# Building Lie-like algebras from modules over semisimple Lie algebras

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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For the case of $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ a related question is this one: mathoverflow.net/questions/2828/… – José Figueroa-O'Farrill Dec 3 '10 at 22:24
Could you please provide a reference for the $\mathfrak{f}_4$ construction? – Vít Tuček Dec 3 '10 at 23:00
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). – Theo Johnson-Freyd Dec 4 '10 at 3:30
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. – David Richter Dec 4 '10 at 14:35

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
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.