The preceding Dynkin diagram identifies the root system with . The classification of finite-dimensional complex simple Lie algebras by connected Dynkin diagrams therefore gives
This is the Isomorphism between so6 and sl4. Both algebras have dimension , consistently with the classification.
The Killing form of a complex simple Lie algebra is nondegenerate. Since is also nondegenerate, there is a unique endomorphism of satisfying
Invariance of both forms gives
so intertwines the adjoint representation. That representation is irreducible because its invariant subspaces are ideals. The Schur lemma therefore gives . Since is nondegenerate, , and
This is the uniqueness of an invariant bilinear form on a simple Lie algebra.
Let be invariant under the Adjoint representation of a Lie algebra. Then , so is an ideal. If is a simple Lie algebra, its only ideals are and . 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.
sl2 triple 2026-10-14
An sl2 triple consists of elements of a Lie algebra satisfying the displayed brackets. It defines a homomorphism from by sending its standard generators to . A nonzero homomorphism is injective because is a simple Lie algebra. Root vectors and their coroot give such triples in a semisimple Lie algebra, and their representations supply finite weight strings.