This paper gives a new upper bound for the essential dimension and the essential 2-dimension of the split simply connected group of type $E_7$ over a field of characteristic not 2 or 3. In particular, $\operatorname{ed}(E_7) \leq 29$, and $\operatorname{ed}(E_7;2) \leq 27$.

We verify our earlier conjecture and use it to prove that the semisimple parts of the rational Jordan-Kac-Vinberg decompositions of a rational vector all lie in a single rational orbit.

Let $W$ be a Weyl group, $\Sigma$ a set of simple reflections in $W$ related to a basis $\Delta$ for the root system $\Phi$ associated with $W$ and $\theta$ an involution such that $\theta(\Delta) = \Delta$. We show that the set of $\theta$-twisted involutions in $W$, $\mathcal{I}_{\theta} = \{w\in W \mid \theta(w) = w^{-1}\}$ is in one to one correspondence with the set of regular involutions $\mathcal{I}_{\operatorname{Id}}$. The elements of $\mathcal{I}_{\theta}$ are characterized by sequences in $\Sigma$ which induce an ordering called the Richardson-Springer Poset. In particular, for $\Phi$ irreducible, the ascending Richardson-Springer Poset of $\mathcal{I}_{\theta}$, for nontrivial $\theta$ is identical to the descending Richardson-Springer Poset of $\mathcal{I}_{\operatorname{Id}}$.

Let $k$ be a field of characteristic not $2,3$. Let $G$ be an exceptional simple algebraic group over $k$ of type $\F$, $^1{\E_6}$ or $\E_7$ with trivial Tits algebras. Let $X$ be a projective $G$-homogeneous variety. If $G$ is of type $\E_7$, we assume in addition that the respective parabolic subgroup is of type $P_7$. The main result of the paper says that the degree map on the group of zero cycles of $X$ is injective.

We give a short proof of Totaro's theorem that every$E_8$-torsor over a field $k$ becomes trivial over a finiteseparable extension of $k$of degree dividing $d(E_8)=2^63^25$.

Suppose we are given a finite-dimensional vector space $V$ equipped with an $F$-rational action of a linearly algebraic group $G$, with $F$ a characteristic zero field. We conjecture the following: to each vector $v\in V(F)$ there corresponds a canonical $G(F)$-orbit of semisimple vectors of $V$. In the case of the adjoint action, this orbit is the $G(F)$-orbit of the semisimple part of $v$, so this conjecture can be considered a generalization of the Jordan decomposition. We prove some cases of the conjecture.

As a consequence of a theorem of Rost-Springer, we establish that the cyclicity problem for central simple algebra of degree~5 on fields containg a fifth root of unity is equivalent to the study of anisotropic elements of order 5 in the split group of type~$E_8$.