Conjugacy Classes of Centralizers in $G_2$

Abstract

Let $G$ be an algebraic group of type $G_2$ over a field $k$ of characteristic $\neq 2,3$. In this paper we calculate centralizers of semisimple elements in anisotropic $G_2$. Using these, we show explicitly that there are six conjugacy classes of centralizers in the compact real form of $G_2$.