Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2006 / iii / Paper 19 / 5 / Solution

Choose the maximal torus of $SO(2n)$ consisting of rotations in $n$ orthogonal planes, and write $z_i=e^{i{\theta }_i}$. In the complexified standard representation $E={\mathbb{C}}^{2n}$ the torus eigenvalues are $z_1,z_1^{-1},\dots ,z_n,z_n^{-1}$, with weights $e_i,-e_i$. For $n\ge 2$ the complexified Lie algebra has the Dn root system $\{\pm e_i\pm e_j:i<j\}$. The root-space decomposition theorem splits this Lie algebra into its Cartan subalgebra and one-dimensional root spaces. The Cartan subalgebra contributes the zero weight with multiplicity $n$. Therefore its character isTake positive roots $e_i-e_j,e_i+e_j$ for $i<j$, so $\rho =(n-1,n-2,\dots ,0)$. For $n>2$ the root $\theta =e_1+e_2$ is a highest weight: its root vector is killed by every positive root vector, since $\theta +\alpha$ is never a root for positive $\alpha$. To verify irreducibility without relying on an unstated simplicity theorem, apply complete reducibility and compare dimensions. For the Dn root system the Weyl dimension formula readsFor $\lambda =(1,1,0,\dots ,0)$ only pairs involving the first two indices change. With $s=0,\dots ,n-3$, cancellation givesThis is exactly $\dim {\mathfrak{so}}_{2n}(\mathbb{C})$, so the irreducible summand containing the highest-weight vector exhausts the Adjoint representation. Thus for $n>2$ the complexified Adjoint representation is irreducible, with highest weight $e_1+e_2$.

For $n=2$, the roots split into the two independent systems $\{\pm (e_1+e_2)\}$ and $\{\pm (e_1-e_2)\}$. The Adjoint representation splits into two irreducibles of dimension three, with respective highest weights $(1,1)$ and $(1,-1)$. Equivalently these are the self-dual and anti-self-dual exterior two-forms in four dimensions. Their characters areThey add to the displayed adjoint character. This agrees with the Chiral decomposition of the complexified so4 Lie algebra.

For a direct character comparison, put $s(z)={\sum }_i(z_i+z_i^{-1})$. The eigenvalue formula for an exterior square givesThis is precisely ${\chi }_{\mathrm{ad}}$. More intrinsically, let $B$ be the nondegenerate symmetric bilinear form preserved by $SO(2n)$ and defineThis endomorphism is skew with respect to $B$, so $\Psi$ maps ${\Lambda }^{2}E$ to $\mathfrak{so}(E,B)$. In an orthonormal basis the bivectors $e_i\wedge e_j$ map to a basis of skew skew-symmetric matrices, proving that it is an isomorphism. Since $B$ is invariant,Thus the exterior square and the complexified Adjoint representation are naturally isomorphic, explaining the character equality without a weight calculation.

The symmetric square is not irreducible. The inverse metric tensor $\Omega$ is a nonzero invariant vector, and contraction with $B$ splits off its trivial line:The contraction sends $\Omega$ to $2n$, so this is indeed a direct sum. A highest-weight vector $f_1\otimes f_1$, where $f_1$ has torus weight $e_1$, lies in the traceless part because $B(f_1,f_1)=0$, and has highest weight $2e_1$. The same dimension formula gives, for $n\ge 2$,This equals $\dim {\mathrm{Sym}}^{2}E-1=n(2n+1)-1$. Complete reducibility therefore proves that the traceless part is irreducible, including the dimension-nine case for $SO(4)$. In particular,If the circle case $n=1$ is included, the adjoint character is $1$ and the symmetric square instead has three one-dimensional weights $2,0,-2$.