# Differentiation Problem on Lie Groups

1. Sep 20, 2013

### lavinia

Suppose θ is a differential 1 form defined on a manifold and with values in the Lie algebra of a Lie group,G.

On MxG define the 1 form, ad(g)θ ,where θ is extended by letting it be zero on the tangent space to G

How do you compute the exterior derivative, dad(g)θ ?

BTW: For matrix Lie groups this is straightforward. What is the abstract calculation?

2. Oct 7, 2013

### lavinia

Here is some computation for matrix groups

dad(g)θ(x + h, y + k) = (x + h).ad(g)θ(y + k) - (y + k).ad(g)θ(x + h) -ad(g)θ[x + h, y + k]

where Y and X are tangent to the manifold and h and K are left invariant vector fields.

Computing:

h.ad(g)θ(y) = h. gθ(y)g$^{-1}$ = dg(h)θ(y)g$^{-1}$ - gθ(y)g$^{-1}$dg(h)g$^{-1}$

= dg(h)g$^{-1}$gθ(y)g$^{-1}$ - gθ(y)g$^{-1}$dg(h)g$^{-1}$

= ω(h)ad(g)θ(y) - ad(g)θ(y)ω(h) where ω is the right invariant Maurer-Cartan form.

Simplify?

Last edited: Oct 7, 2013
3. Oct 7, 2013

### D H

Staff Emeritus
It looks like you are writing about the Baker–Campbell–Hausdorff formula, which does have a somewhat simplified representation in the case of SO(n).

4. Oct 7, 2013

### lavinia

This doesn't simplify anything but succinctly rewrites the formula as

ad(g)dθ +[ω,ad(g)θ] where the second term is the Lie bracket of the two differential forms ω and ad(g)θ