Orthogonal Groups 𝒪(n) over GF(2) as Automorphisms

Abstract

Let (V, Q) be a quadratic vector space over a fixed field. Orthogonal group 𝒪(V, Q) is defined as automorphisms on (V, Q). If Q = I, it is 𝒪(V, I) = 𝒪(n). There is a nice result that 𝒪(n) ≅ Aut(𝔬(n)) over ℝ or ℂ, where 𝔬(n) is the Lie algebra of n × n alternating matrices over the field. How about another field The answer is “Yes” if it is GF(2). We show it explicitly with the combinatorial basis ℭ. This is a verification of Steinberg's main result in 1961, that is, Aut(𝔬(n)) is simple over the square field, with a nonsimple exception Aut(𝔬(5)) ≅ 𝒪(5) ≅ 𝔖6.