The Virasoro algebra $\mathcal {L}$ is an infinite-dimensional Lie algebra with basis {Lm, C| m ∈ ℤ} and relations [Lm, Ln] = (n − m)Lm+n + δm+n,0((m3 − m)/12)C, [Lm, C] = 0 for m, n ∈ ℤ. Let $\mathfrak a$ be the subalgebra of $\mathcal {L}$ spanned by Li for i ≥ −1. For any triple (μ, λ, α) of complex numbers with μ ≠ 0, λ ≠ 0 and any non-trivial $\mathfrak a$-module V satisfying the condition: for any v ∈ V there exists a non-negative integer m such that Liv = 0 for all i ≥ m, non-weight $\mathcal {L}$-modules on the linear tensor product of V and ℂ[∂], denoted by $\mathcal {M}(V,\mu ,\Omega (\lambda ,\alpha ))\ (\Omega (\lambda ,\alpha )=\mathbb {C}[\partial ]$ as vector spaces), are constructed in this paper. We prove that $\mathcal {M}(V,\mu ,\Omega (\lambda ,\alpha ))$ is simple if and only if μ ≠ 1, λ ≠ 0, α ≠ 0. We also give necessary and sufficient conditions for two such simple $\mathcal {L}$-modules being isomorphic. Finally, these simple $\mathcal {L}$-modules $\mathcal {M}(V,\mu ,\Omega (\lambda ,\alpha ))$ are proved to be new for V not being the highest weight $\mathfrak a$-module whose highest weight is non-zero.

The prime, completely prime, maximal, and primitive spectra are classified for the universal enveloping algebra of the Schrödinger algebra. The explicit generators are given for all of these ideals. A counterexample is constructed to the conjecture of Cheng and Zhang about nonexistence of simple singular Whittaker modules for the Schrödinger algebra (and all such modules are classified). It is proved that the conjecture holds ‘generically’.

A classification of simple weight modules over the Schrödinger algebra is given. The Krull and the global dimensions are found for the centralizer ${{C}_{S}}(H)$ (and some of its prime factor algebras) of the Cartan element $H$ in the universal enveloping algebra $S$ of the Schrödinger (Lie) algebra. The simple ${{C}_{S}}(H)$-modules are classified. The Krull and the global dimensions are found for some (prime) factor algebras of the algebra $S$ (over the centre). It is proved that some (prime) factor algebras of $S$ and ${{C}_{S}}(H)$ are tensor homological$/$Krull minimal.

We study the structure of generalized Verma modules over a semi-simple complex finite-dimensional Lie algebra, which are induced from simple modules over a parabolic subalgebra. We consider the case when the annihilator of the starting simple module is a minimal primitive ideal if we restrict this module to the Levi factor of the parabolic subalgebra. We show that these modules correspond to proper standard modules in some parabolic generalization of the Bernstein-Gelfand-Gelfand category $\mathcal{O}$ and prove that the blocks of this parabolic category are equivalent to certain blocks of the category of Harish-Chandra bimodules. From this we derive, in particular, an irreducibility criterion for generalized Verma modules. We also compute the composition multiplicities of those simple subquotients, which correspond to the induction from simple modules whose annihilators are minimal primitive ideals.