Questions tagged [lie-groups]

A Lie group is a group (in the sense of abstract algebra) that is also a differentiable manifold, such that the group operations (addition and inversion) are smooth, and so we can study them with differential calculus. They are a special type of topological group.

Consider using with the (group-theory) tag.

Lie groups are groups that are also differentiable manifolds that represent the best developed theory of continuous symmetry of mathematical objects.

Examples of lie groups are:

1) The Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^n$ under addition is a lie group.

2) The special orthogonal group of real orthogonal matrices with determinant $1$ (note that $n=3$ is the rotation group in $\mathbb{R}^3$).

3) The spin group, which is the double cover of the special orthogonal group such that $\exists$ a sequence of lie groups:

\begin{equation*} 1\to Z_2\to~\text{Spin}(n)\to SO(n)\to 1. \end{equation*}

Note that it has dimension $\frac{n(n-1)}{2}.$

7686 questions
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determinant constraint on the dimension of SO(n)

It is very well known that the dimension of $SO(n)$ is $n(n-1)/2$, which is obtained by the number of independent constraint equations we have from the fact that the matrix is orthogonal. However, it is a little puzzling to me why the determinant…
M. Zeng
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What does the automorphism group of a *degenerate* bilinear/sesquilinear form look like?

All the classical groups - orthogonal, unitary, symplectic - arise as automorphism groups of bilinear and sesquilinear forms. Over $F=\Bbb R,\Bbb C$ a bilinear form is a map $B:V\times V\to F$ that is $F$-linear in each argument, where $V$ is a…
anon
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why this happens ? (dilation)

let be the dilation operator $ x \frac{d}{dx} $ i know this operator is invariant under the change $ y=ax$ for any positive 'a' real number however let be the change $ y= \frac{-1}{x}$ then the operator $x \frac{d}{dx}= y \frac{d}{dy} $ still…
Jose Garcia
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The Lie Algebra of a trivial Lie Group

I was wondering if it is true that the lie algebra of a trivial lie group is trivial? Surely the answer is yes but I just want to make sure.
Anon
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Lie Group homomorphisms

I am revising for my Lie Groups exam and am stuck on the following question. Find all Lie Group homomorphisms a) $ \ F : \mathbb{R} \longrightarrow S^1 \ $ (Hint: Consider the corresponding homomorphisms of Lie algebras $F_{\ast}$) b) $ \ F : S^1…
Anon
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Classifying Lie group homomorphisms

I'd like to know whether there exists a standard way of classifying homomorphisms between two given Lie Groups, at least for some class of Lie groups, e.g. matrix groups. For instance, suppose that I want to classify all Lie group homomorphisms…
fatoddsun
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Non-linear Lie groups.

We know that for a matrix Lie group $G$, we define it to be a closed subgroup of $GL(n,\mathbb{C})$. But Lie groups are defined as manifolds in $\mathbb{R}^n$ for some $n$, in general. The question is that, do we know any Lie group which is not a…
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Determining Matrix Group from Connected Component

I am interested in finding a method for determining all the matrix subgroups of a matrix group that have a specific connected component. This is what I thought would work from what I have read so far is: Suppose we have a matrix group $G$ (for…
Mastrel
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How do I derive the Poincaré group and its Lie algebra?

The relativity group of Minkowski spacetime is the subgroup $P < Aff(4,\mathbb{R})$ which preserves the proper time $c^2 (x_4-y_4)^2 - \|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{y}\|^2$ between two events $X=(\mathbf{x},x_4,1)$ and $Y=(\mathbf{y},y_4,1)$, where $c$ is a…
blib
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The dimensions for Lie Groups

How can I find out which is the dimension for $SU(n)$, $SO(3)$, etc? Can you explain me, please? thanks
Iuli
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An $n$-dimensional subgroup of $GL_{n+1}(\mathbb R)$

Could somebody please tell me if my answer to the following exercise is correct?: Describe a subgroup of $GL_{n+1}(\mathbb R)$ that is isomorphic to $\mathbb R^n$ under vector addition. It's not clear to me why the exercise considers…
learner
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with which binary action is the 2-sphere a Lie group?

show that the 2-sphere is a Lie group. I do not know with which binary action is the 2-sphere a Lie group? and with which binary action is the $\mathbb{R^3}-{0}$ a Lie group? 2-sphere is equal with $\{(x,y,z)\in \mathbb{R^3}; x^2 +y^2+ z^2 =1 \}$
user
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Local Lie Groups

Hello i am trying to prove the following proposition : Let $G$ be a connected Lie group, and $U\subset G$ a neighborhood of the identity element. Also, let $U^k = \{g_1 . g_2 . \dots g_k : g_i \in U\}$ be the set of k - fold products of elements of…
Mark
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Maximal tori in U(2)

I'm attending a course about Lie Groups, and in an exercise I'm asked to "find the maximal abelian subgroup of $U(2)$". Certainly an abelian subgroup of $U(2)$ (and in fact of any $U(n)$ increasing the dimension of the matrices) is the 2-torus…
fosco
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The Grassmanian as a Homogenous Space and Related Spaces

I am interested in studying a quotient of Lie groups related to the Grassmanian. I don't know very much topology so this question will be a little bit open ended. Let $p \neq q$ and consider the complex Grassmanian: $SU(p+q) / S(U(p)\times U(q))$. I…