# nLab PBW theorem

### Context

#### Algebra

higher algebra

universal algebra

∞-Lie theory

# Contents

## Statement

Given a Lie algebra $g$ which is flat as a $k$-module over a commmutative ground ring $k\supset\mathbb{Q}$ containing the rationals, consider the universal enveloping algebra $U(g)=\cup_{i= 0}^\infty U^i(g)$ as a filtered algebra and a Hopf algebra, where $g$ is the subspace of primitive elements.

The Poincaré–Birkhoff–Witt theorem (often abbreviated to PBW theorem) says that the associated graded algebra is canonically isomorphic to the symmetric algebra $Sym(g)$ as an algebra, and the projection $U(g)\to Gr U(g)\cong Sym(g)$ is an isomorphism of $k$-coalgebras.

The fact that associated graded algebra is isomorphic to the symmetric algebra is a weak form of the theorem and it is usually proved either by very explicit and long calculation constructing certain representation or by application of the diamond lemma. The induced Poisson structure on $Sym(g)$ is the linear Poisson structure for the corresponding $g$.

The notions of Lie algebra, symmetric algebra, enveloping algebra, etc. can also be formulated in the context of a $k$-linear tensor category (with finite direct sums and split idempotents, and also with countable coproducts over which the tensor product distributes in case one wants to work with ungraded objects), and the PBW theorem remains valid in that context. In particular, the PBW theorem may be formulated and proven for super Lie algebras. Details may be found in Deligne-Morgan.

## References

• Pierre-Paul Grivel, Une histoire du théorème de Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt, Expo. Math. 22 (2004), no. 2, 145–184 MR2005b:17024 doi

Revised on July 31, 2014 13:33:04 by Todd Trimble (67.81.95.215)