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Syllabus Representations of compact Lie groups and Lie algebras - 80971
עברית
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Last update 12-09-2021
HU Credits: 3

Degree/Cycle: 2nd degree (Master)

Responsible Department: Mathematics

Semester: 1st Semester

Teaching Languages: Hebrew

Campus: E. Safra

Course/Module Coordinator: Dr. Alexander Yom Din


Coordinator Office Hours: By appointment

Teaching Staff:
Dr. Yom Din Alexander

Course/Module description:
The defining vector of the course will be to understand a proof of the Weyl character formula using Verma modules, as well as to understand the required background. A very general and tentative description is as follows.

In the first part, we will discuss compact Lie groups, such as SO(3), and their finite-dimensional representations (sample motivation: spectral decomposition of the space of functions on the sphere - the theory of spherical harmonics). We would like to arrive to the problem of classification of irreducible representations and explicit description of their characters (this is Weyl's character formula).

In the second part, we will explain the passage from compact Lie groups and their finite-dimensional representations to semisimple Lie algebras and their finite-dimensional representations (motivation: the latter are "linear" objects, and so easier to understand than the former). We will discuss semisimple Lie algebras and their finite-dimensional representations, so that we will have enough background for the third part.

In the third part, we will want to prove Weyl's character formula. There are different proofs, but the one that we would like to present is given by studying a wider class of representations of semisimple algebras, not just the finite-dimensional ones; The class is called "category O", and important representatives in it are "Verma modules". The idea is that Verma modules are simpler than the irreducible representations we started with (despite being infinite-dimensional), and their character is easily calculated. By understanding how an irreducible representation is "glued" from Verma modules, we will obtain Weyl's character formula.

We will try to edit the course so that required background knowledge is not very wide. For example, I will define what a topological group is, what an (embedded) manifold is, what are tangent spaces, etc. There is no required background in Lie groups or representation theory, but I do expect basic background in basic topology and basic analysis in several variables.

Course/Module aims:
Same as in learning outcomes.

Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Expanding the student's knowledge in the chosen subject.

Developing independent learning skills.

Acquiring the ability to read advanced mathematical texts.

Preparation for research.

Attendance requirements(%):
100

Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: Lecture

Course/Module Content:
-

Required Reading:
-

Additional Reading Material:
None

Course/Module evaluation:
End of year written/oral examination 0 %
Presentation 0 %
Participation in Tutorials 50 %
Project work 50 %
Assignments 0 %
Reports 0 %
Research project 0 %
Quizzes 0 %
Other 0 %

Additional information:
Other topics might be taught!
 
Students needing academic accommodations based on a disability should contact the Center for Diagnosis and Support of Students with Learning Disabilities, or the Office for Students with Disabilities, as early as possible, to discuss and coordinate accommodations, based on relevant documentation.
For further information, please visit the site of the Dean of Students Office.
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