group of Lie type

English

Etymology

Named for their close relationship with the (infinite) Lie groups, since a compact Lie group may be viewed as the rational points of a reductive linear algebraic group over the field of real numbers.

Noun

group of Lie type (plural groups of Lie type)

1. (group theory) Usually, a finite group that is closely related to the group of rational points of a reductive linear algebraic group with values in a finite field.

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with Lie group.
• The phrase group of Lie type does not have a widely accepted precise definition, but the important collection of finite simple groups of Lie type does have a precise definition, and they make up most of the groups in the classification of finite simple groups.