Characteristic identities for Kac-Moody algebras (Q1177122)

Characteristic identities are derived for the generators of a simple affine Kac-Moody algebra in any highest-weight unitary representation. The matrix \(A\) of the characteristic identity is infinite-dimensional, but the authors show that the required matrix powers are well-defined. The characteristic identity is not unique, but the most natural generalization of the finite-dimensional Lie algebra characteristic identity [\textit{A. J. Bracken} and \textit{H. S. Green}, J. Math. Phys. 12, 2099-2106 (1971); \textit{H. S. Green}, J. Math. Phys. 12, 2106-2113 (1971; Zbl 0229.17008)] takes the form of the vanishing of a finite product of sine functions of terms linear in \(A\). It is shown that generators \({\mathcal L}_{-s}\) of a Virasoro algebra raise the eigenvalues of \(A\), and projection operators commuting with \({\mathcal L}_{-s}\) are obtained from the characteristic identity.