs through the conjugacy classes in $`H^F`$ that are contained in $`A`$ (resp. $`B,C`$).

Let $`\overline{𝒳}_{G,F}^{}`$ be a set of representatives for the orbits of the natural $`G^F`$-action on $`𝒳_{G,F}^{}`$.

###### Lemma 3.13

Assume that $`Z_G=Z_G^0`$. We have

$$q^\delta \mathrm{}\{(\stackrel{~}{a},\stackrel{~}{b},\stackrel{~}{c})A\times B\times C;\stackrel{~}{a}\stackrel{~}{b}\stackrel{~}{c}=1\}=\underset{H\overline{𝒳}_{G,F}^{}}{}\frac{X_{G,F;H;A,B,C}}{\overline{)N_G(H)^F/H^F}}.$$

We rewrite the right hand side of 3.11(a) using the partition 3.9(a), the bijection 3.9(b) and using Lemma 3.8; we obtain

$$\mathrm{}\{(\stackrel{~}{a},\stackrel{~}{b},\stackrel{~}{c})A\times B\times C;\stackrel{~}{a}\stackrel{~}{b}\stackrel{~}{c}=1\}=\underset{H\overline{𝒳}_{G,F}^{}}{}\overline{)N_G(H)^F/H^F}^1X_{G,F;H;A,B,C}^{}$$

where for any $`H𝒳_{G,F}^{}`$ we set

$$X_{G,F;H;A,B,C}^{}=\frac{\overline{)A}\overline{)B}\overline{)C}}{\overline{)G^F}}\underset{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}{}\underset{\rho _1(H^F)}{}\frac{\rho ^{H,\theta }(a)\rho ^{H,\theta }(b)\rho ^{H,\theta }(c)}{\rho ^{H,\theta }(1)}.$$

We evaluate $`\rho ^{H,\theta }(a),\rho ^{H,\theta }(b),\rho ^{H,\theta }(c)`$ using 3.10(b), and $`\rho ^{H,\theta }(1)`$ using 3.10(c); we obtain $`X_{G,F;H;A,B,C}^{}=q^\delta X_{G,F;H;A,B,C}`$ (see 3.12). The lemma follows.

###### Lemma 3.14

(a) In the setup of 3.12 we have $`|t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}|𝕔`$ where $`𝕔>0`$ is an integer depending only on the Coxeter graph on $`G`$ (and not on $`q,F,H,A,B,C,A^{},B^{},C^{}`$).

(b) More precisely,

$`|t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}{\displaystyle \frac{ϵ_{Z_G^0(a^{})}ϵ_{Z_H^0(a^{})}ϵ_{Z_G^0(b^{})}ϵ_{Z_H^0(b^{})}ϵ_{Z_G^0(c^{})}ϵ_{Z_H^0(c^{})}}{\overline{)\overline{Z}_H(a^{})^F}\overline{)\overline{Z}_H(b^{})^F}\overline{)\overline{Z}_H(c^{})^F}}}|𝕔^{}q^1`$
where $`𝕔^{}>0`$ is an integer depending only on the Coxeter graph on $`G`$ (and not on $`q,F,H,A,B,C,A^{},B^{},C^{}`$).

This is easily checked.

###### Lemma 3.15

Assume that $`Z_G=Z_G^0`$.

(a) There exists an integer $`𝕔>0`$ depending only on the Coxeter graph of $`G`$ (and not on $`q,F`$) such that $`\overline{)\overline{𝒳}_{G,F}^{}}𝕔`$.

(b) There exists an integer $`𝕔^{}>0`$ depending only on the Coxeter graph of $`G`$ (and not on $`q,F`$) such that for any $`H𝒳_{G,F}^{}`$ we have $`\overline{)H_{\mathrm{}}^FH_{\mathrm{}}^F}𝕔^{}q^{dim(Z_H^0)1}`$.

Let $`G^{}`$ be a connected reductive group of type dual to that of $`G`$. Let $`F^{}:G^{}\mathrm{@}>>>G^{}`$ be the Frobenius map corresponding to an $`𝔽_q`$-rational structure on $`G`$. Let $`𝒴_{G^{},F^{}}`$ be the set of all pairs $`(E,g)`$ where $`gG^{}^F^{}`$ is semisimple and $`E=Z_G^{}(g)`$. Let $`𝒴_{G^{},F^{}}^{}`$ be the set of all subgroups $`E`$ of $`G^{}`$ such that $`(E,g)𝒴_{G^{},F^{}}`$ for some $`g`$. For $`E𝒴_{G^{},F^{}}^{}`$ let $`Z_{E,\mathrm{}}=\{gZ_E;Z_G^{}(g)=E\}`$. Let $`Z_{E,\mathrm{}}`$ be the union of all connected components of $`Z_E`$ that contain some point in $`Z_{E,\mathrm{}}^F^{}`$. Let $`\overline{𝒴}_{G^{},F^{}}^{}`$ be a set of representatives for the orbits of the natural $`G^{}^F^{}`$-action on $`𝒴_{G^{},F^{}}^{}`$.

Using \[DL,  5.20,  5.24\] we can reduce the statements of the lemma to statements about $`G^{}`$:

(a) There exists an integer $`𝕔>0`$ depending only on the Coxeter graph of $`G^{}`$ (and not on $`q,F^{}`$) such that $`\overline{)\overline{𝒴}_{G^{},F^{}}^{}}𝕔`$.

(b) There exists an integer $`𝕔^{}>0`$ depending only on the Coxeter graph of $`G^{}`$ (and not on $`q,F^{}`$) such that for any $`(E,g)𝒴_{G^{},F^{}}^{}`$ we have $`\overline{)Z_{E,\mathrm{}}^F^{}Z_{E,\mathrm{}}^F^{}}𝕔^{}q^{dim(Z_E^0)1}`$.

The proof of (a) is standard. For (b) we note that any connected component of $`Z_{E,\mathrm{}}`$ is an irreducible variety isomorphic to $`Z_E^0`$ and its intersection with $`Z_{E,\mathrm{}}`$ is open and dense in it. The lemma is proved.

### 3.16

Let $`H`$ be an $`F`$-stable connected reductive subgroup of $`G`$ such that $`r(H)=r(G)`$. Let $`W`$ be the Weyl group of $`G`$ and let $`W^{}`$ be the Weyl group of $`H`$. Note that $`F`$ acts naturally on $`W`$ and on $`W^{}`$.

Let $`T_0,B_0`$ be a pair consisting of an $`F`$-stable maximal torus of $`G`$ and an $`F`$-stable Borel subgroup of $`G`$ containing $`T_0`$. Let $`T_0^{},B_0^{}`$ be a pair consisting of an $`F`$-stable maximal torus of $`H`$ and an $`F`$-stable Borel subgroup of $`H`$ containing $`T_0^{}`$. We identify $`W=N_G(T_0)/T_0`$, $`W^{}=N_H(T_0^{})/T_0^{}`$ in the standard way. We choose $`\gamma G`$ such that $`\gamma T_0\gamma ^1=T_0^{}`$. Let $`m=\gamma ^1F(\gamma )`$. We have $`mN_G(T_0)`$. We have an imbedding $`W^{}W`$ induced by $`N_H(T_0^{})\mathrm{@}>>>N_G(T_0),h\gamma ^1h\gamma `$. We identify $`W^{}`$ with its image under this imbedding. The map $`F:W^{}\mathrm{@}>>>W^{}`$ corresponds under this identification to the restriction of the map $`F^{}:W\mathrm{@}>>>W`$ induced by $`N_G(T_0)\mathrm{@}>>>N_G(T_0),gmF(g)m^1`$.

Let $`E`$ be an irreducible representation of $`W`$ with a given isomorphism $`\lambda _E:E\mathrm{@}>>>E`$ of finite order such that $`\lambda _E(we)=F(w)\lambda _E(e)`$ for all $`wW,eE`$.

Define $`f_E:𝒯(G)^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ by $`f_E(T)=\text{tr}(w_T\lambda _E:E\mathrm{@}>>>E)`$ where $`w_T`$ is the image in $`W`$ of $`z^1F(z)N_G(T_0)`$ where $`zG`$ is such that $`zT_0z^1=T`$. (Note that $`f_E(T)`$ is independent of the choice of $`z`$.)

Define $`𝕍_j^{}`$ in terms of $`W^{}`$ in the same way as $`𝕍_j`$ was defined in 2.1 in terms of $`W`$. Then $`W^{}`$ acts naturally on $`𝕍_j^{}`$ and there is a natural isomorphism $`\lambda _j:𝕍_j^{}\mathrm{@}>>>𝕍_j^{}`$ of finite order such that $`\lambda _j(w^{}x)=F^{}(w^{})\lambda _j(x)`$ for all $`w^{}W^{},x𝕍_j^{}`$.

We define a linear map $`\stackrel{~}{\lambda }_j:\text{Hom}_W^{}(E,𝕍_j^{})\mathrm{@}>>>\text{Hom}_W^{}(E,𝕍_j^{})`$ by $`(\stackrel{~}{\lambda }_j(\xi ))(e)=\lambda _j^1\xi (m\lambda _E(e))`$ for all $`\xi \text{Hom}_W^{}(E,𝕍_j^{})`$, $`eE`$. (One checks easily that $`\stackrel{~}{\lambda }_j(\xi )\text{Hom}_W^{}(E,𝕍_j^{})`$.) One also checks that $`\stackrel{~}{\lambda }_j`$ is a map of finite order. With this notation, we have

$$R_{f_E,H}(1)=\underset{j0}{}\text{tr}(\stackrel{~}{\lambda }_j,\text{Hom}_W^{}(E,𝕍_j^{}))q^j.$$
$`a`$
This follows in a standard way from the definitions using the formula \[DL,  7.1\] for $`R_{T,G}^1(1)`$.

###### Lemma 3.17

Let $`H𝒳_{G,F}^{}`$. Let $`gH^F`$ be a semisimple element. Assume that $`Z_H^0(g)`$ is split over $`𝔽_q`$ and that $`F`$ acts trivially on $`\overline{Z}_H(g)`$. Let $`g^{}H^F`$ be such that $`g,g^{}`$ are conjugate in $`H`$. Then:

(a) $`ϵ_{Z_G^0(g^{})}=ϵ_{Z_H^0(g^{})}`$;

(b) $`F`$ acts trivially on $`\overline{Z}_H(g^{})`$.

We can find a maximal torus $`T`$ of $`Z_H^0(g)`$ such that $`F(T)=T`$ and $`T`$ is $`𝔽_q`$-split. Let $`T^{}`$ be a maximal torus of $`Z_H^0(g^{})`$ such that $`FT^{}=T^{}`$. We can find $`xH`$ such that $`xgx^1=g^{},xTx^1=T^{}`$. Let $`m=x^1F(x)`$. Then $`mZ_H(g)`$ and $`mN_H(T)`$. Let $`_G,_H`$ (resp. $`_G^{},_H^{}`$) be the set of roots of $`Z_G^0(g),Z_H^0(g)`$ (resp. $`Z_G^0(g^{}),Z_H^0(g^{})`$) with respect to $`T`$ (resp. $`T^{}`$). Then $`F`$ acts naturally on $`_G,_H,_G^{},_H^{}`$. Let $`_G^{}{}_{}{}^{+},_H^{}^+`$ be a set of positive roots for $`_G^{},_H^{}`$ respectively. It is well known that

$`ϵ_T^{}ϵ_{Z_G^0(g^{})}=(1)^{\mathrm{}(\alpha _G^{}{}_{}{}^{+};F(\alpha )_G^{}_G^{}{}_{}{}^{+})}`$,

$`ϵ_T^{}ϵ_{Z_H^0(g^{})}=(1)^{\mathrm{}(\alpha _H^{}{}_{}{}^{+};F(\alpha )_H^{}_H^{}{}_{}{}^{+})}`$.

Now $`\text{Ad}(x)`$ establishes bijections $`_G_G^{}`$ and $`_H_H^{}`$ under which the action of $`F`$ on $`_G^{},_H^{}`$ corresponds to the action given by $`\text{Ad}(m)`$ on $`_G,_H`$ (since $`F`$ acts trivially on $`_G,_H`$). Also under this bijection, $`_G^{}^+`$ (resp. $`_H^{}^+`$) corresponds to a set of positive roots $`_G^+`$ (resp. $`_H^+`$) for $`_G`$ (resp. $`_H`$). It follows that

$`ϵ_T^{}ϵ_{Z_G^0(g^{})}=(1)^{\mathrm{}(\alpha _G{}_{}{}^{+};\text{Ad}(m)(\alpha )_G_G{}_{}{}^{+})}`$,

$`ϵ_T^{}ϵ_{Z_H^0(g^{})}=(1)^{\mathrm{}(\alpha _H{}_{}{}^{+};\text{Ad}(m)(\alpha )_H_H{}_{}{}^{+})}`$.

The right hand sides of the previous two equalities may be also interpreted as the determinant of the linear map induced by $`\text{Ad}(m)`$ on the group of characters of $`T`$. (We use that $`m`$ defines an element in the Weyl group of $`Z_G^0(g)`$ or $`Z_H^0(g)`$ with respect to $`T`$.) Hence those right hand sides coincide. It follows that (a) holds.

Now $`\text{Ad}(x)`$ also induces an isomorphism $`\overline{Z}_H(g)\overline{Z}_H(g^{})`$ under which the action of $`F`$ on $`\overline{Z}_H(g^{})`$ corresponds to the action of $`\text{Ad}(m)`$ on $`\overline{Z}_H(g)`$ (since $`F`$ acts trivially on $`\overline{Z}_H(g)`$). Hence to prove (b) it is enough to show that $`\text{Ad}(m)`$ acts trivially on $`\overline{Z}_H(g)`$. Since $`mZ_H(g)`$, this follows from the well known fact that $`\overline{Z}_H(g)`$ is commutative. The lemma is proved.

### 3.18

In this subsection we assume that $`(H,F)`$ is like $`(G,F)`$ in 3.1. We assume that $`H=H_{der}`$ and that $`C`$ is a semisimple conjugacy class in $`H`$. Let $`aC`$. We assume that $`F(a)=a`$ and that $`F`$ acts trivially on $`\overline{Z}_H(a)`$. We assume also that $`F`$ acts trivially on $`Z=Z_{\stackrel{~}{H}}`$.

(a) Define $`\mu :Z\mathrm{@}>>>H^F/\pi (\stackrel{~}{H}^F)`$ by $`z\pi (h)`$ where $`h\stackrel{~}{H}`$ satisfies $`h^1F(h)=z`$. Then $`\mu `$ is a group isomorphism.

The proof is standard.

Let $`Z^{}`$ be the set of all $`zZ`$ such that $`\stackrel{~}{a},z\stackrel{~}{a}`$ are conjugate in $`\stackrel{~}{H}`$; here $`\stackrel{~}{a}\pi ^1(a)\stackrel{~}{H}`$. (This definition does not depend on the choice of $`\stackrel{~}{a}`$.) Note that $`Z^{}`$ is a subgroup of $`Z`$. Let $`X`$ be the set of $`H^F`$-conjugacy classes contained in $`C^F`$.

(b) Define $`\mu ^{}:Z^{}\mathrm{@}>>>X`$ by $`z𝒞_{H^F}(\pi (g)a\pi (g)^1)`$ where $`g\stackrel{~}{H}`$ is such that $`g^1F(g)=g_1,g_1\stackrel{~}{a}g_1^1=za`$. Then $`\mu ^{}`$ is a bijection.

The proof is standard.

(c) The composition $`Z^{}\mathrm{@}>>>Z\mathrm{@}>\mu >>H^F/\pi (\stackrel{~}{H}^F)`$ (the first map is the inclusion) coincides with the composition $`Z^{}\mathrm{@}>\mu ^{}>>X\mathrm{@}>>>H^F/\pi (\stackrel{~}{H}^F)`$ (the second map is $`A\pi (g)`$ where $`gA`$).

This follows from the definitions.

(d) Assume that $`N1`$ is an integer such that $`a^N=1`$. Then $`z^N=1`$ for all $`zZ^{}`$.

Indeed if $`zZ^{}`$ we have $`z\stackrel{~}{a}=g\stackrel{~}{a}g^1`$ for some $`gG`$. Taking $`N`$-th powers gives $`z^N\stackrel{~}{a}^N=g\stackrel{~}{a}^Ng^1`$ hence (using $`\stackrel{~}{a}^NZ`$): $`z^N\stackrel{~}{a}^N=gg^1\stackrel{~}{a}^N=\stackrel{~}{a}^N`$, hence $`z^N=1`$.

Assume now that $`(C_2^{},C_3^{},C_5^{})`$ is a 235-triple for $`H`$. Let $`a_nC_n^{},n=2,3,5`$. We assume that $`F(a_n)=a_n`$ and $`F`$ acts trivially on $`\overline{Z}_H(a_n)`$ for $`n=2,3,5`$.

Let $`Z_n^{},X_n`$ be defined like $`Z^{},X`$ in terms of $`C_n^{},a_n`$ instead of $`C,a`$.

(e) The map $`X_2\times X_3\times X_5\mathrm{@}>>>H^F/\pi (\stackrel{~}{H}^F)`$, given by $`(A,B,C)\pi (abc)`$ where $`(a,b,c)A\times B\times C`$, is injective.

Using (a),(b),(c), we see that this is equivalent to the statement that the map $`Z_2^{}\times Z_3^{}\times Z_5^{}\mathrm{@}>>>Z`$ given by multiplication in $`Z`$ is injective. From (d) we see that any element $`zZ_n^{}`$ satisfies $`z^n=1`$. Then the injectivity of the map above follows from the fact that an element of a finite abelian group can be written in at most one way as a product of elements of order dividing $`2,3,5`$.

In the remainder of this subsection we assume in addition that $`H𝒳_{G,F}^{}`$ where $`(G,F)`$ as in 3.1 is such that $`G=G_{ad}`$, $`G`$ simple of type $`E_m`$, $`m=6,7,8`$. (Recall that $`H=H_{der}`$.)

(f) The image $`I`$ of the map in (e) is exactly $`U=\{xH^F/\pi (\stackrel{~}{H}^F);x^{30}=1\}`$.

By (d), we have $`IU`$. Now $`\overline{)I}=\overline{)Z_2^{}}\overline{)Z_3^{}}\overline{)Z_5^{}}`$ and $`\overline{)U}`$ can be easily determined by inspection of the various cases. We find that $`\overline{)I}=\overline{)U}`$ hence $`I=U`$.

((f) ought to be true also in type $`D`$, but we have not checked it, as we don’t need it.) In particular, the map in (e) is a bijection except if $`(G,H)`$ is of type $`(E_8,D_5\times A_3)`$ or $`(E_7,A_3\times A_3\times A_1)`$ in which case the image has index $`2`$.

###### Lemma 3.19

Assume that $`G=G_{ad}`$. Let $`F_0:G\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ be the Frobenius map corresponding to an $`𝔽_p`$-rational structure on $`G`$. There exists an integer $`s_01`$ such that if $`s1`$ is an integer divisible by $`s_0`$, and $`H𝒳_{G,F_0^s}^{}`$ is semisimple, then $`H`$ is split over $`𝔽_{p^s}`$.

Let $`G^{}`$ be as in the proof of 3.15. Let $`F_0^{}:G^{}\mathrm{@}>>>G^{}`$ be the Frobenius map corresponding to an $`𝔽_p`$-rational structure on $`G^{}`$. As in the proof of 3.15, we see that it is enough to verify the following statement:

(a) There exists an integer $`s_01`$ such that if $`s1`$ is an integer divisible by $`s_0`$, and $`gG^{}^{F_0^{}^s}`$ is a semisimple element such that $`H=Z_G^{}(g)`$ is semisimple, then $`H`$ is split over $`𝔽_{p^s}`$.

The set of all $`g^{}G^{}`$ such that $`g^{}`$ is semisimple and $`Z_G^{}(g^{})`$ is semisimple is a union of finitely many conjugacy classes $`A_1,A_2,\mathrm{},A_m`$ in $`G^{}`$. Pick $`g_rA_r`$ for $`r[1,m]`$. Let $`H_r=Z_G^{}(g_r)`$. We can find an integer $`s_01`$ such that $`g_rG^{}^{F_0^{}^{s_0}}`$ and $`H_r`$ is split over $`𝔽_{p^{s_0}}`$, $`r=1,\mathrm{},m`$. If $`s1`$ is an integer divisible by $`s_0`$ then $`g_rG^{}^{F_0^{}^s}`$ and $`H_r`$ is split over $`𝔽_{p^s}`$, $`r=1,\mathrm{},m`$. Now let $`gG^{}^{F_0^{}^s}`$ be such that $`H=Z_G^{}(g)`$ is semisimple. We have $`gA_r`$ for some $`r`$. Hence $`gA_r^{F_0^{}^s}`$. Now $`Z_G^{}(g_r)`$ is connected since $`G^{}`$ is simply connected. It follows that $`G^{}^{F^{}^s}`$ acts transitively (by conjugation) on $`A_r^{F_0^{}^s}`$. In particular, $`g,g_r`$ are conjugate under $`G^{}^{F^{}^s}`$. It follows that $`H=Z_G^{}(g)`$ is split over $`𝔽_{p^s}`$. The lemma is proved.

## 4. Estimates

###### Lemma 4.1

Let $`G,q,F`$ be as in 3.1. Let $`A,B,C`$ be conjugacy classes in $`G^F`$ such that $`AC_2,BC_3,CC_5`$ where $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is a 235-triple in $`G`$. Assume that the assumptions of 2.2 hold. Then $`|𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}|𝕔`$ where $`𝕔`$ is a constant depending only on $`G`$ (not on $`F,q,A,B,C`$). Moreover, if $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is not regular, then $`|𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}|𝕔^{}q^1`$ where $`𝕔^{}`$ is a constant depending only on $`G`$ (not on $`F,q,A,B,C`$).

We use the notation of 2.1. We may assume that $`(g_2,g_3,g_5)A\times B\times C`$. Now $`F`$ acts naturally on $`W`$. Hence it acts naturally on the set of families of $`W`$. By \[L,  4.23\] we have a partition

$`_1(G^F)=_{}_{1,}(G^F)`$

($``$ runs over the $`F`$-stable families in $`W`$) such that the following holds: if $`\rho _{1,}(G^F)`$, then

$$f^\rho =\underset{E}{}s_{\rho ,E}f_E,$$

where $`E`$ runs through the representations in $``$ that are ”$`F`$-stable”, $`s_{\rho ,E}`$ are complex numbers that are bounded above (when $`q`$ varies) and $`f_E:𝒯(G)^F\mathrm{@}>>>`$ is as in 3.16. Using 3.16(a) we see that

$$R_{f^\rho ,G}(1)=\underset{E}{}s_{\rho ,E}\underset{j}{}\text{tr}(\sigma _j,\text{Hom}_W(E,𝕍_j))q^j,$$

$$R_{f^\rho ,Z_G(g_n)^0}(1)=\underset{E}{}s_{\rho ,E}\underset{j}{}\text{tr}(\sigma _j^{(n)},\text{Hom}_{W_n}(E|_{W_n},𝕍_j^{(n)}))q^j,n=2,3,5,$$

where $`\sigma _j,\sigma _j^{(n)}`$ are linear maps of finite order. Then

$`R_{f^\rho ,Z_G(g_2)^0}(1)R_{f^\rho ,Z_G(g_3)^0}(1)R_{f^\rho ,Z_G(g_5)^0}(1)`$

is a linear combination with bounded coefficients of powers $`q^j`$ where

$`jb_2^{}(E)+b_3^{}(E^{})+b_5^{}(E^{\prime \prime })`$ with $`E,E^{},E^{\prime \prime }`$

(hence $`j_{n=2,3,5}a_n^{}()`$), while $`R_{f^\rho ,G}(1)`$ is a linear combination with bounded coefficients of powers $`q^j`$ where $`jb^{}(E)`$ with $`E`$ (hence $`ja^{}()`$) and in fact it is known that the coefficient of $`q^{a^{}()}`$ is non-zero and its inverse is bounded above. Now

$`𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}=_{}𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C,}`$

where $``$ runs over the $`F`$-stable families in $`W`$ and $`𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C,}`$ is defined like $`𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}`$ but with $`\rho `$ restricted to $`_{1,}(G^F)`$. The arguments above show, using 2.2(b), that each $`𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C,}`$ is bounded above; and, in the case where $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is not regular, that each $`q𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C,}`$ is bounded above. The lemma follows.

### 4.2

In the setup of 4.1, assume that $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is regular. By the method of 4.1, we see that

(a) $`q(𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}1)`$ is bounded above.

###### Lemma 4.3

Let $`G`$ be as in 3.1. Let $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ be a regular 235-triple in $`G_{der}`$. Then there exists $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$ such that $`\psi `$ gives rise to $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ as in 1.7.

Since this statement depends only on $`G_{der}`$ and we can find an imbedding of $`G_{der}`$ into a connected reductive group with connected centre and derived subgroup $`G_{der}`$, we see that we may assume that $`G`$ has connected centre. We may also assume that $`dimG>0`$ and that the lemma is true when $`G`$ is replaced by a group whose derived group has strictly smaller dimension than that of $`G_{der}`$. Assume that there is no $`\psi `$ as in the lemma (for $`G`$). Let $`(g_2,g_3,g_5)C_2\times C_3\times C_5`$. Since $`g_nG_{der}`$, we may choose $`q,F`$ as in 3.1 in such a way that $`g_n\pi (\stackrel{~}{G}^F)`$ for $`n=2,3,5`$. We may also assume that $`G`$, $`Z_G^0(g_2),Z_G^0(g_3),Z_G^0(g_5)`$ are split over $`𝔽_q`$ and that $`q`$ is large.

We write the identity in 3.13 for $`(A,B,C)=(𝒞_{G^F}(g_2),𝒞_{G^F}(g_3),𝒞_{G^F}(g_5))`$. The left hand side of that identity is $`0`$, by our assumption. We deduce that

$$\underset{H\overline{𝒳}_{G,F}^{}}{}\overline{)N_G(H)^F/H^F}^1X_{G,F;H;A,B,C}=0.$$
$`a`$
We show that

(b) $`qX_{G,F;H;A,B,C}`$ is bounded above (when $`q,F`$ vary) for any $`H\overline{𝒳}_{G,F}^{},HG`$.

With notation as in 3.12, we have $`qX_{G,F;H;A,B,C}=^{}+^{\prime \prime }`$ where $`^{},^{\prime \prime }`$ are given by

$$\underset{(A^{},B^{},C^{})}{}t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}𝒢_{H,F;A^{},B^{},C^{}}qq^{dimZ_H^0}\underset{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}{}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{});$$

in $`^{}`$, (resp. $`^{\prime \prime }`$), $`(A^{},B^{},C^{})`$ runs over all triples of conjugacy classes in $`H^F`$ such that $`A^{}A,B^{}B,C^{}C`$ and $`A^{}\stackrel{~}{A}^{},B^{}\stackrel{~}{B}^{},C^{}\stackrel{~}{C}^{}`$ where $`(\stackrel{~}{A}^{},\stackrel{~}{B}^{},\stackrel{~}{C}^{})`$ is a 235-triple in $`H`$, and $`(\stackrel{~}{A}^{},\stackrel{~}{B}^{},\stackrel{~}{C}^{})`$ is regular (resp. non-regular) for $`H`$.

Now $`^{\prime \prime }`$ is bounded above; indeed, in each term, $`t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}`$ is bounded above (by 3.14), $`q𝒢_{H,F;A^{},B^{},C^{}}`$ is bounded above (by 4.1) and $`q^{dimZ_H^0}_{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})`$ is bounded above since $`q^{dimZ_H^0}\overline{)H_{\mathrm{}}^F}`$ is bounded above.

We show that $`^{}`$ is bounded above. In each term, $`t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}`$ is bounded above (by 3.14), $`𝒢_{H,F;A^{},B^{},C^{}}`$ is bounded above (by 4.1) and it is enough to show that $`qq^{dimZ_H^0}_{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})`$ is bounded above or that

$$qq^{dimZ_H^0}\underset{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}{}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})qq^{dimZ_H^0}\underset{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^FH_{\mathrm{}}^F}{}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})$$

is bounded above. Now $`qq^{dimZ_H^0}_{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^FH_{\mathrm{}}^F}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})`$ is bounded above since $`qq^{dimZ_H^0}\overline{)H_{\mathrm{}}^FH_{\mathrm{}}^F}`$ is bounded above (by 3.15(b)). Hence it is enough to show that $`_{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})=0`$. Since $`H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$ is a union of $`H_{}^F`$-cosets in $`H_{}^F`$, it is enough to show that $`a^{}b^{}c^{}H_{der}`$. Assume that $`a^{}b^{}c^{}H_{der}`$ for some (hence any) $`(a^{},b^{},c^{})A^{}\times B^{}\times C^{}`$. Since $`a^{},b^{},c^{}`$ have orders dividing $`2,3,5`$, it follows that each of $`a^{},b^{},c^{}`$ is in $`H_{der}`$. Hence $`\stackrel{~}{A}^{},\stackrel{~}{B}^{},\stackrel{~}{C}^{}`$ are contained in $`H_{der}`$. Since $`(\stackrel{~}{A}^{},\stackrel{~}{B}^{},\stackrel{~}{C}^{})`$ is regular in $`H`$, we may apply to it the induction hypothesis; we see that there exists $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,H)`$ such that $`\psi (x_2)\stackrel{~}{A}^{},\psi (x_3)\stackrel{~}{B}^{}`$, $`\psi (x_5)\stackrel{~}{C}^{}`$. Since $`\stackrel{~}{A}^{}C_2,\stackrel{~}{B}^{}C_3,\stackrel{~}{C}^{}C_5`$, we see that $`\psi (x_n)C_n`$ for $`n=2,3,5`$. This contradicts our assumption. Thus, we have $`a^{}b^{}c^{}H_{der}`$ and the boundedness of $`^{}`$ (hence (b)) is established.

Using now (a), we deduce that $`qX_{G,F;G;A,B,C}`$ is bounded above. Setting $`t=t_{G,F;G;A,B,C;A,B,C},𝒢=𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}`$, we have

$$qX_{G,F;G;A,B,C}=qt𝒢q^{dimZ_G^0}\underset{\theta G_{}^F}{}\theta (g_2g_3g_5)=qt𝒢q^{dimZ_G^0}\overline{)G_{}^F}$$

since $`g_2g_3g_5\pi (\stackrel{~}{G}^F)`$. From 3.14(b) we see that $`t^1`$ is bounded above and it is clear that $`q^{dimZ_G^0}G_{}^{F}{}_{}{}^{1}`$ is bounded above. It follows that $`q𝒢`$ is bounded above. This contradicts 4.2. The lemma is proved.

### 4.4

Assume now that $`G`$ (as in 1.2) is adjoint of type $`E_8`$ and that $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is the unique regular 235 triple of $`G`$. Let $`d`$ be the number of $`G`$-orbits on $`\text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$. To determine $`d`$ we may assume that $`k`$ is as in 3.1. Let $`q,F`$ be as in 3.1. We write the identity 3.11(a) for $`(A,B,C)=(C_2^F,C_3^F,C_5^F)`$ (these are three conjugacy classes of $`G^F`$). Assume that we can evaluate the right hand side of 3.11(a) for infinitely many $`q`$ and that it is of the form $`\mathrm{\Delta }q^D+`$ lower powers of $`q`$ where $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is a constant. Then 3.11(a) implies that $`\{(a,b,c)C_2\times C_3\times C_5;abc=1\}`$ has exactly $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ irreducible components of dimension $`D`$ and it follows that $`d=\mathrm{\Delta }`$. (This strategy was suggested in \[S\].)

###### Theorem 4.5

Let $`G`$ be as in 1.2 and let $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ be a regular 235-triple of $`G`$. Assume that $`G=G_{ad}`$. Let $`N=\overline{)Z_{\stackrel{~}{G}}}`$. Let $`g_nC_n`$ and let $`N_n=\overline{)\overline{Z}_G(g_n)}`$, $`n=2,3,5`$. Then, up to $`G`$-conjugacy, there are exactly $`\frac{N}{N_2N_3N_5}`$ elements $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ that give rise to $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$.

We may assume that $`G`$ is simple. In the case where $`G`$ is of type $`A`$ or $`D`$, the theorem can be obtained from the results in §1. In the rest of the proof we assume that $`G`$ is of type $`E_m,m=6,7,8`$ (although the same proof should work without this assumption).

We will carry out the strategy in 4.4, using the results in §2, §3. We may assume that $`k`$ is as in 3.1. Let $`F_0`$ be a Frobenius map for an $`𝔽_p`$-rational structure on $`G`$. Let $`q=p^s^{},F=F_0^s^{}`$ where $`s^{}`$ is sufficiently large and divisible by a fixed integer $`s_0^{}1`$. By choosing $`s_0^{}`$ apropriately we may assume that $`F`$ acts trivially on $`Z_{\stackrel{~}{G}}`$ that $`g_n\pi (\stackrel{~}{G}^F)`$, that $`Z_G^0(g_n)`$ is split over $`F_q`$ and that $`F`$ acts trivially on $`\overline{Z}_G(g_n)`$ for $`n=2,3,5`$. (The choice of $`s_0^{}`$ will be made more precise later in the proof.) Let $`\delta =3\nu \nu _2\nu _3\nu _5`$. (Notation of 2.1.) Let $`\mathrm{\Delta }=\frac{N}{N_2N_3N_5}`$. We will show that

$$q(q^\delta \mathrm{}\{(g_2,g_3,g_5)C_2^F\times C_3^F\times C_5^F;g_2g_3g_5=1\}\mathrm{\Delta })$$
$`a`$
is bounded above when $`q`$ varies or equivalently, that

$$q(q^\delta \underset{(A,B,C)𝒳}{}\mathrm{}\{(g_2,g_3,g_5)A\times B\times C;g_2g_3g_5=1\}\mathrm{\Delta })$$

is bounded above. Here $`𝒳`$ is the set of triples $`(A,B,C)`$ of conjugacy classes in $`G^F`$ such that $`AC_2,BC_3,CC_5`$. By 3.13, it is enough to show that

(b) $`q(_{(A,B,C)𝒳}X_{G,F;G;A,B,C}\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is bounded above,

(c) $`q_{(A,B,C)𝒳}X_{G,F;H;A,B,C}`$ is bounded above for any $`H\overline{𝒳}_{G,F}^{},HG`$.

We have

$`_{(A,B,C)𝒳}X_{G,F;G;A,B,C}=_{A,B,C}t_{G,F;G;A,B,C;A,B,C}𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}_{\theta G_{}^F}\theta (abc)`$

where $`(a,b,c)A\times B\times C`$. The sum over $`\theta `$ is $`0`$ unless $`abc\pi (\stackrel{~}{G}^F)`$ (or equivalently, each of $`a,b,c`$ is in $`\pi (\stackrel{~}{G}^F)`$), in which case it is $`N`$. Thus, (b) is equivalent to the statement that

$`q(t_{G,F;G;A,B,C;A,B,C}𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}N\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is bounded above;

here $`(A,B,C)𝒳`$ is uniquely determined by the condition

$`A\pi (\stackrel{~}{G}^F),B\pi (\stackrel{~}{G}^F),C\pi (\stackrel{~}{G}^F)`$.

This follows from the fact that $`q(t_{G,F;G;A,B,C;A,B,C}(N_2N_3N_5)^1)`$ is bounded above (see 3.14, 3.17) and $`q(𝒢_{G,F;A,B,C}1)`$ is bounded above (see 4.2). Thus, (b) holds.

Now, in (c), we have (as in the proof of 4.3)

$`q_{(A,B,C)𝒳}X_{G,F;H;A,B,C}=^{}+^{\prime \prime }`$

where $`^{},^{\prime \prime }`$ are given by

$$\underset{(A^{},B^{},C^{})}{}t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}𝒢_{H,F;A^{},B^{},C^{}}qq^{dimZ_H^0}\underset{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}{}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{});$$

in $`^{}`$, (resp. $`^{\prime \prime }`$), $`(A^{},B^{},C^{})`$ runs over the set $`𝒳^{}`$ (resp. $`𝒳^{\prime \prime }`$) consisting of all triples of conjugacy classes in $`H^F`$ such that $`A^{}\stackrel{~}{A}^{},B^{}\stackrel{~}{B}^{},C^{}\stackrel{~}{C}^{}`$ where $`(\stackrel{~}{A}^{},\stackrel{~}{B}^{},\stackrel{~}{C}^{})`$ is a 235-triple in $`H`$, $`\stackrel{~}{A}^{}C_2,\stackrel{~}{B}^{}C_3,\stackrel{~}{C}^{}C_5`$ and $`(\stackrel{~}{A}^{},\stackrel{~}{B}^{},\stackrel{~}{C}^{})`$ is regular (resp. non-regular) for $`H`$; moreover $`(A,B,C)`$ is the unique triple of conjugacy classes in $`G^F`$ such that $`A^{}A,B^{}B,C^{}C`$.

Now $`^{\prime \prime }`$ is bounded above (exactly as in the proof of 4.3).

We now estimate $`^{}`$.

Assume first that $`dimZ_H>0`$. Again, $`^{}`$ is bounded above: in each term, $`t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}`$ is bounded above (by 3.14), $`𝒢_{H,F;A^{},B^{},C^{}}`$ is bounded above (by 4.1) and it is enough to show that $`qq^{dimZ_H^0}_{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})`$ is bounded above or that

$`qq^{dimZ_H^0}_{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})qq^{dimZ_H^0}_{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^FH_{\mathrm{}}^F}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})`$

is bounded above. Now $`qq^{dimZ_H^0}_{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^FH_{\mathrm{}}^F}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})`$ is bounded above since $`qq^{dimZ_H^0}\overline{)H_{\mathrm{}}^FH_{\mathrm{}}^F}`$ is bounded above (by 3.15(b)). Hence it is enough to show that $`_{\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})=0`$. Since $`H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$ is a union of $`H_{}^F`$-cosets in $`H_{}^F`$, it is enough to show that $`a^{}b^{}c^{}H_{der}`$. Assume that $`a^{}b^{}c^{}H_{der}`$ for some (hence any) $`(a^{},b^{},c^{})A^{}\times B^{}\times C^{}`$. Since $`a^{},b^{},c^{}`$ have orders dividing $`2,3,5`$, it follows that each of $`a^{},b^{},c^{}`$ is in $`H_{der}`$. Hence $`\stackrel{~}{A}^{},\stackrel{~}{B}^{},\stackrel{~}{C}^{}`$ are contained in $`H_{der}`$. Since $`(\stackrel{~}{A}^{},\stackrel{~}{B}^{},\stackrel{~}{C}^{})`$ is regular in $`H`$, we may apply to it Lemma 4.3; we see that there exists $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,H)`$ such that $`\psi (x_2)\stackrel{~}{A}^{}`$, $`\psi (x_3)\stackrel{~}{B}^{}`$, $`\psi (x_5)\stackrel{~}{C}^{}`$. Since $`\stackrel{~}{A}^{}C_2,\stackrel{~}{B}^{}C_3,\stackrel{~}{C}^{}C_3`$, we see that $`\psi (x_n)C_n`$ for $`n=2,3,5`$. Since $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ is regular for $`G`$, we have $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$. This contradicts the fact that $`Z_G(\psi (𝒜_5))`$ contains the non-trivial torus $`Z_H^0`$. Thus, we have $`a^{}b^{}c^{}H_{der}`$ and the boundedness of $`^{}`$ is established.

Next, assume that $`dimZ_H=0`$. We show that $`^{}`$ is bounded above. Since for $`(A^{},B^{},C^{})𝒳^{}`$, $`q(𝒢_{H,F;A^{},B^{},C^{}}1)`$ is bounded above (see 4.2) and $`t_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}`$ is bounded above (see 3.14), it is enough to show that, for any regular 235-triple $`(C_2^{},C_3^{},C_5^{})`$ of $`H`$ such that $`C_n^{}C_n`$, $`n=2,3,5`$, and for any $`\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$,

$`_{(A^{},B^{},C^{})𝒴}qt_{G,F;H;A,B,C;A^{},B^{},C^{}}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})`$

is bounded above. Here $`𝒴=\{(A^{},B^{},C^{})𝒳^{};A^{}C_2^{},B^{}C_3^{},C^{}C_5^{}\}`$ and $`(a^{},b^{},c^{})A^{}\times B^{}\times C^{}`$. Using 3.14(c) we see that it is enough to show that, for any $`\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$,

$`_{(A^{},B^{},C^{})𝒴}\tau _{A^{},B^{},C^{}}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})=0`$

where

$$\tau _{A^{},B^{},C^{}}=\frac{ϵ_{Z_G^0(a^{})}ϵ_{Z_H^0(a^{})}ϵ_{Z_G^0(b^{})}ϵ_{Z_H^0(b^{})}ϵ_{Z_G^0(c^{})}ϵ_{Z_H^0(c^{})}}{\overline{)\overline{Z}_H(a^{})^F}\overline{)\overline{Z}_H(b^{})^F}\overline{)\overline{Z}_H(c^{})^F}}.$$

By choosing $`s_0^{}`$ appropriately, we may assume that $`H`$ is split over $`𝔽_q`$ (see 3.19), that $`F`$ acts trivially on $`Z_{\stackrel{~}{H}}`$, that $`C_n^{}`$ contains an $`𝔽_q`$-rational point $`h_n`$ such that $`Z_H^0(h_n)`$ is split over $`F_q`$ and $`F`$ acts trivially on $`\overline{Z}_H(h_n)`$, $`n=2,3,5`$. Using 3.17, we see then that, in the last fraction, the numerator is $`1`$ and the denominator is $`\overline{)\overline{Z}_H(h_2)}\overline{)\overline{Z}_H(h_3)}\overline{)\overline{Z}_H(h_5)}`$; in particular, $`\tau _{A^{},B^{},C^{}}`$ is independent of $`A^{},B^{},C^{}`$. Thus, we are reduced to showing that

$`_{(A^{},B^{},C^{})𝒴}\theta (a^{}b^{}c^{})=0`$

Using the results at the end of 3.18, we see that the last equality is equivalent to the equality

$`_{xH^F/\pi (\stackrel{~}{H}^F);x^{30}=1}\theta (x)=0`$

where $`\theta `$ is regarded as a character of $`H^F/\pi (\stackrel{~}{H}^F)`$. More precisely, if $`(G,H)`$ is not of type $`(E_8,D_5\times A_3)`$ or $`(E_7,A_3\times A_3\times A_1)`$, we must show that $`_{xH^F/\pi (\stackrel{~}{H}^F)}\theta (x)=0`$ and this follows from the fact that $`\theta 1`$ (since $`\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$). If $`(G,H)`$ is of type $`(E_8,D_5\times A_3)`$ or $`(E_7,A_3\times A_3\times A_1)`$, we must show that the restriction of $`\theta `$ to the subgroup of $`H^F/\pi (\stackrel{~}{H}^F)`$ ($`/4`$ or $`/4/2`$) consisting of all $`x`$ such that $`x^2=1`$ is $`1`$; this again follows from $`\theta H_{\mathrm{}}^F`$.

This proves (c). Thus, (a) is proved.

Let $`𝕏=\{(a,b,c)C_2\times C_3\times C_5;abc=1\}`$ (an algebraic variety defined over $`𝔽_q`$). From (a) we see that there exists an integer $`M>0`$ such that $`q^s(q^{\delta s}\overline{)𝕏^{F^s}}\mathrm{\Delta })M`$ for $`s=1,2,\mathrm{}`$. As it is known, this implies that among the irreducible components of $`𝕏`$ there are exactly $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ of maximum dimension, and that maximum dimension is $`\delta `$. By 1.3, any $`G`$-orbit on $`𝕏`$ has dimension $`\delta `$. It follows that $`𝕏`$ has exactly $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ $`G`$-orbits. Since $`𝕏`$ is naturally in bijection with the set of all $`\psi \text{Hom}(𝒜_5,G)`$ that give rise to $`(C_2,C_3,C_5)`$ we see that the theorem is proved.

### 4.6

For $`G=G_{ad}`$ of type $`E_6,E_7,E_8`$, the fraction $`\frac{N}{N_2N_3N_5}`$ is $`\frac{3}{131}=1`$, $`\frac{2}{211}=1`$, $`\frac{1}{111}=1`$ respectively. We see that in type $`E_8`$ there is exactly one $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ up to $`G`$-conjugacy.

For $`G=G_{ad}`$ of type $`A_1,A_2,A_3,A_4,A_5`$, the fraction $`\frac{N}{N_2N_3N_5}`$ is $`\frac{2}{211}=1`$, $`\frac{3}{131}=1`$, $`\frac{4}{211}=2`$, $`\frac{5}{115}=1`$, $`\frac{6}{231}=1`$ respectively.

For $`G=G_{ad}`$ of type $`D_4,D_5,D_6,D_8`$, the fraction $`\frac{N}{N_2N_3N_5}`$ is $`\frac{4}{411}=1`$, $`\frac{4}{211}=2`$, $`\frac{4}{411}=1`$, $`\frac{4}{411}=1`$ respectively.

## 5. Relation to homomorphisms $`PGL_2(k)\mathrm{@}>>>G`$

### 5.1

In this section we assume that either $`p=0`$ or $`p`$ is large enough. Let $`G`$ be as in 1.2. Let $`\mathrm{\Phi }:PGL_2(k)\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ be a homomorphism. Composing $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ with one of the two regular homomorphisms $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>PGL_2(k)`$ (up to $`PGL_2(k)`$-conjugacy, see 1.8), we obtain two homomorphisms $`𝒜_5\mathrm{@}>>>G`$ (which may or may not be $`G`$-conjugate).

In \[S\], it is pointed out that by applying this construction to a $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ whose image contains a regular unipotent element in $`G`$ (of type $`E_m`$) we obtain a regular $`\psi `$. Applying the same procedure for $`G=G_{ad}`$ of type $`A_{m1}`$, we see that all regular $`\psi `$ in 1.8 can be thus obtained for $`m=2,3,5,6`$ but only one of the two regular $`\psi `$ is thus obtained for $`m=4`$. This procedure can be applied for $`G`$ as in 1.9. In that case, for $`m=4`$, the first two $`\psi `$ in 1.9(a) are obtained; for $`m=5`$, the first $`\psi `$ in 1.9(b) is obtained; for $`m=6`$, the first $`\psi `$ in 1.9(c) is obtained; for $`m=8`$, the first $`\psi `$ in 1.9(d) is obtained.

Let us analyze what happens if we use some other $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$.

Let $`G`$ be as in 1.9 and assume that $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ is such that its image contains a subregular unipotent element of $`G`$. For $`m=4`$, we thus obtain the third and fourth $`\psi `$ in 1.9(a); for $`m=5`$, we thus obtain the second $`\psi `$ in 1.9(b); for $`m=6`$, we thus obtain the second and third $`\psi `$ in 1.9(c).

Let $`G`$ be as in 1.9(d). If $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ is such that its image contains a unipotent element whose Jordan blocks in the standard representation have sizes $`1,3,5,7`$, then the associated $`\psi `$ is regular.

If $`G`$ (as in 1.10) is of type $`E_8`$ and $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ is such that the centralizer of its image is the symmetric group in $`5`$ letters, then the $`\psi `$ obtained from $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ by the procedure above is again regular (the corresponding 235-triple is the one described in 1.10). Using 4.5, the $`\psi `$ thus obtained must be the same up to conjugacy as the one attached to a regular unipotent class.

These arguments together with 4.5 show that, if $`G=G_{ad}`$ is simple, then any $`\psi \text{Hom}_{reg}(𝒜_5,G)`$ is obtained from some $`\mathrm{\Phi }:PGL_2(k)\mathrm{@}>>>G`$, except for one case in type $`A_3`$.