Group gradings on the Lie and Jordan algebras of block-triangular matrices

Abstract

We classify up to isomorphism all gradings by an arbitrary group $G$ on the Lie algebras of zero-trace upper block-triangular matrices over an algebraically closed field of characteristic $0$. It turns out that the support of such a grading always generates an abelian subgroup of $G$. Assuming that $G$ is abelian, our technique also works to obtain the classification of $G$-gradings on the upper block-triangular matrices as an associative algebra, over any algebraically closed field. These gradings were originally described by A. Valenti and M. Zaicev in 2012 (assuming characteristic $0$ and $G$ finite abelian) and classified up to isomorphism by A. Borges et al. in 2018. Finally, still assuming that $G$ is abelian, we classify $G$-gradings on the upper block-triangular matrices as a Jordan algebra, over an algebraically closed field of characteristic $0$. It turns out that, under these assumptions, the Jordan case is equivalent to the Lie case.