The Gel'fand-Dikij Lie algebras and the Virasoro algebra (Q1093718)

Let \(L=\partial^ n+\sum u_ i\partial^ i\) be a differential operator, where \(u_ i\in C^{\infty}(S^ 1)\), and F be a space of symbols \(X=\sum_{i}\partial^{-i}x_ i\) where \(x_ i\) belongs to the differential ring of polynomials \(u_ i^{(j)}\). The commutator on F is introduced with the help of the operator L. We obtain a Lie algebra F which is called Gel'fand-Dikij Lie algebra. The operator of Gel'fand- Dikij second Hamiltonian structure is a generalization of the operator of coadjoint action in the Virasoro algebra. The Gel'fand-Dikij Lie algebras GD(g) correspond to Lie algebras \(g\in \{gl(n),sl(n),sp(2k),so(2k-1)\}\). The commutator on GD(sl(2)) is given by the Poisson bracket on orbits of the Virasoro algebra. The Virasoro algebra is naturally imbedded into central extensions of GD(sl(n)) and of GD(sp(2k)), and we obtain central charges \((n^ 3-n)/12\) and \(((2k)^ 3-2k)/12\).