A class of Lorentzian Kac–Moody algebras Original Research Article

We consider a natural generalisation of the class of hyperbolic Kac–Moody algebras. We describe in detail the conditions under which these algebras are Lorentzian. We also construct their fundamental weights, and analyse whether they possess a real principal so(1,2) subalgebra. Our class of algebras include the Lorentzian Kac–Moody algebras that have recently been proposed as symmetries of M-theory and the closed bosonic string.