\(n\)-extended Lorentzian Kac-Moody algebras (Q2191217)

In this paper, the authors study properties of the class of Kac-Moody Lie algebras whose Dynkin diagrams are obtained by attaching a diagram of finite type \(A_n\) to the affine node of an affine Dynkin diagram. In addition, they briefly consider algebras whose Dynkin diagrams are obtained by attaching an \(A_n\) diagram to any node of a finite diagram of type \(A_r\); such Dynkin diagrams have appeared previously in the physics literature [\textit{S. Katz} et al., Adv. Theor. Math. Phys. 1, No. 1, 53--114 (1997; Zbl 0912.32016)]. All algebras they consider are Lorentzian, which means that their Cartan matrices are invertible with precisely one negative eigenvalue. For general \(n\)-extended algebras, the authors describe all simple roots, fundamental weights, and the Weyl vector \(\rho\). Using these results, they compute certain numerical constants associated to each node of the Dynkin diagram. They then decompose the diagram of the \(n\)-extended algebra into subdiagrams by deleting nodes for which the constants vanish. If the constants for all nodes in a connected subdiagram have the same sign, then the corresponding subalgebra of the \(n\)-extended algebra contains an \(\mathrm{SO}(1,2)\)- or \(\mathrm{SO}(3)\)-principal subalgebra; such subalgebras are useful for studying integrable systems based on Kac-Moody Lie algebras [\textit{A. Fring} et al., Phys. Lett., B 266, No. 1--2, 82--86 (1991; Zbl 1176.81115)]. The authors also anticipate that their results will be useful in the study of symmetry algebras in string theory.