Adjoint orbit types of compact exceptional Lie group G2 in its Lie algebra

Abstract

A Lie group $G$ naturally acts on its Lie algebra $\gg$, called the adjoint action. In this paper, we determine the orbit types of the compact exceptional Lie group $G_2$ in its Lie algebra $\gg_2$. As results, the group $G_2$ has four orbit types in the Lie algebra $\gg_2$ as $$ G_2/G_2, \quad G_2/(U(1) \times U(1)), \quad G_2/((Sp(1)\times U(1))/\Z_2), \quad G_2/((U(1)\times Sp(1))/\Z_2). $$ These orbits, especially the last two orbits, are not equivalent, that is, there exists no $G_2$-equivariant homeomorphism among them.