Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2007/iii/paper-5/5/i/solution

The first alternative in the supplied analytic-group theorem would give a faithful representation of in some or . The embedding proved above supplies cyclic subgroups of order for arbitrarily large . Such orders are impossible in either fixed matrix dimension.
In characteristic zero, a matrix of order is diagonalizable over an algebraic closure, because its minimal polynomial divides the separable polynomial . At least one eigenvalue must be a primitive th root of unity; otherwise . The cyclotomic polynomial is irreducible over , since satisfies the Eisenstein criterion at . Consequently that eigenvalue has degree over , which must be at most the matrix dimension . This bounds .
In characteristic , pass from the power-series ring to its fraction field. A matrix of -power order satisfies , so it is unipotent. Writing , nilpotence gives . For ,
Thus its order is at most , again a fixed bound. Therefore the linear alternative is impossible in both coefficient rings.

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