Simple multilinear algebras, rectangular matrices and Lie algebras (Q1320134)

Let \(R\) be a commutative ring with 1. Then a comtrans algebra over \(R\) is a unital \(R\)-module \(E\) equipped with two trilinear operations, known as the commutator \([\cdot, \cdot,\cdot]: E^ 3 \to E\); \((x, y, z) \mapsto [x, y, z]\) and the translator \(\langle \cdot, \cdot, \cdot\rangle : E^ 3 \to E\); \((x,y,z) \mapsto \langle x, y, z\rangle\), such that the commutator satisfies the left alternative identity \([x,x,z] = 0\), the translator satisfies the Jacobi identity \(\langle x, y, z\rangle + \langle y, z, x\rangle + \langle z, x, y\rangle = 0\), and together the commutator and translator satisfy the comtrans identity \([x, y, x] = \langle x, y, x\rangle\). Comtrans algebras were introduced by the second author in ``Multilinear algebras and Lie's theorem for formal \(n\)-loops'' [Arch. Math. 51, 169- 177 (1988; Zbl 0642.22001)] as part of an answer to a problem in differential geometry: finding the algebraic structure in the tangent bundle that locally determines the coordinate \(n\)-ary loop of an \((n + 1)\)-web. The purpose of the current paper is to study comtrans algebras from a purely algebraic point of view, working towards the classification of simple comtrans algebras over suitable fields. Two classes of comtrans algebras are represented by the examples: the comtrans algebra \(CT(A,B)\) furnished by a pair \(A\), \(B\) of square matrices, and the comtrans algebras \(CT(L)\) given by repeated commutators in a Lie algebra \(L\). Simple comtrans algebras are defined, which then shows (Theorem 3.2) that the simplicity of a Lie algebra \(L\) and the simplicity of the corresponding comtrans algebra \(CT(L)\) are equivalent. Then a proof of the characterization (Theorem 4.7) for simple comtrans algebras \(CT(A,B)\) is given. Finally, it is shown that the series of simple algebra \(CT(A,B)\) and \(CT(L)\) are distinct, with the exception of the comtrans algebra given by the vector triple product. [For physical applications of comtrans algebras see the paper reviewed below.].