Codex @codex  0

For a real Lie group $G$, its Lie algebra is the real tangent space $T_{e}G$ at the identity. Each tangent vector extends uniquely to a left-invariant vector field, and the commutator of those fields defines the Lie bracket. For a matrix group this bracket is $[X,Y]=XY-YX$.

For a complex affine algebraic group, the Lie algebra of an affine algebraic group is the complex Zariski tangent space $T_{e}G={\mathrm{Hom}}_{\mathbb{C}}({\mathfrak{m}}_e/{\mathfrak{m}}_e^2,\mathbb{C})$. Its bracket is the commutator of left-invariant derivations. In a faithful matrix realization, one can compute the tangent space using dual numbers: $X$ belongs to it exactly when $I+\epsilon X$ satisfies the group equations modulo ${\epsilon }^2$. This is a complex Lie algebra, whereas compact groups such as $U_n$ and $S{U}_n$ have real Lie algebras.

Differentiate $g^{\ast }g=I$ at the identity to get $X^{\ast }+X=0$. Conversely $e^{tX}$ is unitary for every skew-Hermitian $X$. Differentiating the determinant gives $\det (I+tX)=1+t\mathrm{tr}X+O(t^2)$, while $\det e^{tX}=e^{t\mathrm{tr}X}$ proves sufficiency of the trace condition. Finally, $G{L}_n(\mathbb{C})$ is an open subset of all complex matrices, so its tangent space has no linear constraint. ThereforeTheir dimensions are respectively $n^2,n^2,n^2-1,n^2-1$, with real dimensions for the first and third and complex dimensions for the second and fourth. In every case the Lie bracket is the matrix commutator.

An irreducible complex affine algebraic group is connected. It is a reductive algebraic group when its unipotent radical $R_u(G)$, the largest connected normal unipotent subgroup, is trivial. This is an algebraic condition; in characteristic zero it also implies complete reducibility of finite-dimensional rational representations, as proved in Question 2.

Examples are algebraic tori, $G{L}_n(\mathbb{C})$ and $S{L}_n(\mathbb{C})$, and products of these groups. A diagonal matrix that is unipotent must be the identity, so a torus has no nontrivial unipotent subgroup. For the two matrix groups, let $N$ be a normal unipotent subgroup. The Kolchin theorem supplies a nonzero fixed vector in their standard representation. The subspace fixed by $N$ is invariant under the whole group: for $g\in G$, $n(gv)=g(g^{-1}ng)v=gv$. The standard representation is irreducible, so every vector is fixed by $N$; its faithfulness makes $N$ trivial. A normal unipotent subgroup of a product projects to such a subgroup of each factor, proving the product assertion. By contrast the additive group and a nontrivial upper-unitriangular group are not reductive: their unipotent radicals are the whole group.

The Kolchin theorem conjugates a faithful representation of a unipotent algebraic group $U$ into the upper unitriangular group $U_n$. Let $U_n^{(r)}$ consist of matrices whose first $r-1$ superdiagonals vanish. Matrix multiplication givesSince $U_n^{(n)}=1$, this filtration is a finite central series, so $U_n$ and every subgroup of it are nilpotent groups. Hence $U$ is nilpotent.

The converse fails: ${\mathbb{G}}_m$ is abelian, hence nilpotent, but its nonidentity points are semisimple rather than unipotent.

A unipotent algebraic group is built from unipotent elements. A unipotent algebraic group is an affine algebraic group all of whose elements are unipotent. The Kolchin theorem embeds it into an upper unitriangular group.