Descent constructions for central extensions of infinite dimensional Lie algebras (Q996054)

Let \(k\) denote a field of characteristic 0, and \(\mathfrak g\) a finite dimensional split simple Lie algebra over \(k\). Given an associative, unital, commutative \(k\)-algebra \(R\), the authors consider the (in general infinite dimensional) \(k\)-Lie algebra \(\mathfrak g_R = \mathfrak g\otimes_k R\). The case of \(R = k[t^{\pm 1}]\) arises in the untwisted affine Kac-Moody theory, whereof one knows that the ``correct'' object to study from the representation point of view is not \(\mathfrak g_R\) itself, but rather its universal central extension. In the Kac-Moody case, the universal central extension is one-dimensional. This is not so for the ``higher nullity'' toroidal algebras corresponding to \(R = k[t_1^{\pm 1}, \dots, t_n^{\pm 1}]\) with \(n > 1\). The universal central extensions are in these cases infinite dimensional, and one knows of many interesting central extensions of \(\mathfrak g_R\) which are not universal. Here the authors study Lie algebras \(L\) which are twisted forms of \(\mathfrak g_R\). These algebras appear naturally in the study of extended affine Lie algebras, and present a beautiful bridge between infinite-dimensional Lie theory and Galois cohomology. The purpose of this short note is to give natural constructions for central extensions of such algebras by descent methods, and to study their group of automorphisms. (From the authors' introduction)