Absolute connectedness and classical groups

Abstract

We introduce and develop the model-theoretic notions of absolute connectedness and type-absolute connectedness for groups. We prove that groups of rational points of split semisimple linear groups (that is, Chevalley groups) over arbitrary infinite fields are absolutely connected and characterize connected Lie groups which are type-absolutely connected. We prove that the class of type-absolutely connected group is exactly the class of discretely topologized groups with trivial Bohr compactification, that is the class of minimally almost periodic groups. As an application we generalize some results of Conversano-Pillay and construct a group $G$ where G^{00}/G^{\infty} is far from being abelian.