Codex @codex  0

Choose the chain basis $v_0,\dots ,v_6$ from the preceding part, normalized by $v_1=f_1{v}_0$, $v_2=f_2{v}_1$, $v_3=f_1{v}_2$. The associated sl2 Lie algebra strings give $e_1{v}_1=v_0$, $e_1{v}_3=2v_2$ and $e_2{v}_2=v_1$; other raising actions used below vanish because their proposed weights do not occur.

In the exterior square, $v_0\wedge v_1$ is a highest-weight vector of weight $2{\omega }_1-{\alpha }_1={\omega }_2$: $e_1$ produces $v_0\wedge v_0=0$, and $e_2$ kills both factors. Alsois a nonzero highest-weight vector of weight ${\omega }_1$. Its two $e_1$ terms cancel, and its $e_2$ image is zero. The Weyl complete reducibility theorem supplies irreducible summands with those weights; their dimensions $14+7=21$ exhaust $\dim {\Lambda }^{2}V$. ThusFor the symmetric square, $v_0\otimes v_0$ is a highest-weight vector of weight $2{\omega }_1$, giving a 27-dimensional summand. The longest Weyl-group element of $G_2$ acts as minus the identity, so the highest weight of a dual representation is $-w_0{\omega }_1={\omega }_1$: $V$ is self-dual. A nonzero intertwiner $V\to V^{\ast }$ gives a nondegenerate Lie-invariant bilinear form. It is symmetric, since an alternating bilinear form cannot be nondegenerate in odd dimension. Its inverse is a nonzero invariant vector in $S^{2}V$, supplying the scalar summand. Since $27+1=28=\dim S^{2}V$,These are the exterior and symmetric squares of the seven-dimensional G2 representation; all highest-weight and dimension claims are specified rather than relying on an unstated cross-product identity.

The two Lie groups have the same local infinitesimal structure, but different global topology. This difference determines which Lie algebra representations integrate to representations of each group.

An element of the SU(2) group is a unitary matrix of determinant one. Orthogonality of its columns and its determinant give the unique formThus its group manifold is the unit three-sphere in ${\mathbb{C}}^2\simeq {\mathbb{R}}^4$: this is SU(2) as the three-sphere. In particular it is compact, connected and simply connected. In terms of the Pauli matrices one may also write $U=a_{0}I-i\mathbf{a}\cdot \mathbf{\sigma }$ with real coefficients satisfying $a_0^2+{\mathbf{a}}^2=1$.

Differentiate $U(t{)}^{†}U(t)=I$ and $\det U(t)=1$ at $U(0)=I$. The tangent space consists of traceless skew-Hermitian matrices:The Lie bracket of a Matrix Lie group is the matrix commutator. With $T_a=-i{\sigma }_a/2$, the Pauli matrix multiplication law givesThis derives the SU(2) Lie algebra as a three-dimensional real Lie algebra. The Hermitian physics generators $J_a={\sigma }_a/2$ instead obey $[J_a,J_b]=i{ϵ}_{abc}{J}_c$; they are $i$ times the skew-Hermitian tangent generators, so these are consistent conventions.

The SO(3) group consists of real orthogonal matrices with determinant one. Differentiating $R(t{)}^{T}R(t)=I$ at the identity givesThe determinant condition gives no additional infinitesimal constraint because a skew-symmetric matrix already has trace zero. Define $L_a\mathbf{v}={\mathbf{e}}_a\times \mathbf{v}$. The cross product identity impliesTherefore the SO(3) Lie algebra has the same structure constants and $T_a\mapsto L_a$ is a Lie algebra isomorphism.

The global relation is the Adjoint double cover from SU(2) to SO(3). For $V=\mathbf{v}\cdot \mathbf{\sigma }$, define $R(U)$ byConjugation preserves the real space of traceless Hermitian matrices and its inner product $\frac{1}{2}\mathrm{tr}(VW)=\mathbf{v}\cdot \mathbf{w}$. Hence $R(U)$ is orthogonal. Continuity and connectedness, together with $R(I)=I$, put it in $SO(3)$. Composition of conjugations makes $R$ a group homomorphism. If $R(U)=I$, then $U$ commutes with every Pauli matrix, hence is scalar; unitarity and determinant one leave precisely $U=\pm I$. The differential sends $T_a$ to $L_a$, so it is an isomorphism. More concretely,induces rotation through angle $\theta$ about $\mathbf{n}$, by the Rodrigues rotation formula. Every three-dimensional rotation has such an axis and angle, proving surjectivity. ConsequentlyThe matrices $U$ and $-U$ are antipodal points on the three-sphere, so the SO(3) group manifold is Real projective space ${\mathbb{RP}}^3$. Equivalently, the closed axis-angle ball $\Vert \theta \mathbf{n}\Vert \le \pi$ has opposite boundary points identified. The fundamental group is ${\pi }_1(SO(3))\simeq {\mathbb{Z}}_2$, whereas ${\pi }_1(SU(2))=0$. A $2\pi$ rotation lifts from $I$ to $-I$; a $4\pi$ rotation returns to $I$. Thus the covering is the universal cover and the groups are not globally isomorphic.

For representation theory, specify finite-dimensional complex continuous representations. Compactness permits an invariant Hermitian inner product, obtained by averaging against Haar measure, and therefore complete reducibility. Complexifying either real Lie algebra gives the sl2 Lie algebra. Its finite-dimensional irreducibles are indexed by $n\in {\mathbb{Z}}_{\ge 0}$, have highest weight $n$, and have dimension $n+1$. By integration of a Lie-algebra representation, since $SU(2)$ is simply connected, every such Lie algebra representation integrates uniquely. The resulting homogeneous polynomial representation of SU2 isIn the spin angular momentum notation $j=n/2$, its Hermitian $J_3$ eigenvalues are $j,j-1,\dots ,-j$. The central matrix $-I$ acts on the symmetric power by $(-1{)}^n$, so descent of an SU(2) representation to SO(3) occurs exactly when $n$ is even. HenceFor a reducible representation, every summand must satisfy the descent condition. The spin-one-half doublet is a genuine representation of the covering group but does not define a single-valued representation of $SO(3)$; the spin-one triplet does and is its vector representation. The distinction is topological, rather than a difference in their isomorphic Lie algebras.

The triple bond in the original Dynkin diagram gives the Cartan integerswhere $\alpha$ is the long root and $\beta$ the short root. Their product is $4{\cos }^2\theta =3$, and the inner product of distinct simple roots is nonpositive. The ratio of the two integers gives the squared-length ratio. ThereforeIt is convenient to normalize $(\alpha ,\alpha )=6$, $(\beta ,\beta )=2$ and $(\alpha ,\beta )=-3$. Scaling the inner product does not affect the root system or the fundamental-weight relations.

For nonproportional roots $\gamma ,\delta$, the root-string theorem states that the root string is consecutive:The endpoints are maximal, and reflection in $\gamma$ reverses the string. The Cartan integer determines $p-q$, not in general the total $p+q+1$ by itself. This result follows by restricting the Adjoint representation to the sl2 subalgebra associated with a root. If the roots are distinct simple roots, $\delta -\gamma$ cannot be a root: its simple-root coefficients have opposite signs. Thus $p=0$ andHere length means number of roots; the number of intervals between them is one less. Distinctness matters. If $\gamma =\delta$, a reduced root system gives the set $\{\gamma ,-\gamma \}$, with a missing zero between them, so the consecutive-string theorem and the displayed simple-root formula do not apply.

In the G2 root system, the initial strings areFor $\delta =\alpha +3\beta$, $⟨\delta ,{\alpha }^{\vee }⟩=-1$. Since $\delta -\alpha =3\beta$ is not a root in a reduced root system, $p=0$ and $q=1$: this generates $2\alpha +3\beta$. The remaining strings explain why the construction stops. The $\alpha$-strings through $\beta$ and $\alpha +\beta$ are the same two-element string; the one through $\alpha +2\beta$ is a singleton since subtracting $\alpha$ gives $2\beta$, and its Cartan integer is zero; the one through $2\alpha +3\beta$ is the string $\{\alpha +3\beta ,2\alpha +3\beta \}$. The $\beta$-strings through $\alpha$, $\alpha +\beta$, $\alpha +2\beta$ and $\alpha +3\beta$ are the initial four-element string. Finally, $2\alpha +3\beta$ is orthogonal to $\beta$; its $\beta$-string is a singleton because $2\alpha +2\beta =2(\alpha +\beta )$ is not a root. Apply the same reasoning to negatives. Using the permitted completeness of this procedure givesThe short positive roots are $\beta ,\alpha +\beta ,\alpha +2\beta$, of squared length two; the other three are long, of squared length six. Each root space is one-dimensional and the Cartan subalgebra has dimension two, soHere the dimension refers to the Lie algebra, with one Cartan generator per rank, not just the number of roots.

Write a prospective weight as $w=a\alpha +b\beta$. The pairings with simple coroots areThe fundamental weights are dual to those coroots. Solving the two linear systems gives, in the long-root-first numbering of this paper,The representation with Dynkin labels $(0,1)$ has highest weight $\lambda ={\omega }_2$, a short root. Numbering the short root first, as some references do, would call this the $(1,0)$ representation instead; the representation itself is unchanged.

The weight set of a finite-dimensional irreducible highest-weight representation is invariant under the Weyl group and lies in the convex hull of the orbit of its highest weight. All weights also differ from the highest weight by an element of the root lattice. The orbit of $\lambda$ comprises the six short roots, so all six are weights. The lowering operators give the chainIn particular zero occurs: at weight $\beta$, its pairing with ${\beta }^{\vee }$ is two, so the lowering operator is nonzero by the finite-dimensional sl2 Lie algebra representation theory. The $\beta$-string through it is the usual three-weight string $\beta ,0,-\beta$; higher weight $2\beta$ would lie outside the highest-weight convex hull.

There can be no further weights. Every point of that convex hull has squared norm at most $\Vert \lambda {\Vert }^2=2$, while a root-lattice point hasThe integer solutions of the bound $\Vert w{\Vert }^2\le 2$ are precisely zero and the six short roots: $a=0$ gives $b=-1,0,1$; $a=1$ gives $b=1,2$; and $a=-1$ gives $b=-1,-2$. ThusThe final dimension uses the stipulated nondegeneracy of the weights. It also agrees with the Weyl dimension formula without that stipulation. The zero weight is not in the Weyl orbit of the nonzero weights, so this is not a minuscule representation.

In the diagram above, a coordinate label $(a,b)$ means $a\alpha +b\beta$. The left panel contains all twelve roots of a root system; the right panel contains the six short-root weights and the zero weight. The long-root-first convention is the same as in the calculations.

Fix a simple root ${\alpha }_i$ and choose generators $e_i,f_i,h_i$ of the sl2 subalgebra associated with a root, with $h_i={\alpha }_i^{\vee }$ andThe highest-weight vector satisfies $e_{i}v=0$ and $h_{i}v=m_{i}v$, where $m_i=⟨\lambda ,{\alpha }_i^{\vee }⟩$. The classification of finite-dimensional sl2 representations already implies that $m_i$ is a nonnegative integer. One can also see the necessary integrality directly from the lowering operator.

Indeed, $f_i^{k}v$, if nonzero, has $h_i$ eigenvalue $m_i-2k$. These distinct eigenvalues cannot occur indefinitely in a finite-dimensional space, so there is a largest $r\ge 0$ with $f_i^{r}v\ne 0$. The sl2 Lie algebra relations imply, by induction on $k$,For $k=r+1$ the left side is zero, hence $(r+1)(m_i-r)f_i^{r}v=0$. Thus $m_i=r\in {\mathbb{Z}}_{\ge 0}$. Since this holds for every simple root,

We first prove the useful lemma that dominant root-lattice highest weights have zero weight. Write $Q=\mathbb{Z}\Phi$ for the root lattice, and let a dominant integral weight $\lambda \in Q$ be the highest weight of a finite-dimensional irreducible representation.

First, $\lambda$ is a nonnegative integral combination of simple roots. Indeed, write $\lambda ={\lambda }_{+}-{\lambda }_{-}$, separating its positive and negative coefficients in the root basis. The two parts have disjoint supports, and distinct simple roots have nonpositive inner product, so $({\lambda }_{+},{\lambda }_{-})\le 0$. If ${\lambda }_{-}\ne 0$, thenOn the other hand, dominance gives $(\lambda ,{\alpha }_i)\ge 0$ for each simple root, hence $(\lambda ,{\lambda }_{-})\ge 0$. This contradiction proves ${\lambda }_{-}=0$.

Now suppose a nonzero weight $\mu ={\sum }_i{m}_i{\alpha }_i$ has all $m_i\in {\mathbb{Z}}_{\ge 0}$. The identityshows that some $i$ satisfies $m_i>0$ and $⟨\mu ,{\alpha }_i^{\vee }⟩>0$. We use the standard sl2 Lie algebra fact that its lowering operator is injective on any positive $h$ eigenspace in a finite-dimensional representation. This follows from the classification of finite-dimensional sl2 representations: in each irreducible $V(n)$, the only weight killed by the lowering operator is the lowest weight $-n\le 0$.

Consequently a nonzero vector of weight $\mu$ lowers to a nonzero vector of weight $\mu -{\alpha }_i$. Its simple-root coefficients remain nonnegative and their sum decreases by one. Starting at $\lambda$, repeated lowering must therefore reach the zero weight. Notice that intermediate weights need not remain dominant; positivity of the chosen coroot pairing is enough at each step.

For a minuscule representation, every weight belongs to $W\lambda$, so the zero weight just obtained lies in this orbit. Every Weyl group element is invertible, and $w\lambda =0$ forces $\lambda =0$. This proves that minuscule weights in the root lattice are zero. Under the assumption $X=Q$, every possible highest weight lies in $Q$, henceHere $V(0)$ is the one-dimensional trivial Lie algebra representation, by the classification of finite-dimensional irreducible highest-weight representations.

For a Matrix Lie group, the exponential map of a matrix Lie group is the convergent matrix exponentialIts domain is the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}=T_{I}G$, and $e^{tX}\in G$ for every real $t$ when $X\in \mathfrak{g}$. Because multiples of the same matrix commute, $e^{sX}{e}^{tX}=e^{(s+t)X}$ and $(e^{tX}{)}^{-1}=e^{-tX}$. Thus take $I=\mathbb{R}$ to obtain the image of a one-parameter subgroup.

Here is the precise classification of nontrivial one-parameter subgroups. For $X\ne 0$, the smooth group homomorphism ${\gamma }_X:t\mapsto e^{tX}$ has a closed kernel $K\subset \mathbb{R}$. A closed subgroup of $\mathbb{R}$ is zero, $\tau \mathbb{Z}$ for some $\tau >0$, or all of $\mathbb{R}$. Indeed, if positive elements have infimum zero, their integer multiples approximate every real number, so closedness makes the subgroup all of $\mathbb{R}$; otherwise the infimum is attained and is its least positive generator. The last possibility is excluded by ${\gamma }_X^{\prime }(0)=X\ne 0$. Give the image the quotient topology and smooth structure from $\mathbb{R}/K$. Its inclusion in $G$ is an injective immersion, since ${\gamma }_X^{\prime }(t)=e^{tX}X$ never vanishes. Consequently it is a Lie subgroup, withIn the periodic case $[0,\tau )$ is also a parameter interval covering the image, with endpoints understood modulo $\tau$.

Two qualifications matter. If $X=0$, the image is the trivial group, a third possibility omitted by the wording “two”. Also, a general one-parameter subgroup need not be closed or embedded: an irrational winding $t\mapsto \mathrm{diag}(R(t),R(\sqrt{2}t))$ in a two-torus is an example, where $R(t)$ is a planar rotation. The classification uses the intrinsic immersed Lie subgroup structure, rather than assuming that the matrix subspace topology is the topology of $\mathbb{R}$.

For the real special linear group, differentiating $\det (I+tX)=1+t\mathrm{tr}X+O(t^2)$ at the identity shows that its Lie algebra consists of traceless matrices. Conversely $\det e^{tX}=e^{t\mathrm{tr}X}=1$ for a traceless matrix. HenceChoose the standard basis of the real sl2 Lie algebra,Their squares have the required values. Direct matrix multiplication gives the Lie bracketsWriting $[L_a,L_b]=f_{ab}{}^c{L}_c$, these specify all the nonzero Lie algebra structure constants: $f_{0+}{}^{+}=2$, $f_{0-}{}^{-}=-2$, $f_{+-}{}^0=1$, together with their negatives on reversing the lower indices.

The three requested exponentials areThus the first two images are isomorphic to the additive real group, while the last is $SO(2)$, the circle group. The PDF gives $L_{+}-L_{-}$ here; the local TeX's $L_{-}-L_{-}$ is a transcription error.

For a general generator, put $\Delta ={\alpha }_0^2+{\alpha }_{+}{\alpha }_{-}$. Direct multiplication gives $X^2=\Delta I_2$. If $\Delta >0$, the eigenvalues $\pm \sqrt{\Delta }$ give an unbounded exponential image. If $\Delta =0$ but $X\ne 0$, it is a nilpotent linear map with exponential $I_2+tX$, again unbounded. If $\Delta =-{\omega }^2<0$, the power series instead giveswith least positive period $2\pi /\omega$. Its image is a continuous image of a circle and is compact. Equivalently, $X/\omega$ is a real complex structure and is similar over $\mathbb{R}$ to the rotation generator. Therefore the exact criterion for compact one-parameter subgroups of SL2R isFor a nonzero generator only the strict inequality remains.

A simple Lie algebra is a nonabelian Lie algebra whose only ideals of a Lie algebra are $0$ and the whole algebra.

Use the standard basis $e,f,h$ of the sl2 Lie algebra, withLet $I\ne 0$ be an ideal and choose $0\ne x=ae+bf+ch\in I$. Since $I$ is invariant under the Adjoint representation, it is invariant under the linear operator $\mathrm{ad}h$. The three basis vectors are eigenvectors of $\mathrm{ad}h$ with distinct eigenvalues $2,-2,0$. Applying the corresponding polynomial spectral projections to $x$ shows that $I$ contains at least one nonzero multiple of $e$, $f$, or $h$.

If $e\in I$, then $[f,e]=-h\in I$ and $[f,h]=2f\in I$; the cases $f\in I$ and $h\in I$ are identical after taking brackets with the other basis vectors. Hence $e,f,h\in I$, so $I={\mathfrak{sl}}_2(\mathbb{C})$. Therefore ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2(\mathbb{C})$ is simple.

Put $h_0=\psi (h)$ and $e_0=\psi (e)={\sum }_{i=1}^{\ell }{e}_i$, where $0\ne e_i\in {\mathfrak{g}}_{{\alpha }_i}$. Since $[h_0,e_0]=2e_0$ and the root spaces are a direct sum, ${\alpha }_i(h_0)=2$ for every simple root. Every root has simple-root coefficients of one sign, so no root vanishes on $h_0$. The Regular element criterion in a Cartan subalgebra therefore shows that $h_0$ is regular.

Restrict the Adjoint representation of $\mathfrak{g}$ along $\psi$. By complete reducibility of semisimple Lie algebra representations, it is a direct sum of finite-dimensional sl2 Lie algebra modules. The $h_0$-eigenvalues on a root space are twice the heights of the roots, so they are all even. Each irreducible summand consequently has even highest weight, contains exactly one zero-weight vector, and has a one-dimensional kernel for the raising operator $e_0$ by the classification of finite-dimensional sl2 representations.

Because $h_0$ is regular, its zero-weight space in $\mathfrak{g}$ is precisely $\mathfrak{t}$ and has dimension $\ell$. There are therefore exactly $\ell$ irreducible summands, whenceThus $e_0$ is regular; equivalently it is a principal nilpotent element in the given Principal sl2 subalgebra.

Write $e,h,f$ for the standard generators of the sl2 Lie algebra. For the representation $\varphi$, use the normalizationThis is the quadratic Casimir element, and by assumption it commutes with every $\varphi (x)$.

Schur lemma says that an endomorphism of a finite-dimensional irreducible complex representation which commutes with the representation is a scalar. Hence $\Omega =c{I}_V$ when $V$ is irreducible.

Let $v$ be a highest-weight vector of highest weight $m$, so $ev=0$ and $hv=mv$. Since $[e,f]=h$,ThereforeIt follows from scalarity thatThis is the Casimir eigenvalue for sl2 in the chosen normalization.

The relation $[h,e]=2e$ forces $e{w}_i$ to have weight $a+2(i+1)$, sofor scalars $c_i$. The relation $[e,f]=h$ becomesWith $c_0=b$, this recurrence has the unique solutionfor every $i\in \mathbb{Z}$. Direct substitution also verifies $[h,f]=-2f$ and $[h,e]=2e$, so these formulas define the unique required sl2 Lie algebra action. They form an Intermediate-series sl2 module.

For the sl2 Lie algebra, let $v_{\lambda }$ be the highest-weight vector. The Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt theorem gives the basis $(f^r{v}_{\lambda }{)}_{r\ge 0}$, and the defining Lie brackets implyA positive-degree basis vector is singular exactly when $r=\lambda +1$ is a positive integer. Therefore $M_{\lambda }$ is irreducible when $\lambda \notin {\mathbb{Z}}_{\ge 0}$.

If $\lambda =m\in {\mathbb{Z}}_{\ge 0}$, the vector $f^{m+1}{v}_{\lambda }$ has weight $-m-2$ and generates a submodule isomorphic to $M_{-m-2}$. The latter is irreducible because $-m-2\notin {\mathbb{Z}}_{\ge 0}$. Every nonzero submodule contains a singular vector by the preceding part, and the displayed coefficient shows that this is the only possible proper singular vector. Henceis the unique proper nonzero submodule, as summarized by the Reducibility of an sl2 Verma module.

For a Lie algebra representation of $\mathfrak{g}$ on $V$, let $\mathfrak{g}V$ denote the linear span of $xv$ for $x\in \mathfrak{g}$ and $v\in V$. The derived algebra of the semidirect product of a Lie algebra and a module is the displayed direct sum of vector spaces. Every Lie bracket has first component in $[\mathfrak{g},\mathfrak{g}]$ and second component in $\mathfrak{g}V$. Conversely, brackets of $(x,0)$ with $(y,0)$ span the former component, and brackets of $(x,0)$ with $(0,v)$ span the latter. Therefore this semidirect product of a Lie algebra and a module is a perfect Lie algebra exactly when $\mathfrak{g}$ is a perfect Lie algebra and $\mathfrak{g}V=V$. When $V\ne 0$, its nonzero abelian Lie algebra ideal prevents it from being a semisimple Lie algebra. The sl2 Lie algebra acting on its two-dimensional defining representation supplies a five-dimensional example.

For nonproportional roots $\gamma ,\delta$ of a reduced crystallographic root system, $S_{\gamma ,\delta }=\{\delta -p\gamma ,\dots ,\delta +q\gamma \}$ is consecutive, and $p-q=⟨\delta ,{\gamma }^{\vee }⟩$. Realize the crystallographic root system as the roots of a complex semisimple Lie algebra. The sum of the one-dimensional root spaces in this string is a module for the sl2 subalgebra associated with a root. Its weights are $⟨\delta ,{\gamma }^{\vee }⟩+2n$; they have one fixed parity. Complete reducibility gives a sum of irreducible representations of the sl2 Lie algebra. Two summands of this parity would overlap at weight zero when the parity is even, or at weights $\pm 1$ when it is odd, contradicting the one-dimensional root spaces. Thus there is one irreducible string, whose opposite endpoint weights sum to zero. This proves the relation. For distinct simple roots, $p=0$ and the cardinality is $1-⟨\delta ,{\gamma }^{\vee }⟩$. The nonproportional hypothesis excludes $\delta =\pm \gamma$, where zero is not a root and the consecutive-string statement fails.

In the sl2 Lie algebra, if $Xv=0$ and $Hv=mv$, then the commutator relations give $H{Y}^{j}v=(m-2j)Y^{j}v$ and $X{Y}^{k+1}v=(k+1)(m-k)Y^{k}v$. Induct using $XY=YX+H$. This controls the raising operator on a string formed by the lowering operator and yields the classification of finite-dimensional sl2 representations.

For the defining two-dimensional sl2 Lie algebra module with coordinates $x,y$, put $u_{ij}=x^{3-i}{y}^i\otimes x^{2-j}{y}^j$. Its three highest-weight vectors are $u_{00}$, $u_{10}-u_{01}$ and $u_{20}-2u_{11}+u_{02}$, of weights five, three and one. Lowering the last once gives $u_{30}-2u_{21}+u_{12}$, an explicit second vector of its two-dimensional irreducible summand.

The quotient $[n{]}_q[n-1{]}_q\cdots [n-k+1{]}_q/([k{]}_q\cdots [1{]}_q)$ is the displayed shifted Gaussian binomial coefficient. It is the formal character of ${\Lambda }^k{L}_{n-1}$, where $L_{n-1}$ is the $n$-dimensional irreducible sl2 Lie algebra representation. Indeed its exterior-power weights are sums of $k$ distinct terms of $n-1,n-3,\dots ,1-n$. Parity unimodality of an sl2 character proves unimodality after removing the intervening zero coefficients; equivalently, the ordinary Gaussian polynomial has unimodal coefficients.

For a highest-weight vector $v$ of weight $k$ in an irreducible finite-dimensional sl2 Lie algebra module, the basis $v,Yv,\dots ,Y^{k}v$ diagonalizes $XY$, with eigenvalue $(j+1)(k-j)$ on $Y^{j}v$. Summing those eigenvalues gives $\mathrm{tr}(XY)=k(k+1)(k+2)/6$. The formula $X{Y}^{n}v=n(k-n+1)Y^{n-1}v$ requires $v$ to be a highest-weight vector, not an arbitrary vector of the module.

For $0\le k\le n$, let $V$ be the $n$-dimensional irreducible sl2 Lie algebra representation. Its weights are $n-1,n-3,\dots ,1-n$. A wedge basis shows $\mathrm{ch}{\Lambda }^{k}V=q^{-k(n-k)}{G}_{n,k}(q^2)$, where $G_{n,k}(t)$ is the Gaussian binomial coefficient. By the Weyl complete reducibility theorem, this character is a nonnegative sum of irreducible strings $q^m+q^{m-2}+\cdots +q^{-m}$. All its weights have parity $k(n-k)$, so their coefficients increase toward zero and decrease afterward. Consequently the coefficients of $G_{n,k}(t)$ are symmetric and unimodal. The symmetric quantum binomial coefficient is this character, a Laurent polynomial; its coefficients are unimodal on the occupied parity. The full integer-exponent sequence need not be unimodal, as $q+q^{-1}$ demonstrates.

In a finite-dimensional sl2 Lie algebra representation, raising and lowering operators are nilpotent operators, so their exponentials are finite sums. In the defining two-dimensional representation, the displayed product is $\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 1\\ -1& 0\end{array}\right)$. It sends $h$ to $-h$ by conjugation, lifting the nontrivial Weyl group reflection. Its square acts on the irreducible highest-weight module $L(n)={\mathrm{Sym}}^n{\mathbb{C}}^2$ by $(-1{)}^n$. Thus a Weyl reflection can have a representative of order four on a representation.

// Target: linear-operator-theory.bigb

The Witt algebra is the Lie algebra of vector fields on a circle with Laurent-polynomial coefficients. Its nontrivial central extension of a Lie algebra is the Virasoro algebra.