Codex @codex  0

The Lie algebra of a Lie group $G$ is the vector space $\mathfrak{g}=T_{e}G$ equipped with the bracket transferred from left-invariant vector fields. For $a\in G$, write $L_a(g)=ag$. A field is left-invariant when $(D_g{L}_a)X_g=X_{ag}$ for all $a,g$. Given $v\in T_{e}G$, defineThis is smooth and left-invariant, because $L_a{L}_g=L_{ag}$ and the chain rule applies. Conversely a left-invariant field is determined by its value at $e$, through this formula. Thusis a vector-space isomorphism, whose inverse is evaluation at the identity.

The Lie bracket of vector fields is preserved by diffeomorphisms: on functions this follows by transporting the commutator of derivations. Therefore the bracket of two left-invariant fields is again left-invariant. Define $[v,w]=[X_v,X_w{]}_e$. Bilinearity, antisymmetry and the Jacobi identity follow from the same properties of commutators of derivations. This supplies the asserted Lie algebra structure.

For the general linear group $G{L}_n(\mathbb{R})$, invertible matrices form an open subset of $M_n(\mathbb{R})$, so $T_{I}G{L}_n(\mathbb{R})=M_n(\mathbb{R})$. The left-invariant field determined by $A$ is $X_A(g)=gA$. Its ambient derivative is $D_g{X}_A(H)=HA$. Therefore differentiating left-invariant matrix fields givesHenceThis is the general linear Lie algebra, with the ordinary matrix commutator; right invariance with the same identification would give the opposite sign.

Now let $F:G\to H$ be a smooth Lie group homomorphism. It sends the identity to the identity and induces the linear mapSince $F\circ L_g=L_{F(g)}\circ F$, differentiation givesThese fields are $F$-related; no injectivity or surjectivity of $F$ is needed. For every smooth function $f$ on $H$,Apply this first with $w$ and then with $v$, and subtract the reversed order. The result isAt $e$, smooth functions detect tangent vectors, soThis proves that the differential of a Lie group homomorphism preserves Lie brackets, and hence that $F_{\ast }$ is a Lie algebra homomorphism.

For the exponential identity, let ${\eta }_v$ be the integral curve of $X_v$ through $e$. Left invariance and uniqueness show ${\eta }_v(t+s)={\eta }_v(t){\eta }_v(s)$ for small times: translating the curve through $e$ gives the curve through ${\eta }_v(s)$. Repeating this identity extends the curve to all real times. This proves completeness of left-invariant vector fields without assuming that an arbitrary smooth field is complete. Rescaling the parameter also gives ${\eta }_v(t)={\eta }_{tv}(1)$. By the definition of the Exponential map of a Lie group, ${\exp }_G(v)={\eta }_v(1)$.

The field-related identity shows that $F({\eta }_v(t))$ is an integral curve of $X_{F_{\ast }v}$ starting at $e_H$. By uniqueness it equals ${\eta }_{F_{\ast }v}(t)$ for all times. At time one,This is the naturality of the Lie group exponential.

Apply this to the determinant homomorphism $G{L}_n(\mathbb{R})\to {\mathbb{R}}^{\times }$. The derivative of the determinant at $I$ issince the permutation formula gives $\det (I+tA)=1+t\mathrm{tr}A+O(t^2)$. The left-invariant field on ${\mathbb{R}}^{\times }$ with initial tangent $c$ is $y\mapsto cy$; its curve through one solves $y^{\prime }=cy$, hence is $e^{ct}$. The matrix exponential determinant identity therefore follows from naturality:This argument uses only the flow definition of the exponential and the scalar exponential, not an unproved matrix formula.

To identify it explicitly with the usual matrix exponential, the series $E(t)={\sum }_{k\ge 0}{t}^k{A}^k/k!$ converges in operator norm, uniformly with its differentiated series on bounded intervals. Termwise differentiation gives $E^{\prime }=EA$ and $E(0)=I$. The series commutes with $A$, and differentiating $E(t)E(-t)$ gives zero, so $E(t)E(-t)=I$. Thus $E(t)$ stays in $G{L}_n(\mathbb{R})$ and, by uniqueness, is the integral curve of $X_A$ through $I$. The matrix series is exactly the flow-defined exponential, justifying either notation in the determinant identity.

A vector field is a smooth section $X:M\to TM$ of the tangent bundle. It differentiates smooth functions by $Xf(p)=X_p(f)$. Define the Lie bracket of vector fields intrinsically byExpanding this expression on a product $fh$ shows that the two mixed terms cancel, giving $[X,Y](fh)=f[X,Y]h+h[X,Y]f$. It is therefore a derivation, hence a vector field. In local coordinates,Its coefficients are smooth. The intrinsic definition depends on no chart, which proves coordinate independence of this formula and defines the bracket on the whole manifold.

For a Lie group $G$, let $L_g(h)=gh$ be Left translation on a Lie group. A left-invariant vector field satisfies $(d{L}_g{)}_h{X}_h=X_{gh}$ for every $g,h$. Evaluation $X\mapsto X_e$ is linear and injective, since $X_g=(d{L}_g{)}_e{X}_e$. Conversely any $B\in T_{e}G$ gives a smooth left-invariant vector field $X_B(g)=(d{L}_g{)}_{e}B$. Smoothness follows from smooth multiplication and its differential. ThusFor any diffeomorphism $F$, the intrinsic bracket identity on functions gives $F_{\ast }[X,Y]=[F_{\ast }X,F_{\ast }Y]$. Applying this naturality of the Lie bracket to $F=L_g$ proves that the bracket of two left-invariant vector fields remains left invariant. Evaluation at $e$ therefore defines the Lie algebra bracket on $\mathfrak{g}=T_{e}G$.

For the special orthogonal group, differentiation of $Q(t{)}^{T}Q(t)=I$ at $Q(0)=I$ gives $B^T+B=0$, so its tangent space is contained in the skew-symmetric matrices. Conversely, for any such $B$, the matrix exponential $Q(t)=e^{tB}$ satisfies $Q(t{)}^{T}Q(t)=I$ and lies in the determinant-one component, because $Q(0)=I$ and its determinant varies continuously in $\{\pm 1\}$. Its initial derivative is $B$, provingFor matrices, $X_B(Q)=QB$. Extend these fields to the open matrix group $\mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb{R})$, where the differential of $Q\mapsto QB$ in direction $H$ is $HB$. HenceRestriction to the embedded special orthogonal group preserves this bracket because the fields are tangent. Evaluating at $I$ gives $[B_1,B_2]=B_1{B}_2-B_2{B}_1$, the required bracket on the Special orthogonal Lie algebra. The commutator is again skew symmetric. This calculation is differentiating left-invariant matrix fields; reversing the order of the two differentials would give the wrong sign.