Lectures on Chevalley groups

Arun Ram
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Melbourne
Parkville, VIC 3010 Australia
aram@unimelb.edu.au

Last update: 30 July 2013

§2. A basis for 𝒰

Let ℒ be a Lie algebra over a field k and 𝒰 an associative algebra over k. We say that φ:ℒ→𝒰 is a homomorphism if:

(1) φ is linear.
(2) φ[X,Y]= φ(X)φ(Y)- φ(Y)φ(X) for all X,Y∈ℒ.

A universal enveloping algebra of a Lie algebra ℒ is a couple (𝒰,φ) such that:

(1) 𝒰 is an associative algebra with 1.
(2) φ is a homomorphism of ℒ into 𝒰.
(3) If (𝒜,ψ) is any other such couple then there exists a unique homomorphism θ:𝒰→𝒜 such that θ∘φ=ψ and θ1=1.

For the existence and uniqueness of (𝒰,φ) see, e.g., Jacobson, Lie Algebras.

Birkhoff-Witt Theorem: Let ℒ be a Lie algebra over a field k and (𝒰,φ) its universal enveloping algebra. Then:

(a) φ is injective.
(b) If ℒ is identified with its image in 𝒰 and if X1,X2,…,Xr is a linear basis for ℒ, the monomials X1k1X2k2…Xrkr form a basis for 𝒰 (where the ki are nonnegative integers).

The proof here too can be found in Jacobson.

Theorem 2: Assume the basis elements {Hi,Xα} of ℒ are as in Theorem 1 and are arranged in some order. For each choice of numbers ni,mα∈ℤ+ (i=1,2,…,ℓ;α∈Σ) form the product, in 𝒰, of all (Hini) and Xαmα/mα! according to the given order. The resulting collection is a basis for the ℤ-algebra 𝒰ℤ generated by all Xαm/m! (m∈ℤ+;α∈Σ).

Remark: The collection is a ℂ-basis for 𝒰 by the Birkhoff-Witt Theorem.

The proof of Theorem 2 will depend on a sequence of lemmas.

Lemma 4: Every polynomial over ℂ in ℓ variables H1,…Hℓ which takes on integral values at all integral values of the variables is an integral combination of the polynomials Πi=1ℓ(Hini) where ni∈ℤ+ and ni≤ degree of the polynomial in Hi (and conversely, of course).

Proof.

Let f be such a polynomial. We may write f=Σj=0rfj(Hℓj), each fj being a polynomial in H1,…,Hℓ-1. We replace Hℓ by Hℓ+1 and take the difference. If we do this r times we get fr. Assuming the lemma true for polynomials in ℓ-1 variables (it clearly holds for polynomials in no variables), hence for fr, we may subtract the term fr(Hℓr) from f and complete the proof by induction on r.

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Lemma 5: If α is a root and we write X,Y,H for Xα,X-α,Hα, then

(Xm/m!) (Yn/n!)= Σj=0min(m,n) (Yn-j/(n-j)!) (H-m-n+2jj) (Xm-j/(m-j)!)

Proof.

The case m=n=1, XY=YX+H, together with induction on n yield X(Yn/n!)= (Yn/n!)X+ (Yn-1/(n-1)!) (H-n+1). This equation and induction on m yield the lemma,

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Corollary: Each (Hαn) is in 𝒰ℤ.

Proof.

Set m=n in Lemma 5, write the right side as (Hn)+ Σj=0n-1 (Yn-j/(n-j)!) (H-2n+2jj) (Xn-j/(n-j)!) , then use induction on n and Lemma 4.

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Lemma 6: Let ℒℤ be the ℤ-span of the basis {Hi,Xα} of ℒ. Then under the adjoint representation, extended to 𝒰, every Xαm/m! preserves ℒℤ, and the same holds for ℒℤ⊗ℒℤ⊗…, any number of factors.

Proof.

Making Xαm/m! act on the basis of ℒℤ we get (Xαm/m!)· Xβ= ±(r+1) (r+2)… (r+m-1)/ m!Xβ+mα if β≠-α (see the definition of r=r(α,β) in Theorem 1), Xα·X-α=Hα, (Xα2/2)·X-α=-Xα, Xα·Hi=-⟨α,αi⟩Xα, and 0 in all other cases, which proves ℒℤ is preserved. The second part follows by induction on the number of factors and:

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Lemma 7: Let U and V be ℒ-modules and A and B additive subgroups thereof. If A and B are preserved by every Xαm/m! then so is A⊗B (in U⊗V).

Proof.

Since X acts on U⊗V as X⊗1+1⊗X it follows from the binomial expansion that Xm/m! acts as ΣXj/j!⊗Xm-j/(m-j)!, whence the lemma.

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Lemma 8: Let S be a set of roots such that (a) α∈S⇒-α∉S and (b) α,β∈S,α+β∈Σ⇒α+β∈S (e.g. the set of positive roots), arranged in some order. Then {Πα∈SXαmα/mα! | mα≥0} is a basis for the ℤ-algebra 𝒜 generated by all Xαm/m! (α∈S;m≥0).

Proof.

By the Birkhoff-Witt Theorem applied to the Lie algebra for which {Xα | α∈S} is a basis we see that every A∈𝒜 is a complex combination of the given elements. We must show all corn efficients are integers. Write A=cΠXαmα/mα!+ terms of at most the same total degree. We make A act on ℒ⊗ℒ⊗… (Σmα copies) and look for the component of A⊗αX-α⊗…⊗X-α⏟mα copies in ℋ⊗ℋ⊗…. Any term of A other than the first leads to a zero component since there are either not enough factors (at least one is needed for each X-α) or barely enough but with the wrong distribution (since Xβ·X-α is a nonzero element of ℋ only if β=α), while the first leads to a non-zero component only if the Xα's and the X-α's are matched up, in all possible permutations. It follows that the component sought is cHα⊗…⊗Hα. Now each Hα is a primitive element of ℒℤ (to see this imbed α in a simple system of roots and then use Lemma 1). Since A preserves ℒℤ⊗ℒℤ⊗… by Lemma 6 it follows that c∈ℤ, whence Lemma 8.

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Any formal product of elements of 𝒰 of the form (Hi-kn) or Xαm/m! (m,n∈ℤ+;k∈ℤ) will be called a monomial and the total degree in the X's its degree.

Lemma 9: If β,γ∈Σ and m,n∈ℤ+, then (Xγm/m!)(Xβn/n!) is an integral combination of (Xβn/n!)(Xγm/m!) and monomials of lower degree.

Proof.

This holds if β=γ obviously and if β=-γ by Lemma 5. Assume β≠±γ. By Lemma 8 applied to the set S of roots of the form iγ+jβ (i,j∈ℤ+), arranged in the order β,γ,β+γ,… we see that (Xγm/m!)(Xβn/n!) is an integral combination of terms of the form (Xβb/b!) (Xγc/c!) (Xβ+γd/d!)…. The map Xα→α (α∈S) leads to a grading of the algebra 𝒜 with values in the additive group generated by S. The left side of the preceding equation has degree nβ+mγ, Hence so does each term on the right, whence b,c,… are restricted by the condition bβ+cγ+d(β+γ)+…=nβ+mγ, hence also by b+c+2d+…=n+m. Clearly b+c+d+…, the ordinary degree of the above term, can be as large as n+m only if b+c=n+m and d=…=0 by the last condition, and then b=n and c=m by the first, which proves Lemma 9.

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Lemma 10: If α and β are roots and f is any polynomial, then Xαnf(Hβ)= f(Hβ-nα(Hα))Xαn.

Proof.

By linearity this need only be proved when f is a power of Hβ and then it easily follows by induction on the two exponents starting with the equation XαHβ= (Hβ-α(Hβ))Xα.

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Observe that each α(Hβ) is an integer.

Now we can prove Theorem 2. By the corollary to Lemma 5 each (Hin) is in 𝒰ℤ, hence so is each of the proposed basis elements. We must show that each element of 𝒰ℤ is an integral combination of the latter elements, and for this it suffices to show that each monomial is. Any monomial may, by induction on the degree, Lemma 9, and Lemma 10, be expressed as an integral combination of monomials such that for each α the Xα terms all come together and in the order of the roots prescribed by Theorem 2, then also such that each α is represented at most once, because (Xm/m!)(Xn/n!)= (m+nn) Xm+n/ (m+n)!. The H terms may now be brought to the front (see Lemma 10), the resulting polynomial expressed as an integral combination of Π(HiNi)'s by Lemma 4, each Hi term shifted to the position prescribed by Theorem 2, and Lemma 4 used for each Hi separately, to yield finally an integral combination of basis elements, as required.

Let ℒ be a semisimple Lie algebra having Cartan subalgebra ℋ. Let V be a representation space for ℒ. We call a vector v∈V a weight vector if there is a linear function λ on ℋ such that Hv=λ(H)v for all H∈ℋ. If such a v≠0 exists, we call the corresponding λ a weight of the representation.

Lemma 11: If v is a weight vector belonging to the weight λ, then for α a root we have Xαv is a weight vector belonging to the weight λ+α, if Xαv≠0.

Proof.

If H∈ℋ, then HXαv= Xα(H+α(H))v =(λ+α)(H)Xαv.

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Theorem 3: If ℒ is a semisimple Lie algebra having Cartan subalgebra ℋ, then

(a) Every finite dimensional irreducible ℒ-module V contains a nonzero vector v+ such that v+ is a weight vector belonging to some weight λ and Xαv+=0 (α>0).
(b) It then follows that if Vλ is the subspace of V consisting of weight vectors belonging to λ, then dim Vλ=1. Moreover, every weight μ has the form λ-Σα, where the α's are positive roots. Also, V=ΣVμ (μ a weight).
(c) The weight λ and the line containing v+ are uniquely determined.
(d) λ(Hα)∈ℤ+ for α>0.
(e) Given any linear function λ satisfying (d), then there is a unique finite dimensional ℒ-module V in which λ is realized as in (a).

Proof.

(a) There exists at least one weight on V since ℋ acts as an Abelian set of endomorphisms. We introduce a partial order on the weights by μ<ν if ν-μ=Σα (α a positive root). Since the weights are finite in number, we have a maximal weight λ. Let v+ be a nonzero weight vector belonging to λ. Since λ+α is not a weight for α>0, we have by Lemma 11 that Xαv+=0 (α>0).

(b) and (c) Now let W=ℂv++Σμ<λVμ. Let ℒ- (ℒ+) be the Lie subalgebra of ℒ generated by Xα with α<0 (α>0). Let 𝒰-, 𝒰0, and 𝒰+ be the universal enveloping algebras of ℒ-, ℋ, and ℒ+ respectively. By the Birkhoff-Witt theorem, 𝒰- has a basis {Πα<0Xαm(α)}, 𝒰0 has a basis {Πi=1ℓHini}, 𝒰+ has a basis {Πα>0Xαp(α)}, and 𝒰, the universal enveloping algebra of ℒ, has a basis { Πα<0 Xαm(α) Πi=1ℓ HiniXαp(α) } where m(α),ni,p(α)∈ℤ+. Hence, 𝒰=𝒰-𝒰0𝒰+. Now W is invariant under 𝒰-. Also, V=𝒰v+=𝒰-𝒰0v+=𝒰-v+ since V is irreducible, 𝒰+v+=0, and 𝒰0v+=ℂv+. Hence V=W and (b) and (c) follow.

(d) Hα is in the 3-dimensional subalgebra generated by Hα,Xα,X-α. Hence, by the theory of representations of this subalgebra, λ(Hα)∈ℤ+ (See Jacobson, Lie Algebras, pp. 83-85.)

(e) See Séminaire "Sophus LIE," Exposé n0 17.

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Corollary: If μ is a weight and α a root, then μ(Hα)∈ℤ.

Proof.

This follows from (b) and (d) of Theorem 3 and β(Hα)=⟨β,α⟩∈ℤ for α,β∈Σ.

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Remark: λ,v+ are called the highest weight, a highest weight vector, respectively.

By Theorem 2, we know that the ℤ-algebra 𝒰ℤ generated by Xαm/m! (α∈Σ,m∈ℤ+) has a ℤ-basis

{ Πα<0 Xαm(α)m(α)! Πi=1ℓ (Hjnj) Πα>0 Xαp(α)p(α)!  |  m(α),ni,p(α) ∈ℤ+ } .

Now if 𝒰ℤ-, 𝒰ℤ+, and 𝒰ℤ0 denote the ℤ-algebras generated by Xαm/m! (α<0), Xαm/m! (α>0), and (Hini) respectively, then 𝒰ℤ=𝒰ℤ-𝒰ℤ0𝒰ℤ+.

Lemma 12: If u∈𝒰ℤ and v+ is a highest weight vector, then the component of uv+ in ℂv+ is nv+ for some n∈ℤ.

Proof.

We know that 𝒰ℤ+v+=0 and 𝒰ℤ-v+⊆Σμ<λVμ. Hence the component is nonzero only if u∈𝒰ℤ0. Now (Hini) acts as an integer on ℂv+ by Theorem 3 (d), so 𝒰ℤ0v+=ℤv+.

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Lemma 13: Let P be a point of ℤℓ and S a finite subset of ℤℓ not containing P. Then there is a polynomial f in ℓ variables such that:

(a) f(ℤℓ)⊆ℤ.
(b) f(P)=1.
(c) f(S)=0.

Proof.

Let P=(p1,p2,…,pℓ) with pi∈ℤ, i=1,2,…,ℓ. Set fk(H1,H2,…,Hℓ)= Πi=1ℓ (Hi-pi+kk) (-Hi+pi+kk). We see that fk(P)=1 and fk takes the value zero at all other points of ℤℓ within a box with edges 2k and center P. For k sufficiently large, this box contains S.

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If V is a vector space over ℂ and M is a finitely generated (free Abelian) subgroup of V which has a ℤ-basis which is a ℂ-basis for V, we say M is a lattice in V.

We can now state the following corollaries to Theorem 2.

Corollary 1:

(a) Every finite dimensional ℒ-module V contains a lattice M invariant under all Xαm/m! (α∈Σ,m∈ℤ+); i.e., M is invariant under 𝒰ℤ.
(b) Every such lattice is the direct sum of its weight components; in fact, every such additive group is.

Proof.

(a) By the theorem of complete reducibility of representations of semisimple Lie algebras over a field of characteristic 0 (See Jacobson, Lie Algebras, p. 79), we may assume that V is irreducible. Using Theorem 3, we find v+ and set M=𝒰ℤ-v+. M is finitely generated over ℤ since only finitely many monomials in 𝒰ℤ- fail to annihilate v+. Since 𝒰-v+=V and since 𝒰ℤ- spans 𝒰- over ℂ, we see that M spans V over ℂ. Before completing the proof of (a), we will first show that if Σcivi=0 with ci∈ℂ, vi∈M and v1≠0, then there exist ni∈ℤ, n1≠0, such that Σcini=0. To see this, let u∈𝒰ℤ be such that the component of uv1 in ℂv+ is nonzero. Then Σciuvi=0 implies Σcini=0 where niv+ is the component of uvi in ℂv+. We have ni∈ℤ by Lemma 12 and n1≠0 by choice of u. Finally, suppose a basis for M is not a basis for V. Let ℓ be minimal such that there exist v1,…,vℓ∈M linearly independent over ℤ but linearly dependent over ℂ. Suppose Σi=1ℓcivi=0. Then there exist ni∈ℤ, n1≠0 such that Σi=1ℓcini=0. We see that 0= n1Σi=1ℓcivi= Σi=2ℓci (n1vi-niv1). Since n1vi-niv1 i=2,3,…,ℓ are linearly independent over ℤ, we have a contradiction to the choice of v1,v2,…,vℓ. Hence, M is a lattice in V.

(b) Let M be any subgroup of the additive group of V invariant under 𝒰ℤ. If μ is a weight, set Pμ=(μ(H1),μ(H2),…,μ(Hℓ))∈ℤℓ. For a fixed μ let S={Pλ | λ a weight, λ≠μ}. Let f be as in Lemma 13 with P=Pμ. If u=f(H1,…,Hℓ) then u∈𝒰ℤ, and u acts on V like the projection of V onto Vμ. Thus, if v∈M, the projection of v to Vμ is in M, and M is the direct sum of its weight components.

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Corollary 2: Let ℒ be faithfully represented on a finite dimensional vector space V. Let M be a lattice in V invariant under 𝒰ℤ. Let ℒℤ be the part of ℒ which preserves M. Then ℒℤ is a lattice, and ℒℤ=ΣαℤXα+ℋℤ where ℋℤ={H∈ℋ | μ(H)∈ℤ for all weights μ of the given representation}. In particular, ℒℤ independent of M. (But, of course, ℒℤ is not independent of the representation.)

Proof.

We recall that associated with the representation on V, there is a representation on the dual space V* of V called the contragredient representation given by ⟨x,ℓy*⟩=-⟨ℓx,y*⟩ where x∈V, y∈V*, ℓ∈ℒ and where ⟨x,y*⟩ denotes the value of the linear function y* at x. If M* is the dual lattice in V* of M; i.e., ⟨M,M*⟩⊂ℤ, then clearly ℓ∈ℒ preserves M* if and only if ℓ preserves M. We know that V⊗V* is isomorphic with End(V) and that the tensor product of the two representations corresponds to the representation ℓ:A→[ℓ,A] (ℓ∈ℒ,A∈End(V)) of ℒ in End(V) (See Jacobson, Lie Algebras, p. 22). Now End(M)≃M⊗M* is a lattice in End(V) since the tensor product of two lattices is a lattice. Also, ℒℤ is a lattice in ℒ since ℒℤ⊆End(M) and dimℤ ℒℤ≥dimℂ ℒ because all Hi and Xα are in ℒℤ. Since 𝒰ℤ preserves M and M*, 𝒰ℤ preserves M⊗M* by Lemma 7, and hence 𝒰ℤ preserves the lattice ℒℤ in ℒ under the adjoint representation. By Corollary 1 (b), ℒℤ=Σα(ℂXα∩ℒℤ)+ℋℤ.

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Now Xα∈𝒰ℤ implies Xα∈ℂXα∩ℒℤ. If Xα/n spans ℂXα∩ℒℤ over ℤ for n∈ℤ, n≥1, then ad(X-α2/2!) (Xα/n) =X-α/n∈ ℒℤ. Hence -(ad Xα/n)2 (X-α/n) =2Xα/n3∈ ℒℤ. Thus, 2/n3∈(1/n)ℤ which implies 2/n2∈ℤ and n=1. Hence, ℂXα∩ℒℤ=ℤXα.

Example: Let ℒ be the 3 dimensional Lie algebra generated by X,Y, and H with [X,Y]=H, [H,X]=2X, and [H,Y]=-2Y. Let V=ℒ and let M be the lattice in ℒ spanned by X,Y, and H. Then since the only weights of the adjoint representation are ±α, 0 with α(H)=2, ℒℤ=ℤX+ℤY+ℤ(H/2). Now ℒ is isomorphic with ℒ′=sℓ2 on a 2 dimensional vector space V′. Here H corresponds to [100-1] and the weights are ±μ,0 with μ(H)=1. Hence ℒℤ′=ℤX+ℤY+ℤH and ℒℤ≠ℒℤ′.

We are now in a position to transfer our attention to an arbitrary field k. We have already defined the lattices M,ℒℤ,ℋℤ,Mμ=Vμ∩M, and ℤXα. Considering these lattices as ℤ-modules and considering k as a ℤ-module, we can form the tensor products, Vk=M⊗ℤk, ℒk=ℒℤ⊗ℤk, ℋk=ℋℤ⊗ℤk, Vμk=Mμ⊗ℤk, and kXαk=ℤXα⊗ℤk. We then have:

Corollary 3:

(a) Vk=ΣVμk (direct sum) and dimk Vμk= dimℂ Vμ.
(b) ℒk=ΣkXαk+ℋk (direct sum), each Xαk≠0, dimk ℋk=dimℂ ℋ, and dimk ℒk=dimℂ ℒ.

Proof.

This follows from Corollaries 1 and 2.

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Notes and References

This is a typed excerpt of Lectures on Chevalley groups by Robert Steinberg, Yale University, 1967. Notes prepared by John Faulkner and Robert Wilson. This work was partially supported by Contract ARO-D-336-8230-31-43033.

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