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Difference between revisions of "Weil algebra of a Lie algebra"

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Let $G$ be a connected [[Lie group|Lie group]] with [[Lie algebra|Lie algebra]] $\frak g$. The Weil algebra $W ( \mathfrak{g} )$ of $\frak g$ was first introduced in a series of seminars by H. Cartan [[#References|[a1]]], in part based on some unpublished work of A. Weil. As a differential [[Graded algebra|graded algebra]], it is given by the tensor product
 
Let $G$ be a connected [[Lie group|Lie group]] with [[Lie algebra|Lie algebra]] $\frak g$. The Weil algebra $W ( \mathfrak{g} )$ of $\frak g$ was first introduced in a series of seminars by H. Cartan [[#References|[a1]]], in part based on some unpublished work of A. Weil. As a differential [[Graded algebra|graded algebra]], it is given by the tensor product
  
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With regards to the universal classifying bundle $E G \rightarrow B G$ (cf. also [[Bundle|Bundle]]; [[Classifying space|Classifying space]]; [[Universal space|Universal space]]), there are canonical isomorphisms in [[Cohomology|cohomology]]
 
With regards to the universal classifying bundle $E G \rightarrow B G$ (cf. also [[Bundle|Bundle]]; [[Classifying space|Classifying space]]; [[Universal space|Universal space]]), there are canonical isomorphisms in [[Cohomology|cohomology]]
  
<table class="eq" style="width:100%;"> <tr><td style="width:94%;text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/w/w130/w130050/w13005014.png"/></td> </tr></table>
 
  
where $I ( K )$ denotes the $\operatorname{Ad} K$-invariant polynomials. For a given integer <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/w/w130/w130050/w13005017.png"/>, one has the ideal
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\begin{array}{ccc}
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H^*(W(G,K)) & \xrightarrow[\cong]{\ \ w\ \ } & H^*(EG/K, \mathbf{R}) \\
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\cong \Big\downarrow& & \Big\downarrow \cong\\
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I(K) & \xrightarrow[\cong]{\ \ w\ \ } & H^*(BK, \mathbf{R})
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\end{array}
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$$
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where $I ( K )$ denotes the $\operatorname{Ad} K$-invariant polynomials. For a given integer $k \ge 0$, one has the ideal
  
 
\begin{equation*} F W = F ^ { 2 ( k + 1 ) } W ( G , K ) \subseteq W ( G , K ), \end{equation*}
 
\begin{equation*} F W = F ^ { 2 ( k + 1 ) } W ( G , K ) \subseteq W ( G , K ), \end{equation*}

Revision as of 06:40, 15 February 2024

Let $G$ be a connected Lie group with Lie algebra $\frak g$. The Weil algebra $W ( \mathfrak{g} )$ of $\frak g$ was first introduced in a series of seminars by H. Cartan [a1], in part based on some unpublished work of A. Weil. As a differential graded algebra, it is given by the tensor product

\begin{equation*} W ( \mathfrak { g } ) = \bigwedge \mathfrak { g } ^ { * } \bigotimes S \mathfrak { g } ^ { * }, \end{equation*}

where $\wedge \mathfrak { g } ^ { * }$ and $S \mathfrak { g } ^ { * }$ denote the exterior and symmetric algebras, respectively (cf. also Exterior algebra; Symmetric algebra).

The Weil algebra and its generalizations have been studied extensively by F.W. Kamber and Ph. Tondeur [a3] [a4]. Let $K \subseteq G$ be a maximal compact subgroup, with $\frak p$ denoting the Lie algebra of $K$. The relative Weil algebra for $( G , K )$ is defined by

\begin{equation*} W ( G , K ) = \{ \bigwedge ( \mathfrak { g } / \mathfrak { k } ) ^ { * } \bigotimes S \mathfrak { g } ^ { * } \} ^ { K }. \end{equation*}

With regards to the universal classifying bundle $E G \rightarrow B G$ (cf. also Bundle; Classifying space; Universal space), there are canonical isomorphisms in cohomology


$$ \begin{array}{ccc} H^*(W(G,K)) & \xrightarrow[\cong]{\ \ w\ \ } & H^*(EG/K, \mathbf{R}) \\ \cong \Big\downarrow& & \Big\downarrow \cong\\ I(K) & \xrightarrow[\cong]{\ \ w\ \ } & H^*(BK, \mathbf{R}) \end{array} $$

where $I ( K )$ denotes the $\operatorname{Ad} K$-invariant polynomials. For a given integer $k \ge 0$, one has the ideal

\begin{equation*} F W = F ^ { 2 ( k + 1 ) } W ( G , K ) \subseteq W ( G , K ), \end{equation*}

generated by $S ^ { \text{l} } ( \mathfrak { g } ^ { * } )$, for $\text{l} \geq k + 1$. This leads to the truncated Weil algebra

\begin{equation*} W _ { k } = W ( G , K ) _ { k } = W ( G , K ) / F W. \end{equation*}

The cohomology $H ^ { * } ( W _ { k } )$ plays a prominent role in the study of secondary characteristic classes (cf. also Characteristic class) of foliations and foliated bundles [a3] (see also [a2]).

References

[a1] H. Cartan, "Cohomologie réelle d'un espace fibré principal differentiable" , Sem. H. Cartan 1949/50, Exp. 19–20 (1950)
[a2] J.L. Dupont, F.W. Kamber, "On a generalization of Cheeger–Chern–Simons classes" Illinois J. Math. , 34 (1990) MR1046564 Zbl 0724.57018
[a3] F.W. Kamber, Ph. Tondeur, "Foliated bundles and characteristic classes" , Lecture Notes in Mathematics , 493 , Springer (1975) MR0402773 MR0385886 Zbl 0311.57011 Zbl 0308.57011
[a4] F.W. Kamber, Ph. Tondeur, "Semi-simplicial Weil algebras and characteristic classes" Tôhoku Math. J. , 30 (1978) pp. 373–422 MR0509023 Zbl 0398.57006
How to Cite This Entry:
Weil algebra of a Lie algebra. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Weil_algebra_of_a_Lie_algebra&oldid=55525
This article was adapted from an original article by James F. Glazebrook (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article