Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2010 / iii / Paper 15 / 1 / b

Commutation of the two local flows means ${\varphi }_t{\psi }_s={\psi }_s{\varphi }_t$ for all sufficiently small independent parameters $s,t$, on their common local domains. Differentiate this identity in $s$ at zero. The chain rule givesIn a coordinate chart, differentiating again in $t$ at zero gives $D{X}_p{Y}_p=D{Y}_p{X}_p$. But the Lie bracket of vector fields has coordinate expressionso commuting local flows imply $[X,Y]=0$.

For the converse, suppose the Lie bracket of vector fields vanishes. Write $u(t)={\varphi }_t(p)$ in a coordinate chart, and put $J(t)=d{\varphi }_t{|}_p$. Differentiating the local flow equation with respect to the initial point gives the variational ordinary differential equationConsequently $W(t)=Y_{u(t)}-J(t)Y_p$ satisfieswhere the zero Lie bracket of vector fields was used in the second equality. Uniqueness for this linear ordinary differential equation gives $W=0$. This is a local argument and can be continued through successive coordinate charts, proving $d{\varphi }_t(Y)=Y\circ {\varphi }_t$ wherever the local flow is defined.

For fixed $t$, the curve $s\mapsto {\varphi }_t({\psi }_s(p))$ therefore has derivative $Y$ at its current point and starts at ${\varphi }_t(p)$. Uniqueness of the integral curve of a vector field $Y$ identifies it with $s\mapsto {\psi }_s({\varphi }_t(p))$. Hence $\boxed{{\varphi }_t{\psi }_s={\psi }_s{\varphi }_t⟺[X,Y]=0}$ locally. No complete vector field hypothesis is needed.