 sl2 matrix commutator example

Over a field $k$, the trace-zero $2\times 2$ matrices form the special linear Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2(k)$. The matrix trace of a commutator is zero, so this is a Lie subalgebra of the general linear Lie algebra. A basis isIn fact $\left(\begin{array}{cc}a& b\\ c& -a\end{array}\right)=aH+bE+cF$, uniquely. The individual products areSubtracting in the stated order givesFor characteristic different from two, this is the standard sl2 triple; see Etingof, Section 11.4. The products remain valid in characteristic two, but there $H=I$ is central and $2E=2F=0$, so the familiar characteristic zero structure changes.

The following table gives all nine basis brackets. Each entry is $[\text{row},\text{column}]$; the diagonal vanishes by alternation, and exchanging row and column reverses the sign.

Bilinearity now computes any commutator, for exampleThe three structure constants of a Lie algebra relations encode all of this multiplication. They also show why the sl2 triple is useful in Lie algebra representations: the actions of $E$ and $F$ move between eigenvalues of the action of $H$ in steps of two.