VERSAL DEFORMATIONS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL LIE ALGEBRAS AS L∞ ALGEBRAS

Abstract

We consider versal deformations of 0|3-dimensional L∞ algebras, also called strongly homotopy Lie algebras, which correspond precisely to ordinary (non-graded) three-dimensional Lie algebras. The classification of such algebras is well-known, although we shall give a derivation of this classification using an approach of treating them as L∞ algebras. Because the symmetric algebra of a three-dimensional odd vector space contains terms only of exterior degree less than or equal to three, the construction of versal deformations can be carried out completely. We give a characterization of the moduli space of Lie algebras using deformation theory as a guide to understanding the picture.