Klein geometry ed

A generalization of Euclidean geometry and other highly symmetric spaces.

required Fiber bundles and Lie groups

Abstract definition ed

Klein geometry

A principal fiber \[H\]-bundle \[(G,H)\] with closed \[H \subset G\], yielding a connected space \[M = G / H\].

Kernel \[K\]

Largest subgroup \[K \subset H\] that is normal in \[G\].

If \[K=1\], we call \[(G,H)\] effective. If \[K\] is discrete, we call it locally effective. Can replace \[(G,H)\] by its associated effective geometry \[(G/K, H/K)\].

Intuition ed

When starting from a space \[M\], the group \[G\] captures the symmetries of some structures. \[H\] is the subgroup that keeps a single point fixed. The quotient of both groups gives back the set of points.

Example: Euclidean space ed

Looking at the group of all Euclidean motions (preserving distance and angles):

\[ G = E(n) = T(n) \rtimes O(n) \simeq \mathbb R^n \rtimes O(n) \]

Stabilizer of the origin is

\[ H \simeq O(n) \]

And the plane is

\[ M = G / H \simeq \mathbb R^n \]

Example: sphere ed

The sphere \[ S^n \subset \mathbb R^{n+1} \] is symmetric under rotations and reflections:

\[ G = O(n+1) \]

An arbitrary point on the sphere is fixed under the subset of rotations/reflections:

\[ H \simeq O(n) \]

The result is

\[ S^n \simeq O(n+1) / O(n) \]