On the enveloping algebra and the descending central series of a Lie algebra (Q2534208)

The enveloping algebra \(UL\) of a Lie algebra \(L\) over a field \(K\) is filtered by the powers In of the ideal \(I\) of \(UL\) generated by \(L\). We show that if \(L\) is finite dimensional and if the characteristic of \(K\) is zero, then the graded associated algebra \(\text{gr}(UL)\) is isomorphic to the enveloping algebra of the graded Lie algebra \(\text{gr}\,L\), where \(L\) is filtered by the descending central series \(\{L_n\}\). A similar result holds for restricted Lie algebras. \textit D. G. Quillen studied the corresponding problem for group algebras [J. Algebra. 10, 411--418 (1968; Zbl 0192.35803)]. Our proof follows fairly closely his proof.