Is the Lie derivative a tensor itself?

  • #1
spinless
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Hi everyone!

A few days ago in General Relativity class, the professor introduced the concept of Lie derivative and at the end he mentioned that the Lie derivative was a tensor itself. I've been looking everywhere, but I only find how it acts on vectors, tensors, etc. Does anyone know of any book/article/website that mentions this idea?

Thank you very much in advance!!
 
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  • #2
Here are some definitions:
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/pantheon-derivatives-part-iv/#Lie-Derivatives

If ##X,Y## are vector fields, then ##\mathcal{L}_X(Y)=[X,Y]## which is again a vector field. ##\mathcal{L}## is linear in both arguments, so you may consider it a tensor. How it acts can be seen in the article I linked to.

Every derivative is a directional derivative. It measures variation in that direction. There are three main parameters: function, direction, and location. All of them can be the variable that results in different quantities: a number, a function, or even a field of directions. We abstract from function and location and consider directions alone in the case of vector fields.
 
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Likes Astronuc, dextercioby and spinless
  • #3
Moderator's note: Thread moved to the Differential Geometry forum.
 
  • #4
spinless said:
Hi everyone!

A few days ago in General Relativity class, the professor introduced the concept of Lie derivative and at the end he mentioned that the Lie derivative was a tensor itself. I've been looking everywhere, but I only find how it acts on vectors, tensors, etc. Does anyone know of any book/article/website that mentions this idea?

Thank you very much in advance!!
The Lie derivative of a tensor is a tensor. Just like the derivative of a functions is a function.
 
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