Universal central extensions of $sl_{m|n}$ over $Z/2Z$-graded algebras

Abstract

We study central extensions of the Lie superalgebra $sl_{m|n}(A)$, where $A$ is a $Z/2Z$-graded superalgebra over a commutative ring $K$. The Steinberg Lie superalgebra $st_{m|n}(A)$ plays a crucial role. We show that $st_{m|n}(A)$ is a central extension of $sl_{m|n}(A)$ for $m+n\geq 3$. We use a $Z/2Z$-graded version of cyclic homology to show that the center of the extension is isomorphic to $HC_1(A)$ as $K$-modules. For $m+n\geq 5$, we prove that $st_{m|n}(A)$ is the universal central extension of $sl_{m|n}(A)$. For $m+n=3,4$, we prove that $st_{2|1}(A)$ and $st_{3|1}(A)$ are both centrally closed. The universal central extension of $st_{2|2}(A)$ is constructed explicitly.