A criterion for primeness of enveloping algebras of Lie superalgebras (Q757567): Difference between revisions

Let k be a field of characteristic not 2 and \({\mathfrak g}={\mathfrak g}_ 0+{\mathfrak g}_ 1\) a Lie superalgebra over k whose odd part \({\mathfrak g}_ 1\) is finite-dimensional over k. The enveloping algebra \(U=U({\mathfrak g})\) is 2-graded in a natural way; it is graded if and only if \({\mathfrak g}_ 0\) is central in \({\mathfrak g}\). Now choose a basis \(f_ 1,...,f_ m\) of \({\mathfrak g}_ 1\) and define d(\({\mathfrak g})\) as the determinant of the \(m\times m\) matrix \(([f_ i,f_ j])\) in the symmetric algebra S(\({\mathfrak g}_ 0)\); it is well-defined up to a non-zero square in k. The author shows that when \({\mathfrak g}_ 0\) is central, then U is prime (equivalently, semiprime) if and only if d(\({\mathfrak g})\neq 0\). This condition is sufficient for primeness for any Lie superalgebra \({\mathfrak g}\) with \({\mathfrak g}_ 1\) finite-dimensional, but examples show some restrictions to be necessary. Some structural results are given leading to the condition d(\({\mathfrak g})\neq 0\) for many of the classical Lie superalgebras.