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Here is a construction of a very broad class of "Lie-like" algebras, and I want to know more about them.

Here is the main definition: Suppose $\mathfrak{g}$ is a complex semsimple Lie algebra and $\Gamma$ is a finite abelian group. Define a "hybrid algebra" over $(\mathfrak{g},\Gamma)$ as a pair $(V,\Phi)$ where $V$ is a collection of $\mathfrak{g}$-modules $V_a$ indexed by $\Gamma$ and $\Phi$ is a collection of intertwining maps $\phi_{a,b}:V_a\otimes V_b\rightarrow V_{a+b}$ indexed by $\Gamma\times\Gamma$.

What is known about these things? Here are a few things that I know. This is a generalization which encompasses semisimple Lie algebras and classical Lie superalgebras. Thus, for example, a Lie superalgebra $\mathfrak{g}$ is a particular type of hybrid algebra over the pair $(\mathfrak{g}_0,\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})$, where $\mathfrak{g}_0$ is the even component of $\mathfrak{g}$. Similarly, one may realize the exceptional $52$-dimensional Lie algebra $\mathfrak{f}_4$ as a hybrid algebra over the pair $(\mathfrak{d}_4,V)$, where $V$ is the Klein four group and using the triality representations of $\mathfrak{d}_4\cong\mathfrak{so(8)}$. There are similar (and similarly elegant) constructions for other semisimple Lie algebras.

Beyond Lie algebras and Lie superalgebras, what are the interesting classes of hybrid algebras? What else can we say?

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  • $\begingroup$ For the case of $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ a related question is this one: mathoverflow.net/questions/2828/… $\endgroup$ Dec 3, 2010 at 22:24
  • $\begingroup$ Could you please provide a reference for the $\mathfrak{f}_4$ construction? $\endgroup$ Dec 3, 2010 at 23:00
  • $\begingroup$ I would also love to see some references! If this is new work, I'd love to see the paper when it's written. My e-mail adress is on my Berkeley website (linked from my profile here). $\endgroup$ Dec 4, 2010 at 3:30
  • $\begingroup$ r0b0t: Have you ever heard of Freudenthal's magic square? The construction of $\mathfrak{f}_4$ in this framework, using triality, is fairly standard. There is a Wikipedia article about it, for example. As far as I know, the concept of a hybrid algebra is new. (Someone correct me if I am wrong.) Thus, I don't know of a printed reference which explains $\mathfrak{f}_4$ in this context. $\endgroup$ Dec 4, 2010 at 14:35

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The general idea smells like coloured Lie superalgebras. In a nutshell, take the category of $\Gamma$-graded vector spaces and skew braiding by a bicharacter of $\Gamma$. Now consider Lie algebras in this category.

If I understand correctly, things reduce to either graded Lie algebras or graded Lie superalgebras, and you don't get any new interesting theory or examples. There is a book by Bakhturin-Mikhalev-Petrogradsky-Zaicev on them but it costs like a second-hand car...

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    $\begingroup$ I have seen this construction for color Lie superalgebras. Hybrid algebras are much more general because there is a priori no specific conditions on the intertwining maps. That is, the reason you don't get any particularly new theory with color Lie superalgebras is that one also requires a twisted version of the Jacobi identity. Thus, a significant problem for hybrid algebras is to seek weaker forms of the Jacobi identity (additional conditions on the intertwining maps) which may lead to interesting structures. $\endgroup$ Dec 4, 2010 at 13:22
  • $\begingroup$ @David, if you do not require any conditions on the intertwining maps, then the theory of these hybrid algebras is going to be quite arid... $\endgroup$ Dec 4, 2010 at 16:36
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There was an investigation of semi-simple Lie algebras graded with finite-generated abelaian groups. These algebras are the examples of your hybrid algebras. There is a good invariant theory of representation $\mathfrak{g}\colon V_a$ (and $G\colon V_a$) for any $a\in\Gamma$. Here is the useful referrence: http://www.math.msu.su/department/algebra/staff/timashev/metabel.ps

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