Continual Lie algebras determined by chain complexes

Continual Lie algebras are infinite-dimensional generalizations of Lie algebras with discrete root system by considering continual root systems. In this paper, we establish the general relation between chain complexes and continual Lie algebras. The natural orthogonality condition with respect to a product among elements of a chain complex [Formula: see text] spaces brings about to [Formula: see text] the structure of a graded algebra with differential relations. We prove the main result of this paper: a chain complex endowed with an appropriate Leibniz-property product of elements of its spaces and the Jacobi identity brings about the structure of a continual Lie algebra with the root space determined by parameters for the complex. That provides a new source of examples of continual Lie algebras. Finally, as an example, we consider the case of Čech–de Rham complex associated to a foliation of a smooth manifold. In a particular case of this chain complex, we derive explicitly the commutation relations for the corresponding continual Lie algebra.