Invariant four-forms and symmetric pairs (Q1941759)

This paper is devoted to obtaining criteria such that the real, complex and quaternionic representations admit s-representations. The main emphasis is put on exceptional Lie algebras defined by spin representations. The s-representation is defined as a real representation of some Lie algebra of compact type which can be realized as the isotropy representation of a symmetric space. It is shown that the obstruction for a given representation \(m\) to be an s-representation is encoded in some invariant element in the fourth exterior power of \(m\), defined by the image of the Casimir element from the corresponding universal enveloping algebra. A geometrical proof of the classification by Dynkin of the complex representations with irreducible second exterior power is given. Also, a classification result is obtained for representations with quaternionic structure whose second exterior power decomposes in only two irreducible summands. Finally, a conceptual computation-free argument is presented for the construction of the exceptional Lie algebras of compact type. The same method applies to other exceptional simple Lie algebras if one uses the spin representations.