For , the vectors , and are tangent and orthonormal. Under SU(2) as the three-sphere they are the left-invariant vector fields obtained by translating times the Pauli matrices. This explicitly realizes the parallelization of a Lie group by left translations.
For a Matrix Lie group, the right-invariant vector field is . Differentiating these ambient matrix-valued functions in the definition of the Lie bracket of vector fields gives . Thus is an antihomomorphism, and is a homomorphism. In contrast, for left-invariant vector fields is a homomorphism.
Sol Lie group 2026-10-14
The multiplication defines the three-dimensional Sol Lie group. Its left-invariant vector fields have dual coframe . Their sum of squares is a left-invariant metric, .
Declare a global frame of left-invariant vector fields parallel on a semisimple Lie group. This affine connection is flat and preserves a left-invariant metric tensor because its frame components are constant. If , its torsion tensor is . For fixed , the matrix with entries is . Its trace vanishes because a semisimple Lie algebra is perfect and adjoints of brackets are commutators. The trace of the product for is the Killing form , proving both contractions. This flat metric connection differs from the curved torsion-free Levi-Civita connection of the Killing metric.