A characterization of the Block Lie algebra and its \(q\)-forms in characteristic \(0\) (Q1270038)

Over a field \(F\) of characteristic \(0\), the Block algebra \(L\) and its \(q\)-form \(L(q)\), \(q\in F\), \(\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}\)-graded Lie algebras with grading spaces of dimensions \(\leq 1\). It is well-known that \(L\) is simple, \(L(q)\) is simple if \(q\) is not a root of unity and \(L'(q):= [L(q),L(q)]\) is graded simple but not simple if \(g\) is a root of unity. The main result of the article under review is the following theorem: Let \(A=\bigoplus_{i,j\in \mathbb{Z}} A_{ij}\) be a \(\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}\)-graded centerless Lie algebra over \(F\) which is assumed to be closed under taking square roots. Let \(A_{00}= 0\) and \(\dim A_{ij}\leq 1\) for all \((i,j)\in \mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}\setminus(0, 0)\). Let \(A\) be generated by \(A_{\pm 1,0}\), \(A_{0,\pm 1}\), and let \(\text{ad }A_{-10}.\text{ ad }A_{10}\neq 0\) and \(\text{ad }A_{0-1}.\text{ ad }A_{01}\neq 0\). Then \(A\) is isomorphic to \(L\) or \(L'(q)\) for a suitable \(q\).