In mathematics, a Lie algebra is a vector space together with an operation called the Lie bracket, an alternating bilinear map , that satisfies the Jacobi identity. In other words, a Lie algebra is an algebra over a field for which the multiplication operation is alternating and satisfies the Jacobi identity. The Lie bracket of two vectors and is denoted . A Lie algebra is typically a non-associative algebra. However, every associative algebra gives rise to a Lie algebra, with the Lie bracket defined as the commutator .
In linear algebra, a square matrix is called diagonalizable or non-defective if it is similar to a diagonal matrix. That is, if there exists an invertible matrix and a diagonal matrix such that . This is equivalent to . This property exists for any linear map: for a finite-dimensional vector space , a linear map is called diagonalizable if there exists an ordered basis of consisting of eigenvectors of . These definitions are equivalent: if has a matrix representation as above, then the column vectors of form a basis consisting of eigenvectors of , and the diagonal entries of are the corresponding eigenvalues of ; with respect to this eigenvector basis, is represented by .
In the mathematical field of representation theory, a weight of an algebra A over a field F is an algebra homomorphism from A to F, or equivalently, a one-dimensional representation of A over F. It is the algebra analogue of a multiplicative character of a group. The importance of the concept, however, stems from its application to representations of Lie algebras and hence also to representations of algebraic and Lie groups. In this context, a weight of a representation is a generalization of the notion of an eigenvalue, and the corresponding eigenspace is called a weight space.
In mathematics, Lie group decompositions are used to analyse the structure of Lie groups and associated objects, by showing how they are built up out of subgroups. They are essential technical tools in the representation theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras; they can also be used to study the algebraic topology of such groups and associated homogeneous spaces. Since the use of Lie group methods became one of the standard techniques in twentieth century mathematics, many phenomena can now be referred back to decompositions.
In mathematics, a Cartan subalgebra, often abbreviated as CSA, is a nilpotent subalgebra of a Lie algebra that is self-normalising. They were introduced by Élie Cartan in his doctoral thesis. It controls the representation theory of a semi-simple Lie algebra over a field of characteristic .
In mathematics, a Lie algebra is semisimple if it is a direct sum of simple Lie algebras..
In mathematics, a maximal compact subgroupK of a topological group G is a subgroup K that is a compact space, in the subspace topology, and maximal amongst such subgroups.
In mathematics, a unipotent elementr of a ring R is one such that r − 1 is a nilpotent element; in other words, (r − 1)n is zero for some n.
In linear algebra, it is often important to know which vectors have their directions unchanged by a linear transformation. An eigenvector or characteristic vector is such a vector. Thus an eigenvector of a linear transformation is scaled by a constant factor when the linear transformation is applied to it: . The corresponding eigenvalue, characteristic value, or characteristic root is the multiplying factor .
In mathematics, a Lie algebra is solvable if its derived series terminates in the zero subalgebra. The derived Lie algebra of the Lie algebra is the subalgebra of , denoted
In mathematics, a Lie algebra is nilpotent if its lower central series terminates in the zero subalgebra. The lower central series is the sequence of subalgebras
In mathematics, nilpotent orbits are generalizations of nilpotent matrices that play an important role in representation theory of real and complex semisimple Lie groups and semisimple Lie algebras.
In mathematics, specifically linear algebra, the Jordan–Chevalley decomposition, named after Camille Jordan and Claude Chevalley, expresses a linear operator in a unique way as the sum of two other linear operators which are simpler to understand. Specifically, one part is potentially diagonalisable and the other is nilpotent. The two parts are polynomials in the operator, which makes them behave nicely in algebraic manipulations.
In mathematics, the special linear Lie algebra of order n is the Lie algebra of matrices with trace zero and with the Lie bracket . This algebra is well studied and understood, and is often used as a model for the study of other Lie algebras. The Lie group that it generates is the special linear group.
In mathematics, a toral subalgebra is a Lie subalgebra of a general linear Lie algebra all of whose elements are semisimple. Equivalently, a Lie algebra is toral if it contains no nonzero nilpotent elements. Over an algebraically closed field, every toral Lie algebra is abelian; thus, its elements are simultaneously diagonalizable.
In the mathematical field of Lie theory, a split Lie algebra is a pair where is a Lie algebra and is a splitting Cartan subalgebra, where "splitting" means that for all , is triangularizable. If a Lie algebra admits a splitting, it is called a splittable Lie algebra. Note that for reductive Lie algebras, the Cartan subalgebra is required to contain the center.
In mathematics, a regular element of a Lie algebra or Lie group is an element whose centralizer has dimension as small as possible. For example, in a complex semisimple Lie algebra, an element is regular if its centralizer in has dimension equal to the rank of , which in turn equals the dimension of some Cartan subalgebra . An element a Lie group is regular if its centralizer has dimension equal to the rank of .
In mathematics, the Jacobson–Morozov theorem is the assertion that nilpotent elements in a semi-simple Lie algebra can be extended to sl2-triples. The theorem is named after Jacobson 1951, Morozov 1942.
In mathematics, the complexification or universal complexification of a real Lie group is given by a continuous homomorphism of the group into a complex Lie group with the universal property that every continuous homomorphism of the original group into another complex Lie group extends compatibly to a complex analytic homomorphism between the complex Lie groups. The complexification, which always exists, is unique up to unique isomorphism. Its Lie algebra is a quotient of the complexification of the Lie algebra of the original group. They are isomorphic if the original group has a quotient by a discrete normal subgroup which is linear.
This is a glossary for the terminology applied in the mathematical theories of Lie groups and Lie algebras. For the topics in the representation theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras, see Glossary of representation theory. Because of the lack of other options, the glossary also includes some generalizations such as quantum group.
