Simple Irreducible Subgroups of Exceptional Algebraic Groups

Abstract

A closed subgroup of a semisimple algebraic group is called irreducible if it lies in no proper parabolic subgroup. In this paper we classify all irreducible subgroups of exceptional algebraic groups $G$ which are connected, closed and simple of rank at least $2$. Consequences are given concerning the representations of such subgroups on various $G$-modules: for example, with one exception, the conjugacy classes of irreducible simple connected subgroups of rank at least $2$ are determined by their composition factors on the adjoint module for $G$.