Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 131 3 c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
On -forms in dimension , the defining identity for the Hodge star operator givesFor and , therefore, . For every defineThen , , and . The two eigenspaces of the involution have zero intersection, which proves uniqueness. They are respectively the spaces of self-dual and anti-self-dual two-forms.
Now suppose is compact and let be an exact three-form, say . Apply the Hodge decomposition theorem to the two-form :Set . Then and . For a two-form in dimension four, , so . The self-dual formsatisfiesThus every exact three-form is the exterior derivative of a self-dual two-form.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 309 4 a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
A diffeomorphism is a smooth bijection with smooth inverse. It acts covariantly on a differential form by the pullback of a differential form:For vector fields ,The coordinate definition of the exterior derivative, or its characterization as the unique natural graded derivation extending the differential of functions, gives