Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2026 / iii / Paper 302 / 3 / d / Solution

Let $W\subseteq \mathfrak{g}$ be invariant under the Adjoint representation of a Lie algebra. Then $[\mathfrak{g},W]\subseteq W$, so $W$ is an ideal. If $\mathfrak{g}$ is a Simple Lie algebra, its only ideals are $0$ and $\mathfrak{g}$. Hence the adjoint representation is irreducible. Compact type is compatible with the anti-Hermitian realization used below, although simplicity alone proves this adjoint irreducibility of a simple Lie algebra.

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