On the rigidity of k-step nilpotent graph Lie algebras

Abstract

We thoroughly explore the class of k-step nilpotent Lie algebras associated with a simple graph looking for k-step nilpotent Lie algebras which are rigid in the variety of at most k-step nilpotent Lie algebras. We find out that, besides the complete graph, the only examples arise for k=2 and graphs of at most four vertices. A key tool to prove non-k-rigidity, in this context, is a general construction of nontrivial deformations for naturally graded nilpotent Lie algebras.