Simultaneous Deformations of Lie Algebroids and Lie Subalgebroids

The $L_\infty$-algebra is an algebraic structure suitable for describing deformation problems. In this paper we construct one $L_\infty$-algebra, which turns out to be a differential graded Lie algebra, to control the deformations of Lie algebroids and a second one to control the deformations of Lie subalgebroids. We also combine these two $L_\infty$-algebras into one to control the simultaneous deformations of a Lie algebroid and its Lie subalgebroids. The results generalize the deformation theory of Lie algebra and Lie subalgebras. Applications of our results include deformations of foliations, deformations of complex structures and deformations of homomorphisms of Lie algebroids.