Minuscule embeddings

Abstract

We study embeddings $J \rightarrow G$ of simple linear algebraic groups with the following property: the simple components of the $J$ module Lie($G$)/Lie($J$) are all minuscule representations of $J$. One family of examples occurs when the group $G$ has roots of two different lengths and $J$ is the subgroup generated by the long roots. We classify all such embeddings when $J = SL_2$ and $J = SL_3$, show how each embedding implies the existence of exceptional algebraic structures on the graded components of Lie($G$), and relate properties of those structures to the existence of various twisted forms of $G$ with certain relative root systems.