Metric Lie algebras with maximal isotropic centre (Q1434174)

The authors are interested in the classification of metric Lie algebras, that is, of finite-dimension\-al real Lie algebras equipped with an invariant non-degenerate symmetric bilinear form. In the present paper they determine the isomorphism classes of a certain type of solvable metric Lie algebras. They show that every metric Lie algebra of this type is a two-fold extension associated with an orthogonal representation of an abelian Lie algebra. The equivalence classes of such extensions are described by a certain cohomology set. As an application they obtain a classification scheme for metric Lie algebras with maximal isotropic center and the classification of metric Lie algebras of index 2.