Lie-Cartan pairs (Q1076126)

Consider the pair \((L,A)\) with \(L=X(M)\), \(A=C^{\infty}(M)\) where \(M\) is a manifold, \(X(M)\) is the Lie algebra of smooth vector fields on \(M\). \(L\) is injectively represented in the derivations of \(A\) and is at the same time an \(A\)-module. For \(a,b\in A\), \(\xi,\eta\in L\) one has the relations \((a\xi)b=a(\xi b)\) and \([\xi,a\eta]=a[\xi,\eta]+(\xi a)\eta\). Another example of Lie-Cartan pair, occurring in Lie algebra cohomology: \(L\) is a Lie algebra over a commutative algebra \(A\), with trivial action of \(L\) on \(A\): \(\xi a=0\) for all \(\xi\in L\), \(a\in A\). For a general Lie-Cartan pair \((L,A)\) and a module \(V\) over \(A\) a connection is defined, as a linear map of \(L\) into the linear operators of \(V\). It turns out that the exterior derivative on a manifold, covariant derivative on smooth vector bundles and the coboundary operator of Lie algebra cohomology are all special cases of such Lie-Cartan pairs with interrelations. The paper is intended as a reference for a study of the algebraic structure of anomalies in gauge theory.