Math 583D: Complex Semisimple Lie Algebras

Professor Monty McGovern
Spring 2013


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Instructor:
Monty (or William) McGovern
Office: Padelford C-450
Phone: 206-543-1149
Email: mcgovern@math.washington.edu
Office Hours: drop in, or by appointment
Lectures:
Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 2:30-3:20 p.m., Padelford Hall C-36
Required Text:

Introduction to Lie Algebras and Representation Theory by James Humphreys (Springer, 1972)

Prerequisites:
to be in the good graces of the instructor
What to Expect:
I will classify finite-dimensional complex semisimple Lie algebras, also proving some structural results on general Lie algebras along the way. Although one usually first encounters Lie algebras in a manifolds course, the treatment (following the text) will be entirely algebraic. I will not assume that students have had Sara Billey's topics course in Coxeter groups last fall, although there is a large overlap between part of that course and this one. Homework will be collected every other Friday.

             Homework

Due:
Problems:
Apr 12
1.9; 2.1; 3.8,9; 4.3: read sections 1-6, start section 7
Apr 29 (Mon)
4.5; 7.4,6,7; board problem: show that a semisimple Lie algebra is generated as a Lie algebra by two elements: read 7,8, start Chapter III
May 10
10.10,13; 11.2; 13.4,13 (extra credit 13.10) finish Chapter III, start section 14
May 24
14.4,5; 16.6; 17.1,3: read 15,18,17,20,21
June 7
read 22.1,5; 24.1-3, Appendix; 25.1-5


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