Verma modules over generalized Virasoro algebras Vir[\(G\)] (Q1861469)

Let \(\mathbb{F}\) be a field of characteristic zero and \(G\) an additive subgroup of \(\mathbb{F}\). The generalized Virasoro algebra \(\mathcal{V}[G]\) has a basis consisting of \(L_i\), \(i\in G\), and \(c\), where \(c\) is central and the rest of the Lie brackets are defined via: \([L_i,L_j]=(i-j)L_{i+j}+\delta_{i,-j}\frac{i^3-i}{12}c\). Any linear order \(<\) on the abelian group \(G\) gives rise to a decomposition \(G=G_-\cup\{0\}\cup G_+\), where \(G_-\) and \(G_+\) denote the sets of negative and positive elements with respect to \(<\). This induces a triangular decomposition \(\mathcal{V}[G]=\mathcal{V}[G]_-\oplus \mathcal{V}[G]_0\oplus\mathcal{V}[G]_+\) and allows one to define the corresponding Verma modules \(M^{<}(\lambda)\), where \(\lambda\in \mathcal{V}[G]_0^*\). In the paper under review the authors prove two statements. To formulate the first one, assume that for any \(0<x<y\) there is \(n\in\mathbb{N}\) such that \(y<nx\). It is shown that in this case \(M^{<}(\lambda)\) is simple if and only if \(\lambda\neq 0\), and the kernel of the natural surjection of \(M^{<}(0)\) on the trivial \(\mathcal{V}[G]\)-module is simple. If \(<\) does not satisfy the above assumption, then there exists the unique maximal negative element \(x\in G\). This element defines a Virasoro subalgebra \(\mathcal{V}_x=\mathcal{V}[\{nx\mid n\in \mathbb{Z}\}]\) of \(\mathcal{V}[G]\). Let \(v\) be a canonical generator of \(M^{<}(\lambda)\). It is shown that \(M^{<}(\lambda)\) is simple if and only if the Verma module \(U(\mathcal{V}_x)v\) is simple as a \(\mathcal{V}_x\)-module. This corrects a mistake in Theorem~4 of the reviewer's paper [Compos. Math. 115, No. 1, 21--35 (1999; Zbl 0956.17016)].