Simple Lie algebra

A nonabelian Lie algebra is simple when its only ideals are zero and the entire algebra.

The special linear Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{sl}}_n$ consists of the trace-zero $n\times n$ matrices with the commutator bracket.

The two fundamental representations of ${\mathfrak{sl}}_3$ are the defining representation $V({\omega }_1)={\mathbb{C}}^3$ and its dual

For the defining representation $V=V({\omega }_1)$ of ${\mathfrak{sl}}_3$,

The Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2$ has generators $e,h,f$ with $[h,e]=2e$, $[h,f]=-2f$, and $[e,f]=h$.

For every $n\ge 0$ there is one irreducible ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2(\mathbb{C})$-module $V(n)$ of dimension $n+1$, with weights $n,n-2,\dots ,-n$, each of multiplicity one. Every finite-dimensional representation is a direct sum of these modules.

On any finite-dimensional ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2$-module, the lowering operator $f$ is injective from the $m$-weight space to the $(m-2)$-weight space whenever $m>0$. This follows on each irreducible summand from its standard weight string.

The Verma module $M_{\lambda }$ has basis $(f^r{v}_{\lambda }{)}_{r\ge 0}$ andIt is reducible exactly when $\lambda =m\in {\mathbb{Z}}_{\ge 0}$; then its unique proper nonzero submodule is generated by $f^{m+1}{v}_{\lambda }$ and is isomorphic to $M_{-m-2}$.

For a nondegenerate alternating matrix $J$, the symplectic Lie algebra is ${\mathfrak{sp}}_{2n}=\{A:AJ+J{A}^T=0\}$.

In an orthonormal basis $({\epsilon }_i)$, the $C_n$ roots are $\pm {\epsilon }_i\pm {\epsilon }_j$ for $i<j$ and $\pm 2{\epsilon }_i$.

The special orthogonal Lie algebra consists of the infinitesimal transformations preserving a nondegenerate symmetric bilinear form.

The Lorentz algebra has rotation generators $J_i$ and boost generators $K_i$ satisfying

Over the complex numbers, $A_i=(J_i+i{K}_i)/2$ and $B_i=(J_i-i{K}_i)/2$ generate commuting copies of ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2(\mathbb{C})$, givingFinite-dimensional irreducible representations are labelled $(j_L,j_R)$.

Parity fixes $J_i$, negates $K_i$, and therefore exchanges the two chiral factors. It sends $(j_L,j_R)$ to $(j_R,j_L)$.

The quadratic contraction $M_{\mu \nu }{M}^{\mu \nu }$ is parity even, while $M_{\mu \nu }{\tilde{M}}^{\mu \nu }$ is parity odd. Their linear combinations give the quadratic Casimirs of the two chiral ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2$ factors.

The Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{so}}_5$ has dimension ten and root system $B_2$.

Under the standard block-diagonal subgroup, the vector and adjoint representations branch asUsing ${\mathfrak{so}}_4\cong {\mathfrak{su}}_2\oplus {\mathfrak{su}}_2$, these are $(\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})\oplus (0,0)$ and $(1,0)\oplus (0,1)\oplus (\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})$.

The $B_2$ root system consists of $\pm {\epsilon }_1$, $\pm {\epsilon }_2$, and $\pm {\epsilon }_1\pm {\epsilon }_2$. Its vector representation has weights ${\epsilon }_1,{\epsilon }_2,0,-{\epsilon }_2,-{\epsilon }_1$.

The root systems $B_2$ and $C_2$ are isomorphic after interchanging long and short simple-root labels. The classification of complex simple Lie algebras therefore gives ${\mathfrak{so}}_5(\mathbb{C})\cong {\mathfrak{sp}}_4(\mathbb{C})$.

For simple roots $(1,0)$ and $(-1,1)$, the fundamental weights are ${\omega }_1=(1/2,1/2)$ and ${\omega }_2=(0,1)$. The representation $[1,0]$ is the four-dimensional spin representation with weights $(\pm 1/2,\pm 1/2)$; $[0,1]$ is the five-dimensional vector representation with weights $(\pm 1,0),(0,\pm 1),(0,0)$.