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The loop group of a Lie group is the group of smooth maps from the circle to that group, with pointwise multiplication and the smooth-function topology. Rotation of the source circle acts by group automorphisms. For $G=U(1)$, every loop has the form $z^w{e}^{ih(z)}$, where $w\in \mathbb{Z}$ is its winding number and $h$ is a smooth real periodic function determined up to addition of an integer multiple of $2\pi$.

Every finitely generated torsion-free group which is a nilpotent group embeds as a discrete cocompact subgroup of a unique simply connected nilpotent real Lie group. Its dimension equals the group's integral cohomological dimension of a group. In dimension three the Lie algebra is either abelian or has a basis with a single nonzero bracket $[Y,T]=X$, giving the real Heisenberg group.

A matrix Lie group is a subgroup of a general linear group that is also a Lie group for its matrix topology. Near the identity, the matrix exponential and matrix logarithm give inverse coordinate charts whenever they are restricted to sufficiently small neighborhoods in the group and its tangent space.

A moment map assigns to each element of a Lie algebra a Hamiltonian function for its fundamental vector field, and is equivariant for the coadjoint action. For an abelian Lie group, constant shifts are allowed; the numerical scale also depends on the chosen Lie algebra generators and the normalization of the symplectic form.

The isometry group of a smooth connected Riemannian manifold is a finite-dimensional Lie group, and its action is smooth. An isometry is determined by its value and derivative at one point, since it preserves the exponential map and continuation along geodesics. The stabilizer embeds in $O(n)$, giving dimension at most $n(n+1)/2$. For a compact manifold the isometry group is compact.

Let $[e_1,e_2]=e_6$, $[e_1,e_3]=e_4$ and $[e_2,e_3]=e_5$, with $e_4,e_5,e_6$ central. The symmetric tensor $S=e_1\otimes e_5+e_5\otimes e_1+e_3\otimes e_6+e_6\otimes e_3-e_2\otimes e_4-e_4\otimes e_2$ is invariant under the Adjoint representation of a Lie algebra: the derivation action of each of $e_1,e_2,e_3$ cancels in pairs. For $t\ne 0$, $Q=tS+{\sum }_{j=4}^6{a}_j{e}_j\otimes e_j$ has determinant $-t^6$ and inverse metric $g=t^{-1}S(\lambda )-t^{-2}(a_5({\lambda }^1{)}^2+a_4({\lambda }^2{)}^2+a_6({\lambda }^3{)}^2)$ in the dual coframe. Its three hyperbolic planes give the displayed metric signature. On a connected Lie group this supplies a four-parameter family of bi-invariant pseudo-Riemannian metrics. Disconnected components must preserve the tensor separately; the automorphism reversing $e_1,e_4,e_6$ while fixing the other generators reverses $S$ and prevents this extension.

A one-parameter subgroup of a Lie group $G$ is a smooth group homomorphism $\gamma :(\mathbb{R},+)\to G$: it satisfies $\gamma (s+t)=\gamma (s)\gamma (t)$, with $\gamma (0)=e$ and $\gamma (-t)=\gamma (t{)}^{-1}$. Every such map has the form $\gamma (t)=\exp (tX)$ for a unique $X={\gamma }^{\prime }(0)$ in the Lie algebra of $G$. Thus its initial tangent vector determines the whole motion, for all real times. The map need not be injective; the word subgroup describes its image. See MIT 18.745, Lecture 7, Proposition 7.1.

The real affine group used here is the orientation-preserving subgroup of the affine group on the real line. It acts by $x\mapsto e^{a}x+b$ and has multiplication $(a,b)(a^{\prime },b^{\prime })=(a+a^{\prime },b+e^a{b}^{\prime })$. The positive dilation distinguishes this connected component from the full group, which also contains negative dilations.

Here is a small Lie group where order matters. Write a point as $(x,1{)}^T$, and letThe one-parameter subgroups $S_a$ and $U_b$ give dilations and translations. With matrix multiplication acting rightmost first, $S_a{U}_b$ sends $x$ to $e^{a}x+e^{a}b$, whereas $U_b{S}_a$ sends $x$ to $e^{a}x+b$. At $a=\log 2$ and $b=1$, translate then double gives $2x+2$, while double then translate gives $2x+1$. Starting at $x=1$ gives endpoints $4$ and $3$.

The same order dependence survives infinitesimally: the matrix commutator is $[D,T]=DT-TD=T$. Indeed, the group commutator satisfiesAt $a=b=0.1$, the residual translation is $0.01051709$, close to the leading product $ab=0.01$. It measures a second-order failure of the four moves to cancel. This connects finite composition directly to the Lie bracket on the Lie algebra; see Meinrenken, Section 4, Proposition 4.7.

For a metric of signature $(r,s)$, the orthonormal frame bundle consists of all linear isometries $u:{\mathbb{R}}^{r,s}\to T_{x}M$. Right composition by $O(r,s)$ makes it a principal bundle. Its standard associated vector bundle is the tangent bundle, via $[u,v]\mapsto u(v)$. A global orthonormal frame is a global section and therefore trivializes this principal bundle. A Lie group with a left-invariant metric has such a frame by left translating an orthonormal basis at the identity.

A parallelizable manifold is a smooth $n$-manifold whose tangent bundle is trivial, equivalently one admitting $n$ smooth vector fields that form a basis of every tangent space. Every Lie group is parallelizable because a basis at the identity extends to a global frame by left translation.

A basis $T_a$ of the Lie algebra of a Lie group gives a global frame of a vector bundle of its tangent bundle by $X_a(g)=(d{L}_g{)}_e{T}_a$. Left translation is a diffeomorphism, so the left-invariant vector fields are independent everywhere. Every Lie group is therefore a parallelizable manifold.

Identify the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ with the tangent space $T_{e}G$. For $X\in \mathfrak{g}$, its left-invariant vector field is $X^L(g)=(d{L}_g{)}_{e}X$. Let ${\gamma }_X$ be its integral curve with ${\gamma }_X(0)=e$. Uniqueness of integral curves and left invariance give ${\gamma }_X(s+t)={\gamma }_X(s){\gamma }_X(t)$ wherever initially defined. Repetition of a local curve extends it to all real times. Thus ${\gamma }_X$ is the unique one-parameter subgroup with derivative $X$ at zero, and the Exponential map of a Lie group is defined bySmooth dependence of solutions of differential equations on their initial data and parameters makes this map smooth.

The derivative at zero is particularly simple:It is the identity linear map from $\mathfrak{g}$ to $T_{e}G$. The inverse function theorem therefore proves that the Exponential map of a Lie group is a local diffeomorphism at zero, producing a local exponential chart. This proves the requested local assertion.

There is a necessary qualification to the other assertion: the image of every one-parameter subgroup lies in the identity component of a Lie group $G^{\circ }$. The correct statement without a connectedness hypothesis isIndeed, if $\exp$ is a group homomorphism, its image is an abelian subgroup. It contains an identity neighborhood by the local result. An open subgroup of a connected group is the entire group: every coset is open, so its complement is also open. Thus $\exp (\mathfrak{g})=G^{\circ }$, proving that this component is abelian.

Conversely, if $G^{\circ }$ is abelian, then $\exp (tX)\exp (tY)$ is a one-parameter subgroup: its group law follows by commuting the factors. Its derivative at zero is $X+Y$. Uniqueness gives $\exp (t(X+Y))=\exp (tX)\exp (tY)$ and, at $t=1$, additivity. This proves the additivity of the Lie exponential map criterion. For connected $G$ it is exactly the stated equivalence with an abelian group. For disconnected $G$ the unrestricted claim is false: $S_3\times \mathbb{R}$ is a nonabelian Lie group, but its exponential is the homomorphism $x\mapsto (e,x)$. The original PDF does not impose connectedness in that sentence, so that qualification cannot be omitted.

Now suppose $G$ is connected and abelian, of dimension $n$. The exponential is a surjective group homomorphism, and its kernel $\Lambda$ is discrete by local injectivity at zero. The induced mapis a bijective Lie group homomorphism and a local diffeomorphism, hence a Lie group isomorphism. To identify the quotient, take linearly independent elements ${\lambda }_1,\dots ,{\lambda }_b\in \Lambda$ spanning the real linear span of $\Lambda$, and let ${\Lambda }_0={\sum }_i\mathbb{Z}{\lambda }_i$. Every coset of ${\Lambda }_0$ in $\Lambda$ has a representative in the bounded fundamental parallelepiped of these vectors. A discrete additive subgroup has finite intersection with a compact set: otherwise differences of arbitrarily close elements would approach zero, contradicting discreteness at zero. Thus $\Lambda /{\Lambda }_0$ is finite.

It follows that $\Lambda$ is a finitely generated torsion-free abelian group of rank $b$, hence has a $\mathbb{Z}$-basis of $b$ elements. These basis elements also span its $b$-dimensional real span and are linearly independent over $\mathbb{R}$. Extending them to a real basis identifies $\Lambda$ with ${\mathbb{Z}}^b\times \{0{\}}^{n-b}$. Consequently the classification of connected abelian Lie groups isThe compact circle factors record the periods of the one-parameter subgroups.

A maximal torus in a compact connected Lie group is a compact connected abelian Lie subgroup maximal among such subgroups. By the connected abelian classification it is isomorphic to a product of circles. Such subgroups exist: choose one of largest dimension among compact connected abelian subgroups; a proper inclusion of connected Lie subgroups would increase dimension. Write $\mathfrak{t}$ for its Lie algebra.

Here are the main steps of the conjugacy assertion, with the critical arguments supplied. Average an inner product on $\mathfrak{g}$ over the adjoint action to obtain an $\mathrm{Ad}(G)$-invariant positive definite inner product. It defines a bi-invariant Riemannian metric. Compactness makes this metric complete, and the Hopf-Rinow theorem joins the identity to any $g$ by a geodesic. For a bi-invariant metric the Levi-Civita connection on left-invariant fields is ${\nabla }_{X}Y=[X,Y]/2$, so the geodesic starting with $X$ is $\exp (tX)$. Consequently every $g$ has the form $\exp X$.

The Lie-algebra centralizer of $\mathfrak{t}$ is exactly $\mathfrak{t}$. If $X$ commutes with $\mathfrak{t}$, its one-parameter subgroup commutes with $T$. The closure of the subgroup generated by $T$ and $\exp (\mathbb{R}X)$ is compact, connected and abelian, so it is a torus; maximality forces it to equal $T$, giving $X\in \mathfrak{t}$. The torus action on ${\mathfrak{g}}_{\mathbb{C}}$ decomposes into finitely many character weight spaces. The zero-weight space is ${\mathfrak{t}}_{\mathbb{C}}$. Choose $H\in \mathfrak{t}$ outside the finitely many kernels of the nonzero weight differentials. Then the centralizer of $H$ is exactly $\mathfrak{t}$.

For an arbitrary $X\in \mathfrak{g}$, the continuous function $g\mapsto ⟨{\mathrm{Ad}}_{g}X,H⟩$ attains a maximum. Put $Y={\mathrm{Ad}}_{g_0}X$ at a maximizer. Differentiating along $\exp (sZ)g_0$ givesHence $[Y,H]=0$, so $Y\in \mathfrak{t}$. Exponentiating gives $g_0(\exp X)g_0^{-1}=\exp Y\in T$. This adjoint-orbit criterion for maximal-torus conjugacy proves

Restriction of representations is a ring homomorphism $\mathrm{Res}:R(G)\to R(T)$. If a virtual representation restricts to zero, its character vanishes on $T$. Since characters are class functions and every element is conjugate into $T$, it vanishes on all of $G$. The injectivity of the character map proved in Question 3 then givesThe Weyl group is $W=N_G(T)/T$. For $n\in N_G(T)$, the operator $\rho (n)$ intertwines the restriction of $\rho$ with its twist by $t\mapsto nt{n}^{-1}$. Therefore every restricted representation, and every virtual difference of them, is fixed by $W$:

For the special orthogonal group $G=SO(2m+1)$, takewhere $R_{\theta }$ is a real planar rotation. It is a maximal torus: its Lie-algebra centralizer consists of the independent infinitesimal rotations in those planes. Its character lattice is ${\mathbb{Z}}^m$, so, writing $z_i=e^{i{\theta }_i}$,Indeed commuting unitary torus matrices diagonalize simultaneously into one-dimensional characters, and the characters of the circle are exactly the integral powers.

The normalizer permutes the real rotation planes and can reverse each angle independently. Permutations of whole two-dimensional blocks have determinant one. A reflection in one rotation plane reverses its angle and has determinant minus one; combining it with reflection of the remaining fixed line gives an element of $SO(2m+1)$. Thus all independent inversions occur. Conversely a normalizer must permute the distinct nontrivial torus character pairs $\{\pm e_i\}$ and preserve the fixed line, so there are no additional actions. The kernel of this action is exactly $T$, giving

It follows that the restriction identifies $R(SO(2m+1))$ with a subring of the signed-permutation-invariant Laurent polynomials. In this case we can prove equality. Invariance under individual inversions first givesFor one variable, every invariant is an integral combination of $1$ and $z^k+z^{-k}$, and these satisfy the recurrence $s_{k+1}=x{s}_k-s_{k-1}$. Applying this one coordinate at a time proves the assertion over the other Laurent coefficient rings. Permutation invariance and the Fundamental theorem of symmetric polynomials then givewhere $e_k$ are the elementary symmetric polynomials.

Let $V$ be the complexification of the defining $(2m+1)$-dimensional real representation. Its torus weights are $1,z_i,z_i^{-1}$. The characters of its exterior powers obeyFor $k\le m$, choosing $j$ linear terms and $r$ quadratic terms shows that the coefficient $c_k={\chi }_{{\Lambda }^{k}V}$ isIts leading term is $e_k$ with coefficient one; all other terms use $e_j$ with $j<k$. By induction $e_k$ lies in the restriction image, because $c_k$ is the character of a genuine representation and all smaller $e_j$ already lie in the image. Hence every invariant polynomial lies there, proving the representation ring of an odd-dimensional special orthogonal group descriptionThe triangular change of generators is integral, so $[{\Lambda }^{1}V],\dots ,[{\Lambda }^{m}V]$ are algebraically independent polynomial generators. For $m=1$, $c_1=1+z+z^{-1}$ and this reduces to $R(SO(3))=\mathbb{Z}[V_3]$, with the three-dimensional defining representation as generator. These are genuine representations of the orthogonal group, not the half-integral spin weights of its simply connected double cover.

A Lie group is a group which is a finite-dimensional smooth Hausdorff second-countable manifold, with smooth multiplication and inversion. For the special unitary group, consider the real vector spaceThe diagonal entries of a skew-Hermitian matrix supply $n$ real parameters, and the entries above the diagonal supply $2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{n}{2}\right)$; the trace-zero condition removes one real parameter. Thus ${\dim }_{\mathbb{R}}\mathfrak{su}(n)=n^2-1$.

The matrix facts used to construct charts are these: the matrix exponential is analytic, its derivative at zero is the identity, and it has an analytic inverse matrix logarithm on a sufficiently small neighborhood of the identity. On those neighborhoods $\log (e^X)=X$, $e^{\log U}=U$, and $\det (e^X)=e^{\mathrm{tr}X}$. For a unitary matrix in that neighborhood, the spectral theorem writes $U=W\mathrm{diag}(e^{i{\theta }_j})W^{\ast }$ with principal angles close to zero, and $\log U=W\mathrm{diag}(i{\theta }_j)W^{\ast }$ is skew-Hermitian.

Choose a norm ball of radius $\epsilon <\pi /n$ small enough to lie in the exponential's inverse domain. If $U$ is unitary, $\det U=1$ and $\Vert \log U\Vert <\epsilon$ in operator norm, thenso its trace is zero. Conversely $X\in \mathfrak{su}(n)$ gives $(e^X{)}^{\ast }{e}^X=I$ and $\det (e^X)=1$. Thus the logarithm identifies an open neighborhood $V$ of $I$ in $SU(n)$, with its matrix subspace topology, with the open ball $B_{\epsilon }\subset \mathfrak{su}(n)$. Choosing a real linear identification $\mathfrak{su}(n)\cong {\mathbb{R}}^{n^2-1}$ turns this into a chart.

For every $A\in SU(n)$ take the translated chartTheir overlap maps are $X\mapsto \log (B^{-1}A{e}^X)$ wherever both charts are defined, so they are real analytic. They cover the group; the matrix topology is Hausdorff and second-countable. This constructs the real manifold directly, rather than merely counting equations. Matrix multiplication is polynomial in real/imaginary entries and inversion here is $U\mapsto U^{\ast }$; in the logarithm charts both are smooth. The logarithm charts for the special unitary group therefore proveFor $n=1$ it is the one-point group of dimension zero.

For $n=2$, let the first column be $(a,b)$, of unit norm. Every unit vector orthogonal to it is a scalar of modulus one times $(-\bar{b},\bar{a})$. The determinant of the resulting matrix is that scalar, so determinant one fixes it to $1$. Henceis bijective, with inverse given by taking the first column. The forward map is real polynomial in the four coordinates; composing with the local logarithm charts verifies smoothness into the constructed manifold. The inverse is a smooth matrix-coordinate projection and, in the usual embedded sphere charts, is smooth into $S^3$. Thus $\boxed{SU(2)\cong S^3\text{ by a diffeomorphism}}$, the explicit realization of SU(2) as the three-sphere.

Define the raw Killing form byFor a finite-dimensional real or complex Lie algebra in characteristic zero, it is nondegenerate exactly when the algebra is a semisimple Lie algebra. For a real compact semisimple algebra it is negative definite. Consequently the positive compact Killing metric is $g=-K$: for example on $\mathfrak{su}(2)$ with $[e_i,e_j]={\epsilon }_{ijk}{e}_k$, $K_{ij}=-2{\delta }_{ij}$ and $-K$ gives a Riemannian metric on $SU(2)$. An overall minus sign in the term “Killing metric” is common here; raw trace $K$ itself is negative definite in this example.

For a Lorentzian metric use $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb{R})$ with $[h,e]=2e$, $[h,f]=-2f$, $[e,f]=h$. Direct traces givewhose metric signature is $(2,1)$. For a non-Abelian degenerate example, the three-dimensional Heisenberg Lie algebra has $[x,y]=z$ central. Every product of two adjoint maps is zero, so $K=0$.

For any adjoint-invariant nondegenerate metric on a Lie group, the Koszul formula on left-invariant fields simplifies toTake $R(X,Y)Z={\nabla }_X{\nabla }_{Y}Z-{\nabla }_Y{\nabla }_{X}Z-{\nabla }_{[X,Y]}Z$. The Jacobi identity givesTaking the trace of $Z\mapsto R(Z,X)Y=-\mathrm{ad}Y\mathrm{ad}X(Z)/4$ yieldsThus the metric $g=K$ is a Killing-form Einstein metric with Einstein constant $-1/4$. With $g=-K$ the same connection has constant $+1/4$. This proves the Einstein manifold assertion for every semisimple group, including products when the unscaled Killing form is used on all factors.

There is also a different, flat metric-preserving connection. Declare the global left-invariant frame parallel:Its curvature is zero because applying two derivatives to coefficient functions and subtracting their commutator gives zero. Its metric derivative vanishes since $g_{ab}$ is constant in this frame. Its torsion tensor on invariant fields isFor each fixed $c$, antisymmetry gives $T_a{}^b{}_c=C_c{}^b{}_a$, so this is the matrix of $\mathrm{ad}{e}_c$. The torsion contractions of a left-parallel Lie-group connection therefore areThe zero trace follows because a semisimple algebra is perfect: every element is a sum of brackets, and the adjoint of a bracket is a matrix commutator with zero trace. If the metric convention is $g=-K$, the second contraction is $-g_{cd}$. These flat translation connections on a Lie group are not the torsion-free Levi-Civita connection; nonzero torsion permits flatness alongside the curved Killing metric.

For the embedded Lie group, the tangent space $T_{e}G$ consists of velocities ${\gamma }^{\prime }(0)$ of smooth curves in $G$ satisfying $\gamma (0)=e$. The ambient coordinates identify these velocities with vectors in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$, but the tangent space itself is intrinsic. Let $c_g(a)=ga{g}^{-1}$. Since this conjugation map fixes $e$, its derivative defines the Adjoint representation of a Lie group:The inverse is ${\mathrm{Ad}}_{g^{-1}}$, and $c_{gh}=c_g\circ c_h$ gives ${\mathrm{Ad}}_{gh}={\mathrm{Ad}}_g{\mathrm{Ad}}_h$. Thus this is a smooth group homomorphism into the linear automorphisms of $T_{e}G$.

Differentiate that representation at the identity. The tangent space of $GL(T_{e}G)$ at its identity is $\mathrm{End}(T_{e}G)$, so $\mathrm{ad}=(d\mathrm{Ad}{)}_e$ is a linear map from $T_{e}G$ into those endomorphisms. The Lie bracket isEquivalently, if $\eta (0)=e$ and ${\eta }^{\prime }(0)=Y$, this is the mixed derivative at $(0,0)$ of $\gamma (s)\eta (t)\gamma (s{)}^{-1}$ in ambient coordinates. For a matrix Lie group, conjugation is ordinary matrix conjugation and this formula reduces to $[X,Y]=XY-YX$.

The checks required are that the derivative is independent of the representing curves, that it is bilinear and alternating, and that it satisfies the Jacobi identity. One must also check that each ${\mathrm{Ad}}_g$ preserves this bracket. Equivalently identify $X$ with its left-invariant vector field $X^L(g)=(d{L}_g{)}_{e}X$; the bracket above agrees with the Lie bracket of vector fields at $e$. These checks make $T_{e}G$ a Lie algebra and upgrade the adjoint maps to its Lie algebra automorphisms.

Consider the orientation-preserving affine group of the real line, realized asThe coordinates $(\log a,b)$ identify it smoothly with ${\mathbb{R}}^2$, so this Lie group is connected. Choose the Lie algebra element $E$ and the group element $D$:Direct matrix multiplication gives ${\mathrm{Ad}}_{D}E=DE{D}^{-1}=2E$.

If a bi-invariant Riemannian metric existed, every conjugation map $x\mapsto Dx{D}^{-1}$ would be an isometry fixing the identity. Its differential there, the Adjoint representation of a Lie group, would preserve the positive-definite inner product at the identity. Thusa contradiction since $E\ne 0$. Therefore this connected Lie group admits no bi-invariant Riemannian metric. This is the adjoint dilation obstruction to a bi-invariant Riemannian metric, an elementary alternative permitted by the question. The positive definite Riemannian metric interpretation matters; no claim about indefinite metrics is needed.

A nilpotent group has lower central series ${\gamma }_{1}G=G$, ${\gamma }_{j+1}G=[G,{\gamma }_{j}G]$ terminating at the identity. A polycyclic group has a finite subnormal series with cyclic factors, which may be finite or infinite.

If a nilpotent group is generated by finitely many elements, then ${\gamma }_{j}G/{\gamma }_{j+1}G$ is generated by the finitely many weight-$j$ iterated commutators in these generators. Modulo the next term, commutator identities make these quotients abelian and permit this collection of words. Each quotient is thus a finitely generated abelian group. Refine each by a series with cyclic factors and splice the refinements through the finite lower central series. This proves that a finitely generated nilpotent group is polycyclic.

For the duality-group assertion, first prove the useful finite-index reduction. Induct on the length of a polycyclic series, taking its last proper term $H◃G$. By induction $H$ has a finite-index poly-infinite cyclic group. Because $H$ is finitely generated, it has only finitely many subgroups of any fixed finite index. Intersect all automorphic images of that subgroup to obtain a characteristic finite-index subgroup $H_0\subset H$ which is still poly-infinite cyclic. It is normal in $G$. The quotient $G/H_0$ is finite-by-cyclic. If it is finite, $H_0$ already suffices; if its cyclic quotient is infinite, the subgroup generated by a lift of its generator is infinite cyclic and has finite index. Its preimage in $G$ is an extension of $H_0$ by $\mathbb{Z}$, hence poly-infinite cyclic. This proves polycyclic groups are virtually poly-infinite cyclic.

Take such a finite-index subgroup $P$ of the given dimension-three Poincare duality group. It is again a dimension-three duality group. The extension rule proved in Question 3, applied successively to its infinite cyclic series, makes $P$ a duality group of dimension equal to its Hirsch length. Hence that length is three. Its last quotient giveswhere $H$ has a poly-infinite cyclic series of length two. Thus $H\cong \mathbb{Z}⋊\mathbb{Z}$, with the last generator acting on the first by $+1$ or $-1$. In the first case $H={\mathbb{Z}}^2$. In the second case $H$ is the Klein-bottle group $⟨a,b\mid ba{b}^{-1}=a^{-1}⟩$. Its characteristic subgroup $⟨a,b^2⟩\cong {\mathbb{Z}}^2$ is the centralizer of its commutator subgroup $⟨a^2⟩$. Replace $H$ by this characteristic index-two subgroup if necessary. It remains normal in $P$, and the quotient is finite-by-infinite-cyclic. Taking the preimage of a finite-index infinite cyclic subgroup givesThis extension splits: any lift $t$ of the cyclic generator supplies a section. Therefore $P_0={\mathbb{Z}}^2{⋊}_B\mathbb{Z}$ for some $B\in G{L}_2(\mathbb{Z})$.

In additive notation on ${\mathbb{Z}}^2$, $[t,v]=(B-I)v$. All its other internal commutators vanish, so induction givesConsequentlyThis is the nilpotence criterion for an abelian-by-cyclic group. If $B=I$ the group is abelian; otherwise it is two-step nilpotent. The criterion concerns this actual semidirect product. A finite extension of it is only known to be virtually nilpotent: for example ${\mathbb{Z}}^2{⋊}_{-I}\mathbb{Z}$ is virtually abelian but its lower central series never terminates.

Write elements of the real Heisenberg group as $(x,y,z)$. Direct matrix multiplication and inversion giveThese formulas show that $N_k=(k\mathbb{Z}{)}^3$ is a subgroup. It is discrete. For the right quotient, multiplying by $(ka,kb,kc)$ changes the coordinates toThus $(x\mathrm{mod}k,y\mathrm{mod}k)$ is well defined on the quotient. Over a small base rectangle choose real lifts $x,y$ of its coordinates. Every coset above that rectangle has a representative $(x,y,z)$, and two such representatives differ precisely by $z\mapsto z+kc$. Henceis a smooth local trivialization. The fibres are circles, proving the locally trivial fibration over ${\mathbb{R}}^2/k{\mathbb{Z}}^2\cong T^2$. Reducing first $x,y$ and then $z$ also gives a compact fundamental region, so $N_k$ is cocompact.

The ambient Lie group is diffeomorphic to ${\mathbb{R}}^3$, hence simply connected and contractible. Its quotient has fundamental group $N_k$, and the first integral homology is its abelianization. Let $a=(k,0,0)$, $b=(0,k,0)$ and $c=(0,0,k)$. Every element is uniquely $a^m{b}^n{c}^{\ell }$, since its third coordinate is $k^{2}mn+k\ell$. The commutator formula isso $c$ is central and $[a,b]=c^k$. Every commutator lies in $(0,0,k^2\mathbb{Z})$, and this subgroup is generated by $[a,b]$. Thus $N_k^{\prime }=⟨c^k⟩$. The homomorphism $(x,y,z)\mapsto (x/k,y/k,z/k\mathrm{mod}k)$ is surjective onto ${\mathbb{Z}}^2\oplus \mathbb{Z}/k$ and has exactly this kernel; the cross term in multiplication is divisible by $k$ after dividing by $k$. ThereforeFor $k=1$ the last factor is trivial. This is the Scaled Heisenberg lattice, whose fibre is central but whose total group need not split as a direct product of groups.