On the structure of graded transitive Lie algebras

Abstract

We study finite-dimensional Lie algebras ${\mathfrak L}$ of polynomial vector fields in $n$ variables that contain the vector fields $\dfrac{\partial}{\partial x_i} \; (i=1,\ldots, n)$ and $x_1\dfrac{\partial}{\partial x_1}+ \dots + x_n\dfrac{\partial}{\partial x_n}$. We show that the maximal ones always contain a semi-simple subalgebra $\bar{{\mathfrak g}}$, such that $\dfrac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\in \bar{{\mathfrak g}} \; (i=1,\ldots, m)$ for an $m$ with $1 \leq m \leq n$. Moreover a maximal algebra has no trivial $\bar{{\mathfrak g}}$-module in the space spanned by $\dfrac{\partial}{\partial x_i} (i=m+1,\ldots, n)$. The possible algebras $\bar{{\mathfrak g}}$ are described in detail, as well as all $\bar{{\mathfrak g}}$-modules that constitute such maximal ${\mathfrak L}$. All maximal ${\mathfrak L}$ are described explicitly for $n\leq 3$