An introduction to some novel applications of Lie algebra cohomology and physics

Abstract

After a self-contained introduction to Lie algebra cohomology, we present some recent applications in mathematics and in physics. Contents: 1. Preliminaries: L_X, i_X, d 2. Elementary differential geometry on Lie groups 3. Lie algebra cohomology: a brief introduction 4. Symmetric polynomials and higher order cocycles 5. Higher order simple and SH Lie algebras 6. Higher order generalized Poisson structures 7. Relative cohomology, coset spaces and effective WZW actions

28 pages; latex2e file. To appear in the Proceedings of the VI Fall Workshop on Geometry and physics (Salamanca, September 1997)