A class of Lorentzian Kac-Moody algebras

Gaberdiel, Matthias R; Olive, David I; West, Peter C

A class of Lorentzian Kac-Moody algebras

Authors

Gaberdiel, Matthias R

Olive, David I

West, Peter C

Description

We consider a natural generalisation of the class of hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebras. We describe in detail the conditions under which these algebras are Lorentzian. We also construct their fundamental weights, and analyse whether they possess a real principal so(1,2) subalgebra. Our class of algebras include the Lorentzian Kac-Moody algebras that have recently been proposed as symmetries of M-theory and the closed bosonic string.
40 pages TeX, 5 eps-figures