Hamiltonian Lie algebra homomorphism

ID: hamiltonian-lie-algebra-homomorphism

On a symplectic manifold, use and for the Poisson bracket. Cartan's magic formula gives . Taking the interior product of a differential form with then yields , proving the homomorphism. Its kernel consists of locally constant functions, since precisely when . On a connected manifold these are the constants. The quotient of smooth functions by this kernel is therefore the Lie algebra of Hamiltonian vector fields. A different contraction sign requires a compatible bracket sign.

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