If (X, x) is a pointed scheme over a ring k, we introduce a (generalized) partition ord(x, X/k). If G is a reductive group scheme over k, the existence of a nilpotent subscheme N(G) of Lie(G) is discussed. We prove that ord(x, N(G)/k) characterizes the orbits in N(G), their codimension and their adjacency structure, provided that G is Gln, or SPn and 1/2 E k. For SOn only partial results are obtained. We give presentations of some singularities of N(G). Tables for its orbit structure are added. Introduction. Let G be a reductive algebraic group over a field of characteristic p. Let g be its Lie-algebra and N(G) the closed subset of the nilpotent elements of g, cf. [19]. The G-orbits in N(G) are characterized by weighted Dynkin diagrams,cf. [20, III]. Consider the following question. Is it possible to classify the orbits in N(G) using only the local structure of the variety N(G)? We prove in (4.3) that the answer is positive if G is Gln or if G is SPn and p * 2. To this end we introduce a local invariant ord for any pointed scheme in ? 1. We develop the theory of N(G) over an arbitrary ground ring k in ?2. In ?3 we restrict our attention to the classical group schemes. Using a cross section we obtain information about the orbit structure of N(G). Our main theorem (4.2) relates ord(x, N(G)/k) to the Jordan normal form of the nilpotent endomorphism induced by x in the classical representation. This paper is a condensed version of [13]. The author wishes to express his gratitude to his thesis adviser, Professor T. A. Springer. Conventions and notations. The cardinality of a set V is denoted by # V Any infinite cardinal is represented by oo. If x is a real number then [x] is thc greatest integer in x. All rings are commutative with 1. Let M be a module over a ring A. If M is free the rank of M is denoted by rgAM. An element r E A is called M-regular if a: M M is injective. Let a = (a,, .. . , ar) be a Received by the editors March 18, 1975. AMS (MOS) subject classifications (1970). Primary 14B05, 14L15; Secondary 05A17, 10C30, 13H15, 20G35.
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