Maurer-Cartan form involved in Lie bracket

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Maurer-Cartan form and its relation to the Lie bracket in the context of Lie groups and algebra valued differential forms. Participants explore the implications of the Maurer-Cartan one-form in Yang-Mills theory and the computation of Lie brackets involving this form.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant introduces the Maurer-Cartan one-form ##\Theta = g^{-1} dg## and its significance in Yang-Mills theory, particularly regarding the transformation of the gauge potential.
  • The same participant poses a question about the computation of the Lie bracket when involving the Maurer-Cartan form, specifically asking how to compute $$[g^{-1} dg, g\alpha g^{-1}]$$ for a Lie algebra valued form ##\alpha##.
  • Another participant explains that an exterior product on the exterior algebra of vector space valued differential forms exists only if the vector space has the structure of an algebra, providing a definition for the exterior product in this context.
  • This participant asserts that the bracket discussed is not a Lie bracket but rather denotes the product of the algebra, suggesting a distinction between the two concepts.
  • A later reply reiterates the previous explanation and seeks clarification on the original question posed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of the bracket in the context of the Maurer-Cartan form and its relation to the exterior product. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific computation of the Lie bracket involving the Maurer-Cartan form.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the definitions and assumptions related to the algebraic structures involved, as well as the specific mathematical steps required for the computation of the Lie bracket.

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The Maurer-Cartan one-form ##\Theta = g^{-1} dg## is though of as a lie algebra valued form.
It arises in connection with Yang-Mill's theory where the gauge potential transforms as
$$A \mapsto g Ag^{-1} - g^{-1} dg.$$

However, one also defines for lie-algebra valued differential forms ##\alpha, \beta \in \Omega_p(M,\mathfrak g)##, the Lie bracket
$$[\alpha, \beta] = [\xi_k, \xi_l] \alpha^k \wedge \beta^l.$$

The question then arise, what does one mean by the lie-bracket when ##g^{-1} dg## is involved?
For example, how would one compute
$$[g^{-1} dg, g\alpha g^{-1}],$$
for a lie algebra valued form ##\alpha##?
 
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Hi,

An exterior product exists on the exterior algebra of vector space valued differential forms only if the vectorspace carries in addition the structure of an algebra.

Let G be a lie group and \varOmega^{*}:=\bigoplus_{r=0}^{dim(G)}\Omega^{r}(G,\mathfrak{g})
the exterior algebra of the associated lie algebra valued differential forms. If so, the exterior product is defined by

[\alpha,\beta](v_{1},\ldots,v_{p},v_{p+1},\ldots,v_{p+q}):=\frac{1}{p!q!}\sum_{\sigma\in S_{p+q}}sign(\sigma)[\alpha(v_{\sigma(1)},\ldots,v_{\sigma(p)}),\beta(v_{\sigma(p+1)},\ldots,v_{\sigma(p+q)})],
So the bracket is not a lie bracket, the bracket denotes the product of the algebra.
 
Last edited:
TamTamTam said:
Hi,

An exterior product exists on the exterior algebra of vector space valued differential forms only if the vectorspace carries in addition the structure of an algebra.

Let G be a lie group and \varOmega^{*}:=\bigoplus_{r=0}^{dim(G)}\Omega^{r}(G,\mathfrak{g})
the exterior algebra of the associated lie algebra valued differential forms. If so, the exterior product is defined by

[\alpha,\beta](v_{1},\ldots,v_{p},v_{p+1},\ldots,v_{p+q}):=\frac{1}{p!q!}\sum_{\sigma\in S_{p+q}}sign(\sigma)[\alpha(v_{\sigma(1)},\ldots,v_{\sigma(p)}),\beta(v_{\sigma(p+1)},\ldots,v_{\sigma(p+q)})],
So the bracket is not a lie bracket, the bracket denotes the product of the algebra.

Correct. So what is your question?
 
lavinia said:
Correct. So what is your question?

The question was asked in the first post.
 

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