Questions tagged [lie-algebras]
Lie algebras are algebraic structures which were introduced to study the concept of infinitesimal transformations. The term "Lie algebra" (after Sophus Lie) was introduced by Hermann Weyl in the 1930s. In older texts, the name "infinitesimal group" is used. Related mathematical concepts include Lie groups and differentiable manifolds.
753
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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Follow-up to Steinberg's problem (12) in his 1966 ICM talk?
Steinberg's lecture at the 1966 ICM in Moscow here surveyed his work on regular elements of semisimple algebraic groups, while also formulating a number of then-open questions as "problems" (...
18
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0
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977
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"Special" meanders
One of the open problems in combinatorics is enumeration of meanders.
Here on MO I only could find them under the heading not-especially-famous-long-open-problems-which-anyone-can-understand.
Since my ...
17
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0
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1k
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Relations in a certain Lie algebra
Let ${\mathfrak g}$ be the (real) Lie algebra generated by infinitely many generators $D_i, E_i$ with $i=1,2,3,\dots$ subject to the following relations for any natural numbers $i,j$:
\begin{gather*}
[...
17
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0
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333
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Ado's theorem and the reduction to positive characteristic
The synopsis: proofs of Ado theorem in positive characteristic are simple, and in characteristic $0$ are difficult. Can one infer the characteristic $0$ case from the positive characteristic case?
The ...
17
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0
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546
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Lie algebras vs. graph complexes
A ribbon graph is a graph in which every vertex has valence at least three and is equipped with a cyclic ordering of its adjacent half edges. The ribbon graph complex $\mathcal{G}_*$ is the chain ...
17
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903
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Combinatorial identity involving the Coxeter numbers of root systems
The setup is:
$R$ = irreducible (reduced) root system;
$D$ = connected Dynkin diagram of $R$, with nodes numbered $1,2,...,r$;
$\hat D$ = extended Dynkin diagram, nodes numbered $0,1,2,...,r$;
$\...
16
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0
answers
739
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Is there a "natural" proof of the equality $4^2=2^4$?
This question, or rather any answer that it might receive, would probably belong to the realm of Awfully sophisticated proof for simple facts. Still, I claim that I have quite serious motivation for ...
15
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256
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Lie theoretic meaning to $e^{\text{cycle}} = \text{permutation}$?
It is well known that exponentiating the EGF(exponential generating function) for cycles gives the EGF for permutations: link here. Usually summarized under the catchy slogan ...
15
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214
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Geometry of Affine Kac-Moody Algebras
I recently asked this question on phys.SE and it was suggested to me to ask it here.
One can reconstruct the unitary irreducible representations of compact Lie groups very beautifully in geometric ...
14
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355
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Gel'fand and Fuks' "Globalizing" of cohomology of formal vector fields
I apologize for the length of this question. If anybody already spent some time with cohomology of (formal) vector fields and the results of Gel'fand and Fuks, I imagine a lot can be skipped. I do ...
14
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868
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Local proof of Grothendieck-Riemann-Roch theorem
There is a theorem by Feigin and Tsygan(Theorem 1.3.3 here) which they call "Riemann-Roch" theorem.
Given a smooth morphism $f:S\to N$ of relative dimension $n$ and a vector bundle $E/S$ of ...
13
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0
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187
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Relationship between crystal root operators and usual $e_i, f_i$?
Suppose I am working in a symmetrizable Kac–Moody Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$. Let $e_1,\dotsc,e_n,f_1,\dotsc,f_n$ denote the usual Chevalley generators of $\mathfrak{g}$. Let $V$ be a highest weight ...
13
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406
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Conceptual meaning of (g, K)-cohomology
Let $G$ be a reductive Lie group (over $\bf C$, say), $K$ a maximal compact subgroup and $\frak g$, $\frak k$ their Lie algebras.
It is standard that Lie algebra cohomology $H^n({\frak g}, V)$ of ...
13
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Source of a formula for tensor product multiplicities?
This is a follow-up to a recent question by Allen Knutson here, involving a special type of tensor product multiplicity for a simple Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ over $\mathbb{C}$ (or other ...
12
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Failure of surjectivity in Hotta-Springer specialization: examples for special unipotents?
Last weekend's workshop on Springer theory and its generalizations at UMass demonstrated how far the subject has expanded over four decades, but the original set-up for the Springer correspondence ...
12
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503
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Irreducible representations of Weyl group of F$_4$ on zero weight spaces?
This is a follow-up to a recent question here concerning the natural representation of a Weyl group $W$ on the zero weight space of an irreducible representation $L(\lambda)$ of highest weight $\...
11
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Quiver and relations for blocks of category $\mathcal{O}$
In Vybornov - Perverse sheaves, Koszul IC-modules, and the quiver for the category $\mathscr O$ an algorithm is presented to calculate quiver and relations for blocks of category $\mathcal{O}$ .
...
11
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191
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The $\frak{sl}_2$-representation on a symplectic manifold
Any symplectic manifold $(M,\omega)$ carries a representation of $\frak{sl}_2$: Define the maps
$$
L: \Omega^\bullet \to \Omega^{\bullet}, ~~~~~~~~~ \Lambda: \Omega^\bullet \to \Omega^{\bullet}, ~~~~~~...
11
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619
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How to define (and compute) the Cartan-Killing form of the group of volume-preserving diffeomorphisms?
This question was raised a while ago in a blog post by Terry Tao on the Euler-Arnold equation and he called it "quite tricky".
Has anyone in the meantime tried to formulate this question precisely, ...
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663
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Is there a reasonable way to define "reductive Lie algebra" in prime characteristic?
Among the finite dimensional Lie algebras over a field of characteristic 0, there is a sensible definition of "reductive Lie algebra" going back at least to the 1960 first chapter of N. Bourbaki's ...
11
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Connection between Gelfand-Tsetlin basis and SSYT basis in Schur module
Consider an $n$-dimensional complex vector space $V$ with a chosen basis $e_1,\ldots,e_n$. This basis defines a Cartan decompostion of $GL(V)\cong GL_n$ and for an (integral dominant) highest weight $\...
10
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Each simple real Lie algebra as a representation of its maximal compact subalgebra
I am interested in a detailed description of the Cartan decomposition of each type of simple, real, finite-dimensional Lie algebra. (This is essentially a question about the classification of simple, ...
10
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96
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Non-linear version of the Chevalley–Eilenberg complex
Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a finite-dimensional Lie algebra. In small degrees, the differentials of the Chevalley–Eilenberg complex $C^\bullet(\mathfrak{g}, \mathfrak{g})$ with values in the adjoint ...
10
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285
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Did anybody come across this Lie algebra representation?
Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be – for the sake of simplicity – a complex Lie Algebra. Then we define the antisymmetric linear transformations as
$$
\mathfrak{A(g)} =\big\{\left.\,\alpha \in \mathfrak{gl(g)}\,\...
10
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0
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397
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Gram matrix determinant in dimension 4 and $E_8$
Consider a determinant of a Gram matrix in dimension $4$.
$$\begin{vmatrix}
1 & -\cos(\alpha_1) & -\cos(\alpha_2) & -\cos(\alpha_3)\\
-\cos(\alpha_1) & 1 & -\cos(\alpha_6)& -\...
10
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0
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1k
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Relative Lie algebra cohomology
Forgive me if this question is too elementary however, I haven't found an answer. If $\mathfrak{g}$ is a Lie algebra one can define its Lie algebra cohomology: the definition is quite similar to the ...
10
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479
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What is the importance of the number $k+h^{∨}$ (level+dual Coxeter number)?
The number $k+h^{∨}$ appears at many places in the representation theory of affine Lie algebras (and probably elsewhere). Here $h^{∨}$ is the dual Coxeter number of the root system, and $k$ is the ...
10
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266
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differentiating positive energy LG reps
Background:Let $G$ be a cscsc¹ Lie group, and let $\widetilde{LG}$ be the universal central extension (center = $S^1$) of $LG:=Map_{C^\infty}(S^1,G)$, with the topology inherited from the $C^\infty$ ...
10
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517
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Explicit change of basis for the Schur-Weyl basis
The Schur-Weyl duality states that $\bigotimes_{m=1}^n \mathbb{C}^k$ can be decomposed as a direct sum over the tensor product of irreductible representations of $SU(k)$ and of the symmetric group $\...
9
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345
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How large must the characteristic of $k$ be, for the cohomology of the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{sl}_n(k)$ to be exterior as in characteristic zero?
$\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}$In this question, all Lie algebra cohomology is of the form $H^*(\mathfrak{g}; k)$, with $k$ the trivial one-dimensional representation of $\mathfrak{g}$. All Lie algebra ...
9
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461
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What is wrong with $A^{(2)}_{2n}$?
When dealing with affine Kac-Moody groups, especially geometrically (e.g. by examining their affine flag varieties or affine Grassmannians) I've been taught that time and time again, issues arise in ...
9
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0
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189
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Octonionic Stiefel manifolds
The Stiefel manifolds are presented in this Wikipedia article
over the division algebras $\mathbb{R,C,H}$. In fact, they are presented as homogeneous spaces, respectively for the $A,B,C$,and $D$ ...
9
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159
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Can semisimple orbits be written $\exp(\mathfrak{g})\cdot x$?
Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a complex semisimple Lie algebra and let $G$ be its adjoint group. If $x\in\mathfrak{g}^{rs}$ is a regular semisimple element, is its orbit
$$G\cdot x=\{\mathrm{Ad}_gx:g\in G\}$$
...
9
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0
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450
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Branching rules for compact Lie groups
Let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group, and let $H\subset G$ be a closed subgroup. For an irreducible representation $\pi:G\to\mathrm{End}_\mathbb{C}(V)$ of $G$ ($\dim\pi<\infty$) I want to know ...
9
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242
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Homology of an interesting Lie algebra
Let $U$ and $V$ be finite dimensional complex vector spaces (or perhaps graded vector spaces).
Let $E(U)$ be the "square zero extension" $\mathbb C \oplus U$, made into a commutative ring in such a ...
9
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0
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187
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Littlewood-Richardson sequences and Littlewood-Richardson coefficients
I'm looking for a proof or a reference for the following statement, I give the definitions below:
There exists a Littlewood-Richardson sequence of type $(\alpha, \beta, \lambda)$ if and only if $...
9
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0
answers
181
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Super-extensions of the Poincaré Lie algebra
For $(\mathfrak{g},[-,-])$ an ordinary Lie algebra let me say that a super-extension of it (maybe not the best terminology) is a super-Lie algebra $(\mathfrak{s}, [-,-]_{\mathfrak{s}})$ whose bosonic ...
9
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654
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Software for explicit computations in representations of classical Lie algebras
I'm pretty sure many a mathematician has longed for such a tool but I wasn't able to find such a question here, so here we go.
Is there, by any chance, an existing package or program that allows one ...
9
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356
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Finding $U,V$ in Thompson's Formula
Thompson's formula says, given $A,B \in \mathfrak{su}(n)$, there exists $U,V \in SU(n)$ such that:
$e^{A}e^{B}=e^{UAU^{\dagger} + VBV^{\dagger}}$
Given $a,b \in \mathfrak{su}(4)$ defined by:
$a=J_x ...
9
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404
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How to show the compatibility between Duflo isomorphism and Harish-Chandra isomorphism for semi-simple Lie algebras?
I was told that the Duflo isomorphism is compatible with the Harish-Chandra isomorphism when the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ is semi-simple. However I cannot see why this is true. All I can show is ...
8
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217
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What can we say about the homogeneous spaces $E_8/E_7$ and $E_7/E_6$?
For the three exceptional compact Lie groups $E_8, E_7, E_6$ we have the inclusions
$$
E_6 \subseteq E_7 \subseteq E_8.
$$
What can we say about the the homogeneous spaces
$$
E_8/E_7, ~~~~ E_7/E_6?
$$
...
8
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0
answers
643
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Which infinite-dimensional Lie algebras have realizations as algebras of global sections of vector bundles with special structure?
I would not be surprised by downvotes since this question is at the same time very naïve, very vague and might be asking about things well known for decades. Specifically vagueness comes from the word ...
8
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0
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186
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Cohomology algebra of the maximal nilpotent subalgebra of a semisimple Lie algebra
The answer to this question may be well-known, but I failed to locate it in any obvious source. From the results of Bott (Ann. Math. 66 (1957), 203-248) and Kostant (Ann. Math. 74 (1961), 329-387), it ...
8
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0
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154
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Alternate proof of easiest special case of PBW theorem
Let $L$ be a Lie algebra over a field $k$ of characteristic $0$ (I'm happy for that field to be $\mathbb{C}$) and let $U(L)$ be its universal enveloping algebra. One of the standard consequences of ...
8
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0
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176
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Chevalley-Eilenberg cohomology of polynomial vector fields on $\mathbb{A}^2$
I have a question similar to one given here.
What is the cohomology of the Lie algebra of polynomial vector fields on an affine space $\mathbb{A}^2$ over a field of characteristic $0?$ (I'm interested ...
8
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0
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118
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Invariant complex structures for simple Lie groups
For which simple Lie groups there exists a left-invariant complex structure?
8
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0
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368
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Significance of half sum of non-simple positive roots
In representation theory, there are plenty of places that a $\rho$-shift makes an appearance, where $\rho$ is the half sum of positive roots. See, for instance, this post for some discussions of the ...
8
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0
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385
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Which representations of the Lie algebra of a Lie group come from representations of the group itself?
I think this is very classic mathematics, but I can't find a complete answer in the literature.
Let $G$ be a Lie group, $\mathfrak{g}$ the Lie algebra of $\mathfrak{g}$. Suppose $\rho : \mathfrak{g} \...
8
votes
0
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144
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Semisimple Lie groups admitting a free algebra of invariants
Assume we work over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero.
I know that for a connected semisimple algebraic group there is an upper bound for the number of isomorphism classes of ...
8
votes
0
answers
162
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Generalizing a theorem of Kostant to arbitrary parabolics
Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a simple complex Lie algebra and let $\Delta$ be a system of positive roots relative a choice of Cartan subalgebra and $\mathfrak{b}$ the corresponding Borel subalgebra. Let $B&...