Electrical networks and Lie theory (Q500223)

This paper introduces a new class of electrical Lie groups. The nonnegative parts of these Lie groups act on the planar electrical networks via combinatorial operations studied in [\textit{E. B. Curtis} et al., Linear Algebra Appl. 283, No. 1--3, 115--150 (1998; Zbl 0931.05051)]. The electrical Lie algebras are produced by deforming the Serre relations of a semisimple Lie algebra in a manner inspired by the star-triangle or delta-wye transformation from the theory of electrical networks. Decomposition and parameterization results are established that parallel those in [\textit{G. Lusztig}, Prog. Math. 123, 531--568 (1994; Zbl 0845.20034)] and [\textit{Y. Colin de Verdière} et al., Comment. Math. Helv. 71, No. 1, 144--167 (1996; Zbl 0853.05074)]. A generalization of electrical Lie algebras to all Dynkin types is also indicated.