Special orthogonal Lie algebra (${\mathfrak{so}}_n$)

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

For a real inner product space $V$, the displayed map identifies ${\Lambda }^{2}V$ with its Special orthogonal Lie algebra. It sends a wedge of distinct orthonormal basis vectors to the corresponding elementary skew-symmetric matrix, so it is an isomorphism. For an orthogonal transformation $g$, invariance of the inner product gives $\Phi (gu\wedge gv)=g\Phi (u\wedge v)g^{-1}$. Thus the exterior square of the defining representation is the Adjoint representation of the orthogonal group. Complexification identifies their weight spaces, allowing the root system to be read from the exterior-square weights and the zero-weight multiplicity.

For a complex vector space with a nondegenerate symmetric bilinear form $Q$, the map $u\wedge v\mapsto [w\mapsto Q(v,w)u-Q(u,w)v]$ identifies the exterior square of the defining representation with the Adjoint representation of a Lie algebra of $\mathfrak{so}(V)$. Equivariance follows from invariance of $Q$; an orthogonal basis verifies bijectivity. It is irreducible when $\mathfrak{so}(V)$ is simple. In dimension four it splits into the adjoint modules of the two commuting sl2 Lie algebras.

For the complexified Special orthogonal Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{so}}_{2n}$, $n\ge 2$, choose positive roots of a root system $e_i-e_j$ and $e_i+e_j$ for $i<j$. Its Weyl vector is $\rho =(n-1,n-2,\dots ,0)$. Dominant coordinates satisfy ${\lambda }_1\ge \cdots \ge {\lambda }_{n-1}\ge |{\lambda }_n|$. The Weyl dimension formula becomes ${\prod }_{i<j}(({\lambda }_i+{\rho }_i{)}^2-({\lambda }_j+{\rho }_j{)}^2)/({\rho }_i^2-{\rho }_j^2)$. The case $D_2$ is two independent A1 root systems, while $D_3$ is isomorphic to the A3 root system.

The Weyl group of the Dn root system consists of coordinate permutations together with an even number of sign changes. Reflection in ${\epsilon }_i-{\epsilon }_j$ swaps coordinates $i,j$; reflection in ${\epsilon }_i+{\epsilon }_j$ swaps them and negates both. These generate all even signed permutations, giving order $2^{n-1}n!$.

With simple roots ${\alpha }_i={\epsilon }_i-{\epsilon }_{i+1}$ for $i<n$ and ${\alpha }_n={\epsilon }_{n-1}+{\epsilon }_n$, the fundamental weights are ${\omega }_i={\epsilon }_1+\cdots +{\epsilon }_i$ for $i\le n-2$, followed by ${\omega }_{n-1}=({\epsilon }_1+\cdots +{\epsilon }_{n-1}-{\epsilon }_n)/2$ and ${\omega }_n=({\epsilon }_1+\cdots +{\epsilon }_n)/2$. All roots have squared length two, so their pairings with coroots verify the dual-basis identities. The last two weights are the half-spin highest weights; for $n=2$, the defining highest weight is ${\omega }_1+{\omega }_2$.

For the antidiagonal symmetric matrix $J$ in dimension $2n$, put $\bar{i}=2n+1-i$ and $H_i=E_{ii}-E_{\bar{i}\bar{i}}$. The diagonal Cartan subalgebra has coordinates ${\epsilon }_i(H)=t_i$. The root spaces of weights ${\epsilon }_i-{\epsilon }_j$ are spanned by $E_{ij}-E_{\bar{j}\bar{i}}$; those of weights ${\epsilon }_i+{\epsilon }_j$ by $E_{i\bar{j}}-E_{j\bar{i}}$, with negative-root spaces given by transposes. The condition $A_{ij}=-A_{\bar{j}\bar{i}}$ gives these generators directly and excludes roots $2{\epsilon }_i$.

For antisymmetric Maurer–Cartan forms with $d{\lambda }_{ij}={\lambda }_{ik}\wedge {\lambda }_{kj}$, let ${\alpha }^{\pm }=({\lambda }_{12}\pm {\lambda }_{43},{\lambda }_{23}\pm {\lambda }_{41},{\lambda }_{31}\pm {\lambda }_{42})$. Direct expansion gives $d{\alpha }_1^{\pm }=-{\alpha }_2^{\pm }\wedge {\alpha }_3^{\pm }$ and cyclic analogues, with no mixed terms. The dual triples form two commuting ideals, each with the SO(3) Lie algebra brackets. This is a real compact splitting, distinct from the splitting of the complexified algebra into two copies of ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2(\mathbb{C})$.

Differentiating $R^{T}R=I$ gives $\mathfrak{so}(3)=\{A\in M_3(\mathbb{R}):A^T=-A\}$. The generators $L_{a}v=e_a\times v$ satisfy $[L_a,L_b]={ϵ}_{abc}{L}_c$ by the cross product identity. This identifies it with the SU(2) Lie algebra by matching a skew-Hermitian Pauli basis.

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

For $n\ge 2$, the Bn root system has simple roots ${\alpha }_i={\epsilon }_i-{\epsilon }_{i+1}$ for $i<n$ and ${\alpha }_n={\epsilon }_n$. Its Dynkin diagram is a chain with a double terminal bond pointing toward short ${\alpha }_n$. The highest root is $\theta ={\epsilon }_1+{\epsilon }_2$. In the Extended Dynkin diagram, ${\alpha }_0=-\theta$ attaches by a single bond to ${\alpha }_2$ for $n\ge 3$. For $n=2$, both long nodes $0,1$ attach by double bonds to short node $2$. Rank one is the rank-one root system; its affine diagram has two equal-length nodes joined by a double bond without a short-root arrow.

The $B_3$ roots are $\pm {\epsilon }_i\pm {\epsilon }_j$ for $1\le i<j\le 3$ and $\pm {\epsilon }_i$ for $1\le i\le 3$. Its root basis ${\alpha }_1={\epsilon }_1-{\epsilon }_2$, ${\alpha }_2={\epsilon }_2-{\epsilon }_3$, ${\alpha }_3={\epsilon }_3$ exhibits it as the dual root system of the C3 root system. With $A_{ij}=⟨{\alpha }_i,{\alpha }_j^{\vee }⟩$, its Cartan matrix isThe fundamental representation of highest weight $[1,0,0]$ is the seven-dimensional vector representation, with weights $\pm {\epsilon }_1,\pm {\epsilon }_2,\pm {\epsilon }_3,0$.

The complexified so4 Lie algebra consists of four-by-four complex skew-symmetric matrices and has dimension six. Its root system is $D_2=A_1\times A_1$, reflecting its decomposition into two simple rank-one ideals.

The self-dual and anti-self-dual combinations of the skew generators form two commuting copies of ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2(\mathbb{C})$. Consequentlyand its Adjoint representation decomposes as $(3,1)\oplus (1,3)$.

The spin group $\mathrm{Spin}(n)$ is the connected double cover of $SO(n)$ constructed inside the units of a Clifford algebra.

Fix a volume form on a four-dimensional real symplectic vector space. Wedge pairing on its exterior square has signature $(3,3)$. The symplectic group fixes the bivector inverse to the symplectic form. Its orthogonal complement is five-dimensional with signature $(3,2)$ after choosing the appropriate overall sign. The induced representation has kernel $\{\pm I\}$: identity action on the entire exterior square preserves every two-plane and thus every line, forcing a scalar transformation with square one. Its derivative is injective and both group dimensions are ten, so its image is the identity component of $SO(3,2)$.

On two-by-two Hermitian matrices, the determinant of $X=tI+x\cdot \sigma$ is $t^2-|x{|}^2$. The action $X\mapsto AX{A}^{†}$ preserves it for $A\in SL(2,\mathbb{C})$. A kernel element is unitary and commutes with every Hermitian matrix, hence is $\pm I$. The derivative is injective and both real dimensions are six, giving the full proper orthochronous Lorentz group as the connected image.

Congruence $X\mapsto AX{A}^T$ on real symmetric two-by-two matrices preserves the quadratic form $-\det X$ of signature $(2,1)$ when $\det A=1$. Its kernel is $\{\pm I\}$ and its derivative is injective: $aX+X{a}^T=0$ for every symmetric $X$ implies $a=0$. Both Lie groups have dimension three, so the connected image is the full identity component. Also $A^{T}JA=(\det A)J$ identifies $Sp(2,\mathbb{R})$ with $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$.

A fixed volume form makes wedge pairing on ${\Lambda }^2{\mathbb{R}}^4$ a symmetric form of signature $(3,3)$. The exterior-square action of special linear group matrices preserves it. Its kernel is $\{\pm I\}$: a transformation acting trivially on every bivector preserves every two-plane and hence every line, so is scalar, with scalar square one. The derivative is injective and both groups have dimension fifteen, so the connected image is the full identity component. This is a concrete real spin-group cover.

Two unit quaternions act on Euclidean four-space by $q\mapsto aq{b}^{-1}$. This norm-preserving action maps onto the SO(4) group. Its kernel is precisely $(1,1)$ and $(-1,-1)$: a kernel pair must have equal entries commuting with every quaternion. The two simply connected SU(2) factors therefore form the universal spin cover.

A spinor representation is a representation of a Spin group, or infinitesimally of a Special orthogonal Lie algebra, constructed from a Clifford algebra. In even dimensions it can split into two chiral spinor representations.

An irreducible complex Clifford algebra module in even spacetime dimension $2k$ has dimension $2^k$ and splits under the connected Spin group into two Weyl spinor modules of dimension $2^{k-1}$. In odd dimension $2k+1$, an irreducible spinor still has dimension $2^k$ but has no Weyl splitting. Reality conditions depend on signature and are additional to these complex counts.

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

Lorentz generators produce infinitesimal Lorentz transformations. In four dimensions they split into three rotation and three boost generators. Their action on supercharges uses the appropriate spinor representation, while their action on translations is the mixed Poincare algebra commutator. Signs in component formulas must agree with whether the generators act on states, operator columns or dual rows.

For the Lorentz algebra convention $[M_{\mu \nu },M_{\rho \sigma }]=i(M_{\mu \sigma }{\eta }_{\nu \rho }+M_{\nu \rho }{\eta }_{\mu \sigma }-M_{\mu \rho }{\eta }_{\nu \sigma }-M_{\nu \sigma }{\eta }_{\mu \rho })$, choose $\eta =\mathrm{diag}(s,-s,-s,-s)$, $s=\pm 1$, ${ϵ}_{123}=1$, $J_i={ϵ}_{ijk}{M}_{jk}/2$, and $K_i=M_{0i}$. The resulting rotation bracket is $[J_i,J_j]=si{ϵ}_{ijk}{J}_k$ as well as the two displayed brackets. Changing the Minkowski metric signature while holding this generator convention fixed reverses all coefficients. A simultaneous redefinition of the generators can instead preserve the familiar form. Conventions must be specified before comparing algebra signs.

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 $(j_L,j_R)$.

For Hermitian rotations $J_i$ and boosts $K_i$, the complex combinations $A_i=(J_i+i{K}_i)/2$ and $B_i=(J_i-i{K}_i)/2$ are adjoints of one another. Although their complex brackets split into two commuting ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2$ factors, they are not two independent Hermitian compact rotation algebras. The real Lorentz spin group is $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$; $SU(2)\times SU(2)$ is a different compact real form.

The complexified Lorentz algebra splits into two commuting ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2$ factors. Extending two homogeneous polynomial representations of SU2 therefore gives every finite-dimensional irreducible complex group representation of the Lorentz spinor double cover. The kernel sign permits descent precisely when $j_L+j_R$ is an integer. These field group representations are generally nonunitary for a positive-definite inner product; infinite-dimensional unitary Lorentz group representations belong to a different construction.

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 $(1,0)\oplus (0,1)\oplus (\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})$.

Identify ${\mathbb{R}}^4$ with the quaternions. Unit quaternions act by left multiplication, embedding the SU(2) group in $SO(4)$. Under this subgroup, the complexified vector representation branches as $4\to 22$, and the Adjoint representation as $6\to 3\oplus 31$. Right multiplication supplies the commuting second factor.

The long roots of a root system $\pm (1,1)$ and $\pm (1,-1)$ give the commuting $SU(2)$ factors of the standard $SO(4)$ subgroup. Choosing $(1,1)$ for the left factor pairs a weight $(x,y)$ with its coroot as $x+y$. The five-dimensional vector then gives two doublets and a singlet, whereas a short-axis root would give a triplet and two singlets.

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 ${\epsilon }_1,{\epsilon }_2,0,-{\epsilon }_2,-{\epsilon }_1$.

For simple roots $(1,0),(-1,1)$, Dynkin labels of a Euclidean weight $(x,y)$ are $(2x,-x+y)$. The highest root $(1,1)$ gives the Adjoint representation, of dimension ten. Its eight nonzero weights are the eight roots of $B_2$; the zero weight has multiplicity two. The nine distinct label pairs are $(2,0),(0,1),(-2,2),(2,-1),(0,0),(-2,1),(2,-2),(0,-1),(-2,0)$.

For simple roots $(1,0)$ and $(-1,1)$, coroot integrality gives the weight lattice $P={\mathbb{Z}}^2\cup (\mathbb{Z}+1/2{)}^2$. This is the lattice for the Spin group $\mathrm{Spin}(5)$ and its Lie algebra. Representations descending to $SO(5)$ use the integer coset, because a $2\pi$ rotation in either coordinate plane must act trivially.

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 $(\pm 1,0),(0,\pm 1),(0,0)$.

When ${\alpha }_1$ is the short simple root, ${\omega }_1$ is the spin fundamental weight and ${\omega }_2$ is the vector fundamental weight. The Weyl dimension formula gives

For the five-dimensional defining representation $V=V({\omega }_2)$ of ${\mathfrak{so}}_5$, the invariant quadratic form splitsThus the traceless symmetric square is irreducible of dimension $15-1=14$.

For the five-dimensional defining representation of ${\mathfrak{so}}_5$, the symmetric square is the sum of its invariant trace and the traceless representation $V(2{\omega }_2)$, while the exterior square is the Adjoint representation $V(2{\omega }_1)$. Hence