Free nilpotent Lie algebras admitting ad-invariant metrics (Q1939297)

A Lie algebra \(\mathfrak g\) over a field \(K\) of characteristic 0 is called \textit{metric} or \textit{quadratic} if it has an ad-invariant metric. This means that \(\mathfrak g\) has a nondegenerate symmetric bilinear form \(\langle \cdot,\cdot\rangle\) which satisfies the equality \(\langle[x,y],z\rangle+\langle y,[x,z]\rangle=0\) for all \(x,y,z\in\mathfrak g\). Such Lie algebras appear in some physical problems such as the known Adler-Kostant-Symes scheme. They are also useful for the construction of bialgebras and give rise to interesting pseudo-Riemannian geometry. In the paper under review the authors study the existence of ad-invariant metrics on the free \(k\)-step nilpotent Lie algebra with \(m\) generators \({\mathfrak n}_{m,k}\) and the free metabelian \(k\)-step nilpotent Lie algebra with \(m\) generators \(\tilde{\mathfrak n}_{m,k}\). It has turned out that the only (non-abelian) free nilpotent and free metabelian nilpotent Lie algebras which can be endowed with an ad-invariant metric are the algebras \({\mathfrak n}_{2,3}=\tilde{\mathfrak n}_{2,3}\) and \({\mathfrak n}_{3,2}=\tilde{\mathfrak n}_{3,2}\). Then the authors describe the groups of automorphisms of \({\mathfrak n}_{2,3}\) and \({\mathfrak n}_{3,2}\), the subgroups of orthogonal automorphisms, and the Lie algebras of skew-symmetric derivations of \({\mathfrak n}_{2,3}\) and \({\mathfrak n}_{3,2}\). Reviewer's remark: The correct data for reference [7] are [Commun. Algebra 40, No. 12, 4389--4403 (2012; Zbl 1317.17006)].