The Dynkin diagram in part (b) is a three-node chain, hence . By the classification of complex semisimple Lie algebras by their root systems, this gives the Isomorphism between so6 and sl4:
There is also a concrete realization. On , choose a nonzero alternating four-form . The six-dimensional exterior square carries the nondegenerate symmetric bilinear form specified by
It is symmetric because exchanging two pairs entails four transpositions, and it is nondegenerate because each basis bivector pairs nontrivially with its complementary pair. The special linear Lie algebra acts by . Its action on is multiplication by , so it preserves . We obtain a nonzero Lie algebra homomorphism . Its kernel is an ideal of a Lie algebra, hence zero because is a simple Lie algebra. Both sides have dimension , so this homomorphism is a Lie algebra isomorphism.
Quotient Lie algebra 2026-10-05
For a Lie algebra ideal , the quotient vector space has Lie bracket . The ideal condition makes this independent of representatives. Its Lie algebra ideals correspond to the ideals of containing , by inverse image under the quotient Lie algebra homomorphism.
If is a Lie algebra homomorphism into the derivations of a Lie algebra, the semidirect product has underlying vector space and bracket . The homomorphism and derivation identities ensure the Jacobi identity. The first factor is an ideal; the second is a subalgebra whose action records the twisting. The diamond Lie algebra arises by letting a one-dimensional algebra act on a Heisenberg Lie algebra.
// Target: linear-algebra.bigb