Simple Lie algebras over fields of positive characteristic. I: Structure theory (Q5917570)

The book under review is the first of two volumes devoted to a unified proof of the classification of finite-dimensional simple Lie algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p>3\). This first volume is preparing the ground for the classification work that will be presented in the second volume. The two volumes will include a complete classification in the sense that a list of simple Lie algebras is given and it is proved that this list is complete. Moreover, in the first volume the author discusses the isomorphism classes of simple Lie algebras in characteristic \(p>3\). Both volumes are largely self-contained and only suppose that the reader is familiar with major parts of the book by the author and \textit{R. Farnsteiner} [Modular Lie algebras and their representations. Monographs and Textbooks in Pure and Applied Mathematics, 116. New York etc.: Marcel Dekker (1988; Zbl 0648.17003)]. Besides that the Mills-Seligman characterization of semisimple Lie algebras of classical type, Kac's recognition theorem, and some basic results from the theory of linear algebraic groups are included without proof. In more detail the first volume contains the following methods and results most of which are also of independent interest. Chapter 1 contains the basic concepts of \(p\)-envelope, absolute toral rank, and toral switching. The absolute toral rank which was originally introduced by the author in the classification of not necessarily restricted simple Lie algebras is a substitute for the rank of a simple Lie algebra in characteristic zero. In Chapter 2 the author employs the coalgebra structure of the restricted universal enveloping algebra of the universal \(p\)-envelope in order to construct universal embeddings into graded Lie algebras of type \(W\). At the end of the chapter it is explained how this construction can be made basis-free. Chapter 3 is devoted to a proof of Block's theorems on derivation simple algebras and their modules. The proof presented by the author deals with algebras and modules simultaneously. It also yields a useful normalization of tori in the restricted case. Furthermore, the author's proof of Block's theorems gives a conceptual proof for Weisfeiler's structure theorems on the unique minimal ideal of certain semisimple graded Lie algebras. In Chapter 4 the simple Lie algebras of classical and Cartan type as well as the Melikian algebras are introduced and it is shown that the non-classical simple Lie algebras have a distinguished natural filtration. This leads the author to a new definition of a Lie algebra of Cartan type as a filtered deformation of a \textit{graded} Lie algebra of Cartan type which contrary to the previous approaches immediately reveals some of their structural features. In addition, the author gives a list of all presently known simple Lie algebras in characteristic three. The topic of Chapter 5 are the various recognition theorems. It was observed by Kostrikin and Shafarevich as well as by Kac that a \(\mathbb{Z}\)-graded Lie algebra is determined by its non-positive part provided the latter is like that of a graded Lie algebra of Cartan type. The author develops this theory by using cohomology. As an application, the weak recognition theorem and Wilson's recognition theorem are proved. Kac's recognition theorem for graded Lie algebras is only stated and for a proof the reader is referred to a recent preprint by \textit{G. Benkart}, \textit{T. Gregory}, and \textit{A. Premet} [The recognition theorem for graded Lie algebras of prime characteristic, arXiv:math.RA/0508373 (2005)]. By assuming this and the Mills-Seligman characterization of simple Lie algebras of classical type, the author proves a version of Kac's recognition theorem for filtered Lie algebras. In Chapter 6 the isomorphism problem for finite-dimensional simple Lie algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p>3\) is solved with the exception of the Hamiltonian Lie algebras whose isomorphism classes are determined by the orbits of Hamiltonian differential forms under a certain subgroup of automorphisms. The classification of these orbits is an unpublished result by Skryabin and its complete presentation is beyond the scope of the book under review. Chapter 7 deals with the structure of the Lie algebras of Cartan type and the Melikian algebras. The author determines their derivation algebras and automorphism groups. Furthermore, a description of the \(p\)-envelopes of these Lie algebras in their derivation algebras is given. Then the author proves Kac's result that the only restricted simple Lie algebras of Cartan type are of the form \(X(m;\underline{1})^{(2)}\) where \(X=W,S,H,K\) and shows that the only restricted Melikian algebra is \(\mathcal{M}(1,1)\). It is also proved that all gradings of the Lie algebras of Cartan type occur in a natural way. Moreover, in the restricted case the author determines the maximal tori up to automorphisms which for the contact Lie algebras corrects the original result of \textit{S. P. Demushkin} [Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Mat. 36, 915--932 (1972; Zbl 0262.17004)]. The chapter concludes with a detailed investigation of the Zassenhaus algebras. In Chapter 8 three different techniques are presented which play a crucial role in the classification, i.e., the technique of Cartan prolongation giving information on the zero-component of graded Lie algebras, the pairing of induced modules into Witt algebras providing information on filtered deformations, and a pairing of induced modules into another induced module leading to an important result on the trigonalizability of solvable Lie algebras as a substitute for Lie's theorem. Finally, Chapter 9 gives a taste of the flavor of the second volume by applying the first three chapters and the methods developed in Chapter 8 to the classification of the simple Lie algebras of toral rank one. Although the classification essentially needs the assumption \(p>3\), the author presents the results in its most general form. All results of the first three chapters are valid for any \(p>0\) and only a few results of the remaining chapters need that \(p>3\). Altogether this book will be very useful for researchers in modular Lie theory and especially for those who want to attack the classification of finite-dimensional simple Lie algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p=3\).