Lie Algebras of Finite and Affine Type [Hardcover]

This book provides a thorough but relaxed mathematical treatment of Lie algebras.Lie algebras have many varied applications, both in mathematics and mathematical physics. This book provides a thorough but relaxed mathematical treatment of the subject, including both the Cartan-Killing-Weyl theory of finite dimensional simple algebras and the more modern theory of Kac-Moody algebras. Proofs are given in detail and the only prerequisite is a sound knowledge of linear algebra.Lie algebras have many varied applications, both in mathematics and mathematical physics. This book provides a thorough but relaxed mathematical treatment of the subject, including both the Cartan-Killing-Weyl theory of finite dimensional simple algebras and the more modern theory of Kac-Moody algebras. Proofs are given in detail and the only prerequisite is a sound knowledge of linear algebra.Lie algebras have many varied applications, both in mathematics and mathematical physics. This book provides a thorough but relaxed mathematical treatment of the subject, including both the Cartan-Killing-Weyl theory of finite dimensional simple algebras and the more modern theory of Kac-Moody algebras. Proofs are given in detail and the only prerequisite is a sound knowledge of linear algebra. The Appendix provides a summary of the basic properties of each Lie algebra of finite and affine type.1. Basic concepts; 2. Representations of soluble and nilpotent Lie algebras; 3. Cartan subalgebras; 4. The Cartan decomposition; 5. The root systems and the Weyl group; 6. The Cartan matrix and the Dynkin diagram; 7. The existence and uniqueness theorems; 8. The simple Lie algebras; 9. Some universal constructions; 10. Irreducible modules for semisimple Lie algebras; 11. Further properties of the universal enveloping algebra; 12. Character and dimension formulae; 13. Fundamental modules for simple Lie algebras; 14. Generalized Cartan matrices and Kac-Moody algebras; 15. The classification of generalised Cartan matricelþ