Exterior derivative

From Academic Kids

In mathematics, the exterior derivative operator of differential topology, extends the concept of the differential of a function to differential forms of higher degree. It is important in the theory of integration on manifolds, and is the differential used to define de Rham and Alexander-Spanier cohomology. Its current form was invented by Élie Cartan.

Contents

1 Definition 2 Properties 3 Invariant formula 4 Connection with vector calculus 4.1 Gradient 4.2 Curl 4.3 Divergence 5 Examples 6 See also

Definition

The exterior derivative of a differential form of degree k is a differential form of degree k + 1.

For a k-form ω = f_I dx_I over Rⁿ, the definition is as follows:

<math>d{\omega} = \sum_{i=1}^n \frac{\partial f_I}{\partial x_i} dx_i \wedge dx_I.<math>

For general k-forms Σ_I f_I dx_I (where the multi-index I runs over all ordered subsets of {1, ..., n} of cardinality k), we just extend linearly. Note that if <math>i = I<math> above then <math>dx_i \wedge dx_I = 0<math> (see wedge product).

Properties

Exterior differentiation satisfies three important properties:

• linearity

• the wedge product rule (see antiderivation)

<math>d(\omega \wedge \eta) = d\omega \wedge \eta+(-1)^{{\rm deg\,}\omega}(\omega \wedge d\eta)<math>

• and d² = 0, a formula encoding the equality of mixed partial derivatives, so that always

<math>d(d\omega)=0 \, \!<math>

It can be shown that exterior derivative is uniquely determined by these properties and its agreement with the differential on 0-forms (functions).

The kernel of d consists of the closed forms, and the image of the exact forms (cf. exact differentials).

Invariant formula

Given a k-form ω and arbitrary smooth vector fields V₀,V₁, …, V_k we have

<math>d\omega(V_0,V_1,...V_k)=\sum_i(-1)^i V_i\omega(V_0,...,\hat V_i,...,V_k)<math>

<math>+\sum_{i

where <math>[V_i,V_j]<math> denotes Lie bracket and the hat denotes the ommission of that element: <math>\omega(V_0,...,\hat V_i,...,V_k)=\omega(V_0,..., V_{i-1},V_{i+1}...,V_k).<math>

In particular, for 1-forms we have:

<math>d\omega(X,Y)=X(\omega(Y))-Y(\omega(X))-\omega([X,Y]).<math>

More generally, the Lie derivative is defined via the Lie bracket:

<math>\mathcal{L}_XY=[X,Y]<math>,

and the Lie derivative of a general differential form is closely related to the exterior derivative. The differences are primarily notational; various identities between the two are provided in the article on Lie derivatives.

Connection with vector calculus

The following correspondence reveals about a dozen formulas from vector calculus as merely special cases of the above three rules of exterior differentiation.

Gradient

For a 0-form, that is a smooth function f: Rⁿ→R, we have

<math>df = \sum_{i=1}^n \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_i}\, dx_i.<math>

Therefore

<math>df(V) = \langle \mbox{grad }f,V\rangle,<math>

where grad f denotes gradient of f and <•, •> is the scalar product.

Curl

For a 1-form <math>\omega=\sum_{i} f_i\,dx_i<math> on R³,

<math>d \omega=\sum_{i,j}\frac{\partial f_i}{\partial x_j} dx_j\wedge dx_i,<math>

which restricted to the three-dimensional case <math>\omega= u\,dx+v\,dy+w\,dz <math> is

<math>d \omega = \left(\frac{\partial v}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial u}{\partial y} \right) dx \wedge dy

+ \left(\frac{\partial w}{\partial y} - \frac{\partial v}{\partial z} \right) dy \wedge dz + \left(\frac{\partial u}{\partial z} - \frac{\partial w}{\partial x} \right) dz \wedge dx.<math>

Therefore, for vector field V=[u,v,w] we have <math>d \omega(U,W)=\langle\mbox{curl}\, V \times U,W\rangle <math> where curl V denotes the curl of V, × is the vector product, and <•, •> is the scalar product.

(what are U and W here? this assertion needs clarification - Gauge 23:37, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC))

Divergence

For a 2-form <math> \omega = \sum_{i,j} h_{i,j}\,dx_i\,dx_j,<math>

<math>d \omega = \sum_{i,j,k} \frac{\partial h_{i,j}}{\partial x_k} dx_k \wedge dx_i \wedge dx_j.<math>

For three dimensions, with <math> \omega = p\,dy\wedge dz+q\,dz\wedge dx+r\,dx\wedge dy<math> we get

<math>d \omega = \left( \frac{\partial p}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial q}{\partial y} + \frac{\partial r}{\partial z} \right) dx \wedge dy \wedge dz = \mbox{div}V dx \wedge dy \wedge dz,<math>

where V is a vector field defined by <math> V = [p,q,r].<math>

Examples

For a 1-form <math>\sigma = u\, dx + v\, dy<math> on R² we have

<math>d \sigma = \left(\frac{\partial{v}}{\partial{x}} - \frac{\partial{u}}{\partial{y}}\right) dx \wedge dy<math>

which is exactly the 2-form being integrated in Green's theorem.

See also

• Exterior covariant derivative
• Green's theorem
• Stoke's theoremes:Derivada exterior

fr:Dérivée extérieure