Simple Lie algebras arising from Steinberg algebras of Hausdorff ample groupoids (Q2068171)

The author obtains a characterization of the fields \(K\) and the ample Hausdorff groupoids \(\mathcal G\), having a simple Steinberg algebra \(A_K(\mathcal G)\), for which the commutator Lie algebra \([A_K(\mathcal G), A_K(\mathcal G)]\) is a simple Lie algebra. This is then applied to several classes of algebras, such as Leavitt path algebras associated to directed graphs, Kumjian-Pask algebras associated to \(k\)-graphs, and Exel-Pardo algebras, which are known to have a representation as Steinberg algebras of ample groupoids. It is also obtained that simple unital Exel-Pardo algebras are central, and that simple non-unital Exel-Pardo algebras have trivial center.