Lie Derivative in Coordinates

Here we will study the coordinate dependent realization of the Lie derivative. Let be a scalar (zero-form), a vector field, and be a one-form, where

form the basis that span the space of vector fields, and are the basis elements for the space of one-forms.

Using Cartan’s magic formula the Lie derivative is given algebraically by

(1)

In coordinate form the Lie derivative of a scalar, a one-form and a vector field become

To compute the Lie derivative of a one form we use

Combining the terms above we obtain the results for the Lie derivative of a one-form

The Lie derivative is a derivation and so it must satisfy a product rule over the pairing of forms and vector fields

(2)

To see that the above expressions for the Lie derivative do indeed satisfy Eq. (2)

After a simple relabeling of the dummy indices it can be shown that Eq. (2) is indeed satisfied.

Thus, in two dimensions it can be shown that

Given a two form

it can be shown that

Other quantities