Query[Semisimple] - check if a Lie algebra is semisimple
Calling Sequences
Query(Alg, "Semisimple")
Query(S, "Semisimple")
Parameters
Alg - (optional) the name of an initialized Lie algebra
S - a list of vectors defining a basis for a subalgebra
Description
Examples
There are various equivalent definitions for a semisimple Lie algebra. One definition, called Cartan's criterion, states that a Lie algebra is semisimple if its Killing form is non-degenerate. This is the test applied by Query.
Query(Alg, "Semisimple") returns true if Alg is a semisimple Lie algebra and false otherwise. If the algebra is unspecified, then Query is applied to the current algebra.
Query(S, "Semisimple") returns true if the subalgebra S is a semisimple Lie algebra and false otherwise.
The command Query is part of the DifferentialGeometry:-LieAlgebras package. It can be used in the form Query(...) only after executing the commands with(DifferentialGeometry) and with(LieAlgebras), but can always be used by executing DifferentialGeometry:-LieAlgebras:-Query(...).
Example 1.
First initialize three Lie algebras.
The first and third algebras are not semisimple while the second algebra is semisimple.
The subalgebra span is a semisimple Lie subalgebra of Alg3.
See Also
DifferentialGeometry
LieAlgebras
Killing
Query
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