# nLab symplectic group

group theory

### Cohomology and Extensions

#### Symplectic geometry

symplectic geometry

higher symplectic geometry

# Contents

## Definition

For $n \in \mathbb{N}$, the symplectic group $Sp(2n, \mathbb{R})$ is one of the classical Lie groups.

It is the subgroup of the general linear group $GL(2n, \mathbb{R})$ of elements preserving the canonical symplectic form $\Omega$ on the Cartesian space $\mathbb{R}^{2n}$, that is: the group consisting of those matrices $A$ such that

$A^T \Omega A = \Omega \,.$

The symplectic group should not be confused with the compact symplectic group $Sp(n)$, which is the maximal compact subgroup of the complex symplectic group $Sp(2n,\mathbb{C})$.

## Properties

### Maximal compact subgroup

The maximal compact subgroup of the symplectic group $Sp(2n, \mathbb{R})$ is the unitary group $U(n)$.

### Homotopy groups

By the above the homotopy groups of the symplectic group are those of the corresponding unitary group.

In particular rhe first homotopy group of the symplectic group is the integers

$\pi_1(Sp(2n,\mathbb{R})) \simeq \mathbb{Z} \,.$

The unique connected double cover obtained from this is the metaplectic group extension $Mp(2n) \to Sp(2n, \mathbb{R})$.

## References

The term “symplectic group” was suggested in

• Hermann Weyl, The Classical Groups: their invariants and representations (1939, p. 165)

by

The name “complex group” formerly advocated by me in allusion to line complexes, as these are defined by the vanishing of antisymmetric bilinear forms, has become more and more embarrassing through collision with the word “complex” in the connotation of complex number. I therefore propose to replace it by the corresponding Greek adjective “symplectic.” Dickson calls the group the “Abelian linear group” in homage to Abel who first studied it.

Revised on March 23, 2015 15:19:10 by Urs Schreiber (80.92.246.195)