Decompositions of hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebras with respect to imaginary root groups

We propose a novel way to define imaginary root subgroups associated with (timelike) imaginary roots of hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebras. Using in an essential way the theory of unitary irreducible representation of covers of the group SO(2,1), these imaginary root subgroups act on the complex Kac-Moody algebra viewed as a Hilbert space. We illustrate our new view on Kac-Moody groups by considering the example of a rank-two hyperbolic algebra that is related to the Fibonacci numbers. We also point out some open issues and new avenues for further research, and briefly discuss the potential relevance of the present results for physics and current attempts at unification.
Comment: 47 pages, 5 figures. v2: revision based on referees' comments, to be published in CMP