Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2012 iii Paper 1 5 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-07
Here root systems are finite, reduced and crystallographic, as for complex semisimple Lie algebras. For a base of a root system , the Dynkin diagram has one vertex for each simple root. Two distinct vertices have bonds, with the arrow on a multiple bond pointing toward the shorter root. The classification of finite crystallographic Dynkin diagrams consists of the following connected diagrams; the integers describing arms count vertices away from the unique branching vertex.
- (): a chain with only single bonds.
- (): a chain with one double bond at an end; that end is short.
- (): the same bond pattern, but that end is long. The rank-two system is ; .
- (): a simply laced tree with three arms of lengths .
- : simply laced trees with three arms respectively of lengths , and .
- : a four-vertex chain, with single, double, single bonds in order, and two long roots adjacent on one side of the middle bond and two short roots on the other.
- : two vertices joined by a triple bond, one long and one short.
This is classification up to diagram isomorphism and overall rescaling of the root system. It includes the conventional identifications and when those low-rank notations are used. The weighting here encodes root lengths and bonds; it is not the separate theory of vertex labels attached to nilpotent orbits. Dropping the crystallographic or reduced hypothesis changes the classification.
Precisely, a base of a root system is a vector-space basis such that each root has a unique expansion , with integer coefficients all nonnegative or all nonpositive. This defines the positive and negative roots. We use the column-coroot convention for the Cartan matrix:Some conventions transpose this matrix; specifying which index labels the coroot resolves that difference. The Weyl group is the subgroup of orthogonal transformations generated by the Weyl reflections
For the C3 root system, take an orthonormal basis of andThere are six long roots of squared length and twelve short roots of squared length . A base is , , . The Cartan matrix convention for C3 above givesThus the double bond connects to , with its arrow directed toward .
An explicit complex Lie algebra realizing this root system is the symplectic Lie algebraIt is closed under commutators, since the two identities , imply . Equivalently,so its dimension is . A Cartan subalgebra isWith denoting a matrix unit, the root spaces have generators for (), for (), and for ; the analogous lower-left generators give the negative roots. These are all eighteen root spaces, each one-dimensional, and together with they exhaust the algebra.
For an explicit semisimplicity check, let be an ideal. Simultaneous diagonalization of makes a sum of its intersections with and these root spaces. If it contains a nonzero , some root has , and supplies a root vector in . Thus always contains a root vector. Bracket it with its opposite root vector to obtain a nonzero coroot . Whenever , bracketing with either or puts both root spaces into . The graph of the roots with edges for nonzero inner products is connected: connects to , which connects to , and every short root connects to an axis root. Repeating the argument yields all root spaces and then all of from their brackets. Hence : the constructed algebra is simple, and therefore semisimple.
The reflections in and exchange adjacent coordinates, while reflection in changes the sign of the third coordinate. They generate every signed permutation. Conversely reflection in any displayed root is a signed permutation. ThusThe reflecting hyperplanes are and . A fundamental open Weyl chamber is . Every regular point has three nonzero coordinates of distinct absolute values; its signs and the ordering of those absolute values specify exactly one of the chambers. The closure of this chamber is generated by the rays through , and . This is the Weyl chamber geometry of C3.
C3 roots and the spherical tessellation into 48 Weyl chambers
. The left panel retains the actual long and short root lengths. The right panel radially projects a hemisphere of the unit sphere, draws every visible reflecting great-circle arc, and highlights the chamber . Each spherical triangle is the section of a three-dimensional chamber by the sphere; opposite triangles on the rear hemisphere supply the remaining chambers. Roots of a root system are normal to the chamber walls, rather than generally lying along their edges.
