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Why is the dimension of the cartan subalgebra $2n-\text{rank}(A)$ in the defintion from Kumar's book. From a few examples I can see why the defintion is the way it is, but, I would like a better understanding of why the dimension of the Cartan subalgebra is $2n-\text{rank}(A)$ whereand not $A$ is the Cartan matrix$n$ or something else. I

To be specific why does the Lie algebra associated to the universal extention $\tilde{L}SU(2)$ not have an associated Cartan matrix while the affine Lie algebra associated to $\mathbb{T}\ltimes\tilde{L}SU(2)$ does?

From a few examples I can see why the defintion is the way it is, but, I would like a better understanding of why the dimension of the Cartan subalgebra is $2n-\text{rank}(A)$ where $A$ is the Cartan matrix.

To be specific why does the Lie algebra associated to the universal extention $\tilde{L}SU(2)$ not have an associated Cartan matrix while the affine Lie algebra associated to $\mathbb{T}\ltimes\tilde{L}SU(2)$ does?

Why is the dimension of the cartan subalgebra $2n-\text{rank}(A)$ in the defintion from Kumar's book. From a few examples I can see why the defintion is the way it is, but, I would like a better understanding of why the dimension of the Cartan subalgebra is $2n-\text{rank}(A)$ and not $n$ or something else. I

To be specific why does the Lie algebra associated to the universal extention $\tilde{L}SU(2)$ not have an associated Cartan matrix while the affine Lie algebra associated to $\mathbb{T}\ltimes\tilde{L}SU(2)$ does?

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Jim Humphreys
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Kac Moody algebra defintion

From a few examples I can see why the defintion is the way it is, but, I would like a better understanding of why the dimension of the Cartan subalgebra is $2n-\text{rank}(A)$ where $A$ is the Cartan matrix.

To be specific why does the Lie algebra associated to the universal extention $\tilde{L}SU(2)$ not have an associated Cartan matrix while the affine Lie algebra associated to $\mathbb{T}\ltimes\tilde{L}SU(2)$ does?