Lie algebras of infinitesimal norm isometries

Abstract

Given a norm on a finite dimensional vector space V, we may consider the group of all linear automorphisms which preserve it. The Lie algebra of this group is a Lie subalgebra of the endomorphism algebra of V having two properties: (1) it is the Lie algebra of a compact subgroup, and (2) it is “saturated” in a sence made precise below. We show that any Lie subalgebra satisfying these conditions is the Lie algebra of the group of linear automorphisms preserving some norm. There is an appendix on elementary Lie group theory.