Lie algebras attached to Clifford modules and simple graded Lie algebras

Abstract

We study possible cases of complex simple graded Lie algebras of depth 2, which are the Tanaka prolongations of pseudo $H$-type Lie algebras arising through representation of Clifford algebras. We show that the complex simple Lie algebras of type $B_n$ with $|2|$-grading do not contain non-Heisenberg pseudo $H$-type Lie algebras as their negative nilpotent part, while the complex simple Lie algebras of types $A_n$, $C_n$ and $D_n$ provide such a possibility. Among exceptional algebras only $F_4$ and $E_6$ contain non-Heisenberg pseudo $H$-type Lie algebras as their negative part of $|2|$-grading. An analogous question addressed to real simple graded Lie algebras is more difficult, and we give results revealing the main differences with the complex situation.