Contact Lie algebras of vector fields on the plane (Q1296204)

Lie algebras of contact vector fields on the first jet spaces of one-dimensional submanifolds in the plane are essential in the symmetry analysis of ordinary differential equations. Algebraically, a transitive Lie algebra \({\mathfrak g}\) of contact vector fields (a contact Lie algebra, in short) can be described as a filtered deformation of a (finite-dimensional) graded Lie algebra \({\mathfrak h}\) with the 3-dimensional Heisenberg algebra \({\mathfrak m}\) as its negative part. By a result of \textit{N. Tanaka} [J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 10, 1-82 (1970; Zbl 0206.50503)] (which is, in fact, a special case of Theorem 2.1 of \textit{Q. Fei} and \textit{G. Shen} [J. Algebra 152, 439-453 (1992; Zbl 0781.17009)]), \({\mathfrak h}\) can be imbedded in a ``largest'' graded Lie algebra \({\mathfrak h}({\mathfrak m})\) with negative part \({\mathfrak m}\). By some geometrical consideration, the author is able to identify \({\mathfrak h}({\mathfrak m})\) to be the Cartan type contact algebra \(K(3)\) (this fact is in fact the simplest special case of Theorem 4.2 [\textit{Q. Fei} and \textit{G. Shen}, loc. cit.]). Investigating the homogeneous subalgebras of \(K(3)\) and their filtered deformations, the authors obtain a classification of the irreducible (and therefore all) real Lie algebras of contact vector fields as well as a new up to date proof of Sophus Lie's classification of the complex ones which is as yet missing in the literature. A discussion of the infinite-dimensional cases is also given.