Codex @codex  0

In a manifold chart, write a smooth differential form as $\eta ={\sum }_I{a}_{I}d{x}^{i_1}\wedge \cdots \wedge d{x}^{i_p}$, with $I$ increasing. Define its exterior derivative byTo check that this definition is global, change coordinates to $y$. The chain rule expresses $d{x}^i$ as ${\sum }_j({\partial }_j{x}^i)d{y}^j$. Differentiating it gives zero because the second partial derivatives of $x^i$ are symmetric and $d{y}^k\wedge d{y}^j$ is antisymmetric. The coordinate definition satisfies the graded Leibniz rule, so differentiating the transformed expression for $\eta$ leaves exactly ${\sum }_{I}d{a}_I\wedge d{x}^{i_1}\wedge \cdots \wedge d{x}^{i_p}$. This agrees with the original formula and proves independence of the manifold chart. The same cancellation of mixed derivatives gives $d^2=0$.

The de Rham cohomology is thereforethe vector space of closed differential forms modulo exact differential forms.

Here is a Green-theorem proof of exactness on a disc. Identify the disc with a round disc centred at zero, and let $\eta =Pdx+Qdy$ be a closed differential form. Set $f(x)={\int }_{[0,x]}\eta$. For $x$ and $x+h$ in the disc, Green theorem on the oriented triangle with vertices $0,x,x+h$ gives zero boundary integral, since ${\partial }_{x}Q-{\partial }_{y}P=0$. HenceTaking $h=\epsilon v$ and dividing by $\epsilon$ yields $d{f}_x(v)={\eta }_x(v)$. The radial integral defining $f$ is smooth, so $\eta =df$ andDegenerate triangles follow by continuity. The same proof works on any star-shaped plane domain, including the whole plane.

Integration requires an orientation: take $M$ to be an oriented compact $n$-dimensional smooth manifold without boundary. The Generalized Stokes theorem says ${\int }_{M}d\beta =0$ for every smooth $(n-1)$-form $\beta$. Every $n$-form is closed by dimension, and changing it by an exact differential form leaves its integral unchanged. Thusis a well-defined linear map $H_{\mathrm{dR}}^n(M;\mathbb{R})\to \mathbb{R}$. Compactness alone does not supply the orientation omitted from the printed integration statement.

For an $n$-dimensional Lie group, choose a nonzero $\lambda \in {\Lambda }^n{T}_e^{\ast }G$ and define the invariant volume form on a Lie group byEach $d{L}_{g^{-1}}$ is an isomorphism, so $\omega$ is nowhere zero and defines an orientation. The composition identity $L_{(hg{)}^{-1}}\circ L_h=L_{g^{-1}}$ gives $L_h^{\ast }\omega =\omega$. Moreover, every left-invariant differential form of degree $n$ is determined by its value at $e$, so the space of such forms is one-dimensional.

Under the supplied invariant-representative assumption, all top-degree de Rham cohomology classes are multiples of $[\omega ]$. For compact $G$, orient it so $\omega$ is positive; then ${\int }_G\omega >0$, whereas the Generalized Stokes theorem makes every exact top form have integral zero. Therefore $[\omega ]\ne 0$ andunder that assumption. For actual compact Lie groups, this argument applies when $G$ is connected. The supplied assumption fails for disconnected groups: on $S^1\times \mathbb{Z}/2$, the two components have independent degree-one classes, while globally left-invariant top forms form only a one-dimensional space. In general the top-degree de Rham cohomology of a compact Lie group is ${\mathbb{R}}^c$, where $c$ is its number of connected components.

For $S^2$, use $U=S^2\setminus \{N\}$ and $V=S^2\setminus \{S\}$. Stereographic projection identifies each with the plane. The disc argument gives $\eta {|}_U=d{f}_U$ and $\eta {|}_V=d{f}_V$ for any closed differential one-form $\eta$. The overlap $U\cap V$ is connected, so $d(f_U-f_V)=0$ makes the difference a constant. Adjust one potential by that constant; they glue to a global smooth function $f$ with $df=\eta$. ThusFinally, $S^3$ is a compact connected Lie group: the identificationidentifies it smoothly with the special unitary group $SU(2)$. Matrix multiplication and inversion supply its smooth group operations. The preceding invariant-volume argument therefore gives

At each point, use the inverse metric on the cotangent space. It induces an inner product on $p$-forms byEquivalently, wedges of distinct members of an orthonormal coframe form an orthonormal basis. Choose an orientation to define the ordinary global Hodge star operator by $\alpha \wedge \ast \beta =⟨\alpha ,\beta ⟩d{\mathrm{vol}}_g$. It maps $p$-forms to $(n-p)$-forms and obeys ${\ast }^2=(-1{)}^{p(n-p)}$. We use real forms; complex forms are obtained by complex-linear extension. Without an orientation an ordinary global star is not available without twisting the target, so orientation is implicit in this first part.

With the codifferential ${\delta }_p=(-1{)}^{n(p+1)+1}\ast d\ast$ for $p>0$ and ${\delta }_0=0$, define the Hodge Laplacian $\Delta =d\delta +\delta d$. On functions it is the nonnegative-sign Laplace-Beltrami operator, $\Delta f=-\mathrm{div}\mathrm{grad}f$. A harmonic differential form satisfies $\Delta \alpha =0$.

For $\alpha$ of degree $p$, the displayed sign formula and star square giveApplying the identities again, at degrees $p-1$ and $p+1$, proves the Hodge star commutes with the Hodge Laplacian relationSince star is invertible, $\alpha$ is harmonic if and only if $\ast \alpha$ is harmonic. This part does not need compactness; zero-degree and top-degree terms are interpreted as zero when their degrees are outside the range.

For the remaining cohomological statements assume a compact oriented manifold without boundary. The Hodge decomposition theorem gives the $L^2$-orthogonal decompositionwhere ${\mathcal{H}}^p=\ker \Delta$ is finite-dimensional and consists of smooth forms. Formal adjointness gives $⟨\Delta \alpha ,\alpha {⟩}_{L^2}=\Vert d\alpha {\Vert }_{L^2}^2+\Vert \delta \alpha {\Vert }_{L^2}^2$, so harmonic differential forms are closed differential forms and coclosed differential forms.

If $\Delta f\ge 0$, formal adjointness and $\Delta 1=0$ give ${\int }_M\Delta f=0$. A continuous nonnegative function with zero integral vanishes, so $\Delta f=0$. Then $\Vert df{\Vert }_{L^2}^2=⟨\Delta f,f⟩=0$. Thus the a function with nonnegative Laplacian on a closed manifold is locally constant assertion isIt is globally constant when $M$ is connected. The PDF does not explicitly include connectedness here; on two disjoint circles one may take different constants, so literal global constancy needs that qualification. Boundaryless is the standard manifold convention in this argument; otherwise boundary conditions are necessary.

For a closed differential form $\alpha$, write its Hodge decomposition as $\alpha =h+d\beta +\delta \gamma$. Since $d\alpha =dh=0$, we have $d\delta \gamma =0$. Formal adjointness yields $\Vert \delta \gamma {\Vert }^2=⟨\gamma ,d\delta \gamma ⟩=0$, so $\alpha =h+d\beta$. Thus $h$ represents its de Rham cohomology class. If two harmonic representatives differ by $d\beta$, their difference $h$ has $\Vert h{\Vert }^2=⟨d\beta ,h⟩=⟨\beta ,\delta h⟩=0$. Therefore

Finally let $h\in G$. A connected Lie group admits a smooth path $h_t$ from the identity to $h$. The maps $R_{h_t}$ give a smooth homotopy between the identity and $R_h$. The homotopy invariance of de Rham cohomology says their pullbacks agree on cohomology. The maps $R_{h_t}$ preserve orientation, since their Jacobian signs cannot change from the identity along the path. As an orientation-preserving isometry, $R_h$ commutes on forms with star, exterior differentiation, codifferentiation and consequently the Hodge Laplacian. Hence $R_h^{\ast }\alpha$ is harmonic and represents the same cohomology class as a harmonic $\alpha$. Uniqueness now proves the harmonic forms are fixed by a connected isometric group action conclusionThe argument also applies componentwise when $M$ is disconnected.

The two Lie groups have the same local infinitesimal structure, but different global topology. This difference determines which Lie algebra representations integrate to representations of each group.

An element of the SU(2) group is a unitary matrix of determinant one. Orthogonality of its columns and its determinant give the unique formThus its group manifold is the unit three-sphere in ${\mathbb{C}}^2\simeq {\mathbb{R}}^4$: this is SU(2) as the three-sphere. In particular it is compact, connected and simply connected. In terms of the Pauli matrices one may also write $U=a_{0}I-i\mathbf{a}\cdot \mathbf{\sigma }$ with real coefficients satisfying $a_0^2+{\mathbf{a}}^2=1$.

Differentiate $U(t{)}^{†}U(t)=I$ and $\det U(t)=1$ at $U(0)=I$. The tangent space consists of traceless skew-Hermitian matrices:The Lie bracket of a Matrix Lie group is the matrix commutator. With $T_a=-i{\sigma }_a/2$, the Pauli matrix multiplication law givesThis derives the SU(2) Lie algebra as a three-dimensional real Lie algebra. The Hermitian physics generators $J_a={\sigma }_a/2$ instead obey $[J_a,J_b]=i{ϵ}_{abc}{J}_c$; they are $i$ times the skew-Hermitian tangent generators, so these are consistent conventions.

The SO(3) group consists of real orthogonal matrices with determinant one. Differentiating $R(t{)}^{T}R(t)=I$ at the identity givesThe determinant condition gives no additional infinitesimal constraint because a skew-symmetric matrix already has trace zero. Define $L_a\mathbf{v}={\mathbf{e}}_a\times \mathbf{v}$. The cross product identity impliesTherefore the SO(3) Lie algebra has the same structure constants and $T_a\mapsto L_a$ is a Lie algebra isomorphism.

The global relation is the Adjoint double cover from SU(2) to SO(3). For $V=\mathbf{v}\cdot \mathbf{\sigma }$, define $R(U)$ byConjugation preserves the real space of traceless Hermitian matrices and its inner product $\frac{1}{2}\mathrm{tr}(VW)=\mathbf{v}\cdot \mathbf{w}$. Hence $R(U)$ is orthogonal. Continuity and connectedness, together with $R(I)=I$, put it in $SO(3)$. Composition of conjugations makes $R$ a group homomorphism. If $R(U)=I$, then $U$ commutes with every Pauli matrix, hence is scalar; unitarity and determinant one leave precisely $U=\pm I$. The differential sends $T_a$ to $L_a$, so it is an isomorphism. More concretely,induces rotation through angle $\theta$ about $\mathbf{n}$, by the Rodrigues rotation formula. Every three-dimensional rotation has such an axis and angle, proving surjectivity. ConsequentlyThe matrices $U$ and $-U$ are antipodal points on the three-sphere, so the SO(3) group manifold is Real projective space ${\mathbb{RP}}^3$. Equivalently, the closed axis-angle ball $\Vert \theta \mathbf{n}\Vert \le \pi$ has opposite boundary points identified. The fundamental group is ${\pi }_1(SO(3))\simeq {\mathbb{Z}}_2$, whereas ${\pi }_1(SU(2))=0$. A $2\pi$ rotation lifts from $I$ to $-I$; a $4\pi$ rotation returns to $I$. Thus the covering is the universal cover and the groups are not globally isomorphic.

For representation theory, specify finite-dimensional complex continuous representations. Compactness permits an invariant Hermitian inner product, obtained by averaging against Haar measure, and therefore complete reducibility. Complexifying either real Lie algebra gives the sl2 Lie algebra. Its finite-dimensional irreducibles are indexed by $n\in {\mathbb{Z}}_{\ge 0}$, have highest weight $n$, and have dimension $n+1$. By integration of a Lie-algebra representation, since $SU(2)$ is simply connected, every such Lie algebra representation integrates uniquely. The resulting homogeneous polynomial representation of SU2 isIn the spin angular momentum notation $j=n/2$, its Hermitian $J_3$ eigenvalues are $j,j-1,\dots ,-j$. The central matrix $-I$ acts on the symmetric power by $(-1{)}^n$, so descent of an SU(2) representation to SO(3) occurs exactly when $n$ is even. HenceFor a reducible representation, every summand must satisfy the descent condition. The spin-one-half doublet is a genuine representation of the covering group but does not define a single-valued representation of $SO(3)$; the spin-one triplet does and is its vector representation. The distinction is topological, rather than a difference in their isomorphic Lie algebras.

A Lie group is a group and smooth manifold whose multiplication and inversion are smooth. A Lie algebra is a vector space with a bilinear alternating bracket satisfying the Jacobi identity. For a Matrix Lie group $G\subset GL(m,\mathbb{C})$, a logarithmic chart of a matrix Lie group near $g$ sends $h$ to $\log (g^{-1}h)\in \mathfrak{g}=T_{I}G$; the matrix exponential is its local inverse, and the Baker--Campbell--Hausdorff formula makes the local group operations smooth.

For $B_1,B_2\in \mathfrak{g}$, consider the group commutatorIts logarithm takes values in the vector space $\mathfrak{g}$, and expansion at $(0,0)$ givesThus $\mathfrak{g}$ is closed under the commutator. Bilinearity, alternation, and the Jacobi identity follow from matrix multiplication, so this proves that the Lie algebra of a matrix Lie group has

A principal bundle $\pi :P\to M$ with structure group $G$ is a smooth fiber bundle with a free right $G$-action, each fiber a single orbit, and equivariant local trivializations ${\pi }^{-1}(U)\cong U\times G$.

For the right action of the unitary group on $GL(n,\mathbb{C})$, defineThe matrix $g{g}^{\ast }$ is a positive-definite matrix and a Hermitian matrix, and $q(gu)=q(g)$ for $u\in U(n)$. The polar decomposition of an invertible complex matrix gives the unique factorizationConsequentlyis a diffeomorphism. If $W\subset H(n)$ is a neighborhood of zero and $N=q^{-1}(W)$, then $N$ is an open neighborhood of $I$, it is a union of complete orbits, andMoreover, two matrices have the same value of $q$ exactly when they differ by right multiplication by a unitary matrix. Thus $q$ induces the smooth identificationunder which $\pi$ is projection $H(n)\times U(n)\to H(n)$. This is the general linear group modulo the unitary group, and $\pi$ is in fact a globally trivial principal $U(n)$-bundle.

A Lie group is a group that is also a smooth manifold, with differentiable multiplication and inversion. A Lie algebra is a vector space with a bilinear alternating Lie bracket satisfying the Jacobi identity.

For a Matrix Lie group $G$, put $\mathfrak{g}=T_{I}G$. If $X,Y\in \mathfrak{g}$, the matrix commutator $[X,Y]=XY-YX$ again lies in $\mathfrak{g}$: the group commutator $e^{tX}{e}^{sY}{e}^{-tX}{e}^{-sY}$ lies in $G$, and the coefficient of $ts$ in its matrix logarithm is $[X,Y]$. Bilinearity and antisymmetry are immediate, while associativity of matrix multiplication gives the Jacobi identity. Thus $T_{I}G$, with the commutator bracket, is the Lie algebra of a matrix Lie group $\mathcal{L}(G)$.

The special linear group $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ is the inverse image of the regular value $1$ under the smooth determinant map, and multiplication and inversion are smooth. Differentiating $\det (I+tA)=1+t\mathrm{tr}A+O(t^2)$ shows thatThe Cayley-Hamilton theorem applied to a trace-zero two-by-two matrix gives

The exponential map of a matrix Lie group is the matrix exponentialSince $\det (e^A)=e^{\mathrm{tr}A}=1$, its image lies in $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$. Put $d=\det A$. The identity $A^2=-dI$ sums the series explicitly. If $d>0$, with $r=\sqrt{d}$,If $d=0$, the trace is $2$, while if $d<0$, with $r=\sqrt{-d}$,HenceBut $\mathrm{diag}(-2,-1/2)\in SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ has trace $-5/2$. It is therefore outside the image, so the exponential map is not surjective.

Let $G$ be a simple Lie group, let $T^a$ be Hermitian matrices for a finite-dimensional unitary representation $R$, and normalizeA matter field $\psi$ transforms locally as ${\psi }^{\prime }(x)=U(x)\psi (x)$, where $U(x)=e^{ig{ϵ}^a(x)T^a}$. An ordinary derivative of $\psi$ does not transform covariantly because it differentiates $U$. Introduce a gauge field $A_{\mu }=A_{\mu }^a{T}^a$ and the gauge covariant derivativeDemanding $D_{\mu }^{\prime }{\psi }^{\prime }=U{D}_{\mu }\psi$ determines the Yang-Mills gauge transformationTo first order in $ϵ$,

The gauge field strength is defined by $[D_{\mu },D_{\nu }]=-ig{F}_{\mu \nu }$:or, in components,Covariance of the commutator givesThe commutator term distinguishes Yang-Mills theory from an Abelian gauge theory and produces cubic and quartic gauge-boson interactions.

For a Dirac field of mass $m$ in $R$, the Lagrangian isEquivalently, the gauge term is proportional to $-\mathrm{tr}(F_{\mu \nu }{F}^{\mu \nu })$. The cyclic property of the trace and $F_{\mu \nu }^{\prime }=U{F}_{\mu \nu }{U}^{-1}$ make it invariant. Unitarity gives ${\bar{\psi }}^{\prime }=\bar{\psi }{U}^{-1}$, while $D_{\mu }^{\prime }{\psi }^{\prime }=U{D}_{\mu }\psi$, so both the matter kinetic term and mass term are invariant. A complex scalar $\varphi$ in a unitary representation may instead be coupled throughprovided the scalar potential $V$ is $G$-invariant.

The simplicity assumption means that the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ is nonabelian and has no proper nonzero ideal of a Lie algebra. Its Adjoint representation is therefore irreducible, and every invariant symmetric bilinear form is proportional to the Killing form. Consequently the pure gauge kinetic term has one overall gauge coupling for a simple factor. The theory has no independent Abelian gauge direction; if the gauge algebra were a direct sum of simple and Abelian ideals, each factor could instead carry its own coupling. A simple group may still have a discrete center, but this does not add a gauge boson because gauge bosons are indexed by the Lie algebra.

Let $N=(0,\dots ,0,1)$ and $S=(0,\dots ,0,-1)$ be the poles of $S^n$. The open sets $U_N=S^n\setminus \{N\}$ and $U_S=S^n\setminus \{S\}$ cover the sphere. Stereographic projection gives coordinate chartsfrom these sets to ${\mathbb{R}}^n$. Their inverses areOn the overlap, the transition map iswhich is a smooth diffeomorphism of ${\mathbb{R}}^n\setminus \{0\}$. These two compatible charts make $S^n$ a smooth manifold of dimension $n$.

Now let $G$ be an $m$-dimensional Lie group and choose a basis $e_1,\dots ,e_m$ of its tangent space $T_{e}G$ at the identity. Definewhere $L_g$ is Left translation on a Lie group. Smoothness of multiplication makes each $E_i$ a smooth left-invariant vector field, and invertibility of $(d{L}_g{)}_e$ makes $E_1(g),\dots ,E_m(g)$ a basis of $T_{g}G$ at every point. Thus the $E_i$ form a global frame and every Lie group is a parallelizable manifold.

The columns of a matrix in the special unitary group $SU(2)$ are orthonormal and its determinant is one. Consequently every element has the unique formThe pair $(z_1,z_2)\in {\mathbb{C}}^2\cong {\mathbb{R}}^4$ therefore identifies $SU(2)$ diffeomorphically with $S^3$. The Lie-group construction then proves that $S^3$ is parallelizable; this is the SU(2) as the three-sphere identification.

Another example is $S^1$, which is the Lie group $U(1)$. Explicitly, at $(x,y)\in S^1$ the vectoris smooth, tangent, and nowhere zero, so it is a global one-vector frame. Thus $S^1$ is another parallelizable sphere.

The distinct affine algebraic groupsboth have the special linear Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{sl}}_2(\mathbb{C})$. Quotienting a Lie group by a discrete central subgroup does not change its tangent Lie algebra.

A Lie group is a smooth manifold $G$ equipped with smooth maps $m:G\times G\to G$, $m(g,h)=gh$, and $\iota :G\to G$, $\iota (g)=g^{-1}$, for which multiplication is associative, there is an identity $e$, and every $g$ has the inverse $g^{-1}$. In equations,Thus the group axioms and the smooth structure are compatible.

For a matrix Lie group, the left-invariant Maurer-Cartan form isDifferentiating $g^{-1}g=I$ gives $d(g^{-1})=-g^{-1}(dg)g^{-1}$. Henceand therefore

A principal $G$-bundle is a fiber bundle $\pi :P\to B$ with a free right action of a Lie group $G$ that is locally equivariantly isomorphic to $U\times G\to U$. Each fiber is a single $G$-orbit.

A quaternion is $a+bi+cj+dk$ with real coefficients, where $i^2=j^2=k^2=ijk=-1$. They form a noncommutative real division algebra. The norm squared is $a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2$, and every nonzero quaternion has inverse its conjugate divided by that squared norm. The unit quaternions form the Lie group $S^3$.

This Lie group consists of real two-by-two matrices of determinant one. Its Lie algebra is the space of traceless real two-by-two matrices. Its Exponential map of a Lie group is not onto: by the Cayley-Hamilton theorem, $A^2=-\det (A)I$ for traceless $A$, and its exponential has trace either $2\cosh s$ or $2\cos s$, hence never less than $-2$. The determinant-one matrix $\mathrm{diag}(-2,-1/2)$ is therefore outside its exponential image.

A real torus is the compact Lie group obtained by identifying real vectors differing by integer vectors, with addition induced from Euclidean addition. It is a finite product of circle groups and has normalized Haar measure. Dimension two is the familiar surface torus, but toral dynamics and Fourier characters naturally use arbitrary finite dimension.

For a bi-invariant Riemannian metric on a Lie group, the induced inner product on its Lie algebra makes every adjoint operator skew-adjoint. The Levi-Civita connection of a bi-invariant metric gives $R(X,Y)Z=-\frac{1}{4}[[X,Y],Z]$. Thus $K(X,Y)=\frac{1}{4}\Vert [X,Y]{\Vert }^2$ for orthonormal $X,Y$, andThe nullspace of this quadratic form is exactly the center of a Lie algebra. A zero center therefore gives positive Ricci curvature, uniformly bounded below by a positive constant times the metric through left invariance and compactness of the unit sphere in the Lie algebra.

A differential form $\alpha$ on a Lie group is right-invariant if $R_g^{\ast }\alpha =\alpha$ for every right translation $R_g(p)=pg$. A right Maurer-Cartan form is represented in a matrix group by $dg{g}^{-1}$, whereas the left version is $g^{-1}dg$. Its components supply a right-invariant coframe.

A Riemannian metric on a Lie group is right-invariant when every right translation is an isometry. It is determined by a positive-definite inner product at the identity, extended with a coframe of right-invariant differential forms. Its translation-generated Killing vector fields are left-invariant, rather than the right-invariant vector fields dual to that coframe.

A real or complex Lie group is semisimple when its Lie algebra is semisimple. For a real group, the Killing form then defines a nondegenerate bi-invariant pseudo-Riemannian metric. Compact semisimple groups have negative-definite Killing form; noncompact examples such as $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ have indefinite Killing form. A disconnected group can also have a semisimple Lie algebra, so connectedness is a separate hypothesis when integrating infinitesimal actions.

The multiplication $(x^{\prime },y^{\prime },z^{\prime })(x,y,z)=(x^{\prime }+e^{-z^{\prime }}x,y^{\prime }+e^{z^{\prime }}y,z^{\prime }+z)$ defines the three-dimensional Sol Lie group. Its left-invariant vector fields $e^{-z}{\partial }_x,e^z{\partial }_y,{\partial }_z$ have dual coframe $e^{z}dx,e^{-z}dy,dz$. Their sum of squares is a left-invariant metric, $d{s}^2=e^{2z}d{x}^2+e^{-2z}d{y}^2+d{z}^2$.