LieAlgebras[Killing] - find the Killing form (matrix) of a Lie algebra, evaluate the Killing form on a pair of vectors, evaluate the Killing form on a subspace
LieAlgebras[KillingForm] - find the Killing form (symmetric tensor) of a Lie algebra
Calling Sequences
Killing(x, y)
Killing(Alg)
Killing(h)
KilllingForm(Alg)
Parameters
x,y - a pair of vectors in a Lie algebra 𝔤
Alg - (optional) the name of a Lie algebra
h - a list of vectors defining a basis for a subspace of a Lie algebra 𝔤
Description
Examples
The Killing form on a n−dimensional Lie algebra 𝔤 is the symmetric quadratic form B defined by Bx, y =traceadx⋅ady for any x, y ∈ 𝔤 . Here adx and ady are the adjoint matrices for the vectors x and y. In terms of the structure constants Cijk with respect to the basis {ei }for 𝔤,one has bij = Bei, ej =∑k,ℓ =1nCiℓk Ckjℓ . If 𝔥 ⊂ 𝔤 is a subspace with basis x1, x2, ... ,xp, then the restriction of the Killing form to 𝔥 is given by the p ×p matrix b‾ rs = Bxr, xs.
Killing() returns the n ×n symmetric matrix bij for the Lie algebra defined by the current frame. Killing(Alg) returns the n ×n symmetric matrix bij for the Lie algebra Alg. Alg.Killing(h) returns the Killing Matrix b‾ rs restricted to the subalgebra 𝔥.
KillingForm(Alg) returns the symmetric rank 2-tensor bij θi ⊗ θj, where the {θi} are the dual 1-forms to the basis {ei }.
The command Killing is part of the DifferentialGeometry:-LieAlgebras package. It can be used in the form Killing(...) only after executing the commands with(DifferentialGeometry) and with(LieAlgebras), but can always be used by executing DifferentialGeometry:-LieAlgebras:-Killing(...).
with⁡DifferentialGeometry:with⁡LieAlgebras:
Example 1.
First initialize a Lie algebra and display the Lie bracket multiplication table.
L1≔_DG⁡LieAlgebra,Alg1,3,2,3,1,1,1,3,2,−1,1,2,3,1:
DGsetup⁡L1:
MultiplicationTable⁡LieBracket
e1,e2=e3,e1,e3=−e2,e2,e3=e1
Compute the Killing form on the vectors x = e1 + e2 and y = e1 − e2 +e3.
X≔evalDG⁡e1+e3
X:=e1+e3
Y≔evalDG⁡e1−e2+e3
Y:=e1−e2+e3
Killing⁡X,Y
−4
Compute the Killing form for the current Lie algebra.
K≔Killing⁡
Compute the Killing form restricted to the subspace S = spane2, e3.
S≔e2,e3:
Killing⁡S
Example 2.
Here is the Killing form for the Lie algebra from Example 1, given as a symmetric, covariant tensor on the Lie algebra.
KillingForm⁡Alg1
−2⁢θ1⁢θ1−2⁢θ2⁢θ2−2⁢θ3⁢θ3
See Also
DifferentialGeometry
LieAlgebras
Adjoint
MultiplicationTable
Query[Semisimple]
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