Complete vector field X => X defined on the whole manifold?

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The discussion centers on the claim made by Isham in "Differential Geometry for Physics" that if X is a complete vector field, then V can be chosen as the entire manifold M. A complete vector field is defined as one with integral curves that exist on the entirety of \(\mathbb{R}\). The participants question the validity of this claim and seek clarification on the relationship between the open subset V and the vector field X, emphasizing the need for a precise definition of V in this context.

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center o bass
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According to Isham (Differential Geometry for Physics) at page 115 he claims:

"If X is a complete vector field then V can always be chosen to be the entire manifold M"

where V is an open subset of a manifold M. He leaves this claim unproved.
A complete vector field is a vector field which has integral curves defined on the whole of ##\mathbb{R}##. Does the claim somehow follow from the definition?
 
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center o bass said:
According to Isham (Differential Geometry for Physics) at page 115 he claims:

"If X is a complete vector field then V can always be chosen to be the entire manifold M"

where V is an open subset of a manifold M. He leaves this claim unproved.
A complete vector field is a vector field which has integral curves defined on the whole of ##\mathbb{R}##. Does the claim somehow follow from the definition?

How is V defined? M is always an open subset of itself, but without knowing how V relates to X we really can't help you.
 
pasmith said:
How is V defined? M is always an open subset of itself, but without knowing how V relates to X we really can't help you.

Isham defines it as follows:

"Let X be a vector field defined on an open subset U of a manifold M and let p be a point in U c M . Then a local flow of X at p is a local one-parameter group of local diffeomorphisms defined on some open subset V of U such that p ##\in## V c U and such that the vector field induced by this family is equal to the given field X ."
 

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