Upper Bounds on the Torsion Index of Half-Spin Groups

Abstract

The torsion index of split simple groups has been extensively studied, notably by Totaro, who calculated the torsion indexes of the spin groups and $E_{8}$ in [5] and [6], respectively. The aim of this paper is to provide upper bounds for the torsion index of half-spin groups, the only remaining case in the calculation of torsion indexes for split simple groups. We present general upper bounds for the torsion index of half-spin groups, showing that, except for certain exceptional cases, it is at most twice that of the corresponding spin groups. For these exceptional cases, the torsion index is bounded above by at most $2^3$ times that of the spin groups. Our results also reveal that in many cases, the torsion index of half-spin groups coincides with that of the spin groups.