This book collects important results concerning the classification and properties of nilpotent orbits in a Lie algebra. It develops the Dynkin-Kostant and Bala-Carter classifications of complex nilpotent orbits and derives the Lusztig-Spaltenstein theory of induction of nilpotent orbits.

This comprehensive reference begins with a review of the basics followed by a presentation of flag varieties and finite- and infinite-dimensional representations in classical types and subvarieties of flag varieties and their singularities. Associated varieties and characteristic cycles are covered as well and Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials are treated. The coverage concludes with a discussion of pattern avoidance and singularities and some recent results on Springer fibers.