Poincaré lemma

In mathematics, the Poincaré lemma gives a sufficient condition for a closed differential form to be exact (while an exact form is necessarily closed). Precisely, it states that every closed p-form on an open ball in Rn is exact for p with 1 ≤ p ≤ n. The lemma was introduced by Henri Poincaré in 1886.

Especially in calculus, the Poincaré lemma also says that every closed 1-form on a simply connected open subset in $$\mathbb{R}^n$$ is exact.

In the language of cohomology, the Poincaré lemma says that the k-th de Rham cohomology group of a contractible open subset of a manifold M (e.g., $$M = \mathbb{R}^n$$) vanishes for $$k \ge 1$$. In particular, it implies that the de Rham complex yields a resolution of the constant sheaf $$\mathbb{R}_M$$ on M. The singular cohomology of a contractible space vanishes in positive degree, but the Poincaré lemma does not follow from this, since the fact that the singular cohomology of a manifold can be computed as the de Rham cohomology of it, that is, the de Rham theorem, relies on the Poincaré lemma. It does, however, mean that it is enough to prove the Poincaré lemma for open balls; the version for contractible manifolds then follows from the topological consideration.

The Poincaré lemma is also a special case of the homotopy invariance of de Rham cohomology; in fact, it is common to establish the lemma by showing the homotopy invariance or at least a version of it.

Proofs
A standard proof of the Poincaré lemma uses the homotopy invariance formula (cf. see the proofs below as well as Integration along fibers). The local form of the homotopy operator is described in and the connection of the lemma with the Maurer-Cartan form is explained in.

Direct proof
We shall prove the lemma for an open subset $$U \subset \mathbb{R}^n$$ that is star-shaped or a cone over $$[0, 1]$$; i.e., if $$x$$ is in $$U$$, then $$tx$$ is in $$U$$ for $$0 \le t \le 1$$. This case in particular covers the open ball case, since an open ball can be assumed to centered at the origin without loss of generality.

The trick is to consider differential forms on $$U \times [0, 1] \subset \mathbb{R}^{n+1}$$ (we use $$t$$ for the coordinate on $$[0, 1]$$). First define the operator $$\pi_*$$ (called the fiber integration) for k-forms on $$U \times [0, 1]$$ by
 * $$\pi_* \left( \sum_{i_1 < \cdots < i_{k-1}} \alpha_i dt \wedge dx^i + \sum_{j_1 < \cdots < j_k} \beta_j dx^j \right) = \left( \int_0^1 \alpha_i(\cdot, t) \, dt \right) \, dx^i$$

where $$dx^i = dx_{i_1} \wedge \cdots \wedge dx_{i_k}$$, $$\alpha_i = \alpha_{i_1, \dots, i_k}$$ and similarly for $$dx^j$$ and $$\beta_j$$. Now, for $$\alpha = f \, dt \wedge dx^i$$, since $$d \alpha = - \sum_l \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_l} dt \wedge dx_l \wedge dx^i$$, using the differentiation under the integral sign, we have:
 * $$\pi_*(d \alpha) = -d(\pi_* \alpha) = \alpha_1 - \alpha_0 - d(\pi_* \alpha)$$

where $$\alpha_0, \alpha_1$$ denote the restrictions of $$\alpha$$ to the hyperplanes $$t = 0, t = 1$$ and they are zero since $$dt$$ is zero there. If $$\alpha = f \, dx^j$$, then a similar computation gives
 * $$\pi_*(d \alpha) = \alpha_1 - \alpha_0 - d(\pi_* \alpha)$$.

Thus, the above formula holds for any $$k$$-form $$\alpha$$ on $$U \times [0, 1]$$. Finally, let $$h(x, t) = tx$$ and then set $$J = \pi_* \circ h^*$$. Then, with the notation $$h_t = h(\cdot, t)$$, we get: for any $$k$$-form $$\omega$$ on $$U$$,
 * $$h_1^* \omega - h_0^* \omega = J d \omega + d J \omega,$$

the formula known as the homotopy formula. The operator $$J$$ is called the homotopy operator (also called a chain homotopy). Now, if $$\omega$$ is closed, $$J d \omega = 0$$. On the other hand, $$h_1^* \omega = \omega$$ and $$h_0^* \omega = 0$$. Hence,
 * $$\omega = d J \omega,$$

which proves the Poincaré lemma.

The same proof in fact shows the Poincaré lemma for any contractible open subset U of a manifold. Indeed, given such a U, we have the homotopy $$h_t$$ with $$h_1 = $$ the identity and $$h_0(U) = $$ a point. Approximating such $$h_t$$, we can assume $$h_t$$ is in fact smooth. The fiber integration $$\pi_*$$ is also defined for $$\pi : U \times [0, 1] \to U$$. Hence, the same argument goes through.

Proof using Lie derivatives
Cartan's magic formula for Lie derivatives can be used to give a short proof of the Poincaré lemma. The formula states that the Lie derivative along a vector field $$\xi$$ is given as:
 * $$L_{\xi} = d \, i(\xi) + i(\xi) d$$

where $$i(\xi)$$ denotes the interior product; i.e., $$i(\xi)\omega = \omega(\xi, \cdot)$$.

Let $$f_t : U \to U$$ be a smooth family of smooth maps for some open subset U of $$\mathbb{R}^n$$ such that $$f_t$$ is defined for t in some closed interval I and $$f_t$$ is a diffeomorphism for t in the interior of I. Let $$\xi_t(x)$$ denote the tangent vectors to the curve $$f_t(x)$$; i.e., $$\frac{d}{dt}f_t(x) = \xi_t(f_t(x))$$. For a fixed t in the interior of I, let $$g_s = f_{t + s} \circ f_t^{-1}$$. Then $$g_0 = \operatorname{id}, \, \frac{d}{ds}g_s|_{s=0}= \xi_t$$. Thus, by the definition of a Lie derivative,
 * $$(L_{\xi_t} \omega)(f_t(x)) = \frac{d}{ds} g_s^* \omega(f_t(x))|_{s = 0} = \frac{d}{ds} f_{t+s}^* \omega(x)|_{s = 0} = \frac{d}{dt} f_t^* \omega(x)$$.

That is,
 * $$\frac{d}{dt} f_t^* \omega = f_t^* L_{\xi_t} \omega.$$

Assume $$I = [0, 1]$$. Then, integrating both sides of the above and then using Cartan's formula and the differentiation under the integral sign, we get: for $$0 < t_0 < t_1 < 1$$,
 * $$f_{t_1}^* \omega - f_{t_0}^* \omega = d \int_{t_0}^{t_1} f_t^* i(\xi_t) \omega \, dt + \int_{t_0}^{t_1} f_t^* i(\xi_t) d \omega \, dt$$

where the integration means the integration of each coefficient in a differential form. Letting $$t_0, t_1 \to 0, 1$$, we then have:
 * $$f_1^* \omega - f_0^* \omega = d J \omega + J d \omega$$

with the notation $$J \omega = \int_0^1 f_t^* i(\xi_t) \omega \, dt.$$

Now, assume $$U$$ is an open ball with center $$x_0$$; then we can take $$f_t(x) = t(x - x_0) + x_0$$. Then the above formula becomes:
 * $$\omega = d J \omega + J d \omega$$,

which proves the Poincaré lemma when $$\omega$$ is closed.

Proof in the two-dimensional case
In two dimensions the Poincaré lemma can be proved directly for closed 1-forms and 2-forms as follows.

If ω = p dx + q dy is a closed 1-form on (a, b) × (c, d), then py = qx. If ω = df then p = fx and q = fy. Set


 * $$g(x,y)=\int_a^x p(t,y)\, dt, $$

so that gx = p. Then h = f − g must satisfy hx = 0 and hy = q − gy. The right hand side here is independent of x since its partial derivative with respect to x is 0. So


 * $$h(x,y)=\int_c^y q(a,s)\, ds - g(a,y)=\int_c^y q(a,s)\, ds,$$

and hence


 * $$f(x,y)=\int_a^x p(t,y)\, dt + \int_c^y q(a,s)\, ds.$$

Similarly, if Ω = r dx ∧ dy then Ω = d(a dx + b dy) with bx − ay = r. Thus a solution is given by a = 0 and


 * $$b(x,y)=\int_a^x r(t,y) \, dt. $$

Implication for de Rham cohomology
By definition, the k-th de Rham cohomology group $$\operatorname{H}_{dR}^k(U)$$ of an open subset U of a manifold M is defined as the quotient vector space
 * $$\operatorname{H}_{dR}^k(U) = \{ \textrm{ closed } \, k\text{-forms} \, \textrm { on } \, U \}/\{ \textrm{ exact } \, k\text{-forms} \, \textrm { on } \, U \}.$$

Hence, the conclusion of the Poincaré lemma is precisely that $$\operatorname{H}_{dR}^k(U) = 0$$ for $$k \ge 1$$. Now, differential forms determine a cochain complex called the de Rham complex:
 * $$\Omega^* : 0 \to \Omega^0 \overset{d^0}\to \Omega^1 \overset{d^1}\to \cdots \to \Omega^n \to 0$$

where n = the dimension of M and $$\Omega^k$$ denotes the sheaf of differential k-forms; i.e., $$\Omega^k(U)$$ consists of k-forms on U for each open subset U of M. It then gives rise to the complex (the augmented complex)
 * $$0 \to \mathbb{R}_M \overset{\epsilon}\to \Omega^0 \overset{d^0}\to \Omega^1 \overset{d^1}\to \cdots \to \Omega^n \to 0$$

where $$\mathbb{R}_M$$ is the constant sheaf with values in $$\mathbb{R}$$; i.e., it is the sheaf of locally constant real-valued functions and $$\epsilon$$ the inclusion.

The kernel of $$d^0$$ is $$\mathbb{R}_M$$, since the smooth functions with zero derivatives are locally constant. Also, a sequence of sheaves is exact if and only if it is so locally. The Poincaré lemma thus says the rest of the sequence is exact too (since each point has an open ball as a neighborhood). In the language of homological algebra, it means that the de Rham complex determines a resolution of the constant sheaf $$\mathbb{R}_M$$. This then implies the de Rham theorem; i.e., the de Rham cohomology of a manifold coincides with the singular cohomology of it (in short, because the singular cohomology can be viewed as a sheaf cohomology.)

Once one knows the de Rham theorem, the conclusion of the Poincaré lemma can then be obtained purely topologically. For example, it implies a version of the Poincaré lemma for simply connected open sets (see §Simply connected case).

Simply connected case
Especially in calculus, the Poincaré lemma is stated for a simply connected open subset $$U \subset \mathbb{R}^n$$. In that case, the lemma says that each closed 1-form on U is exact. This version can be seen using algebraic topology as follows. The rational Hurewicz theorem (or rather the real analog of that) says that $$\operatorname{H}_1(U; \mathbb{R}) = 0$$ since U is simply connected. Since $$\mathbb{R}$$ is a field, the k-th cohomology $$\operatorname{H}^k(U; \mathbb{R})$$ is the dual vector space of the k-th homology $$\operatorname{H}_k(U; \mathbb{R})$$. In particular, $$\operatorname{H}^1(U; \mathbb{R}) = 0.$$ By the de Rham theorem (which follows from the Poincaré lemma for open balls), $$\operatorname{H}^1(U; \mathbb{R})$$ is the same as the first de Rham cohomology group (see §Implication to de Rham cohomology). Hence, each closed 1-form on U is exact.

Complex-geometry analog
On complex manifolds, the use of the Dolbeault operators $$\partial$$ and $$\bar \partial$$ for complex differential forms, which refine the exterior derivative by the formula $$d=\partial + \bar \partial$$, lead to the notion of $$\bar \partial$$-closed and $$\bar \partial$$-exact differential forms. The local exactness result for such closed forms is known as the Dolbeault–Grothendieck lemma (or $$\bar \partial$$-Poincaré lemma). Importantly, the geometry of the domain on which a $$\bar \partial$$-closed differential form is $$\bar \partial$$-exact is more restricted than for the Poincaré lemma, since the proof of the Dolbeault–Grothendieck lemma holds on a polydisk (a product of disks in the complex plane, on which the multidimensional Cauchy's integral formula may be applied) and there exist counterexamples to the lemma even on contractible domains. The $$\bar \partial$$-Poincaré lemma holds in more generality for pseudoconvex domains.

Using both the Poincaré lemma and the $$\bar \partial$$-Poincaré lemma, a refined local $\partial \bar \partial$-Poincaré lemma can be proven, which is valid on domains upon which both the aforementioned lemmas are applicable. This lemma states that $$d$$-closed complex differential forms are actually locally $$\partial \bar \partial$$-exact (rather than just $$d$$ or $$\bar \partial$$-exact, as implied by the above lemmas).

Relative Poincaré lemma
The relative Poincaré lemma generalizes Poincaré lemma from a point to a submanifold (or some more general locally closed subset). It states: let V be a submanifold of a manifold M and U a tubular neighborhood of V. If $$\sigma$$ is a closed k-form on U, k ≥ 1, that vanishes on V, then there exists a (k-1)-form $$\eta$$ on U such that $$d \eta = \sigma$$ and $$\eta$$ vanishes on V.

The relative Poincaré lemma can be proved in the same way the original Poincaré lemma is proved. Indeed, since U is a tubular neighborhood, there is a smooth strong deformation retract from U to V; i.e., there is a smooth homotopy $$h_t : U \to U$$ from the projection $$U \to V$$ to the identity such that $$h_t$$ is the identity on V. Then we have the homotopy formula on U:
 * $$h_1^* - h_0^* = d J + J d$$

where $$J$$ is the homotopy operator given by either Lie derivatives or integration along fibers. Now, $$h_0 (U) \subset V$$ and so $$h_0^* \sigma = 0$$. Since $$d \sigma = 0$$ and $$h_1^* \sigma = \sigma$$, we get $$\sigma = d J \sigma$$; take $$\eta = J \sigma$$. That $$\eta$$ vanishes on V follows from the definition of J and the fact $$h_t(V) \subset V$$. (So the proof actually goes through if U is not a tubular neighborhood but if U deformation-retracts to V with homotopy relative to V.) $$\square$$

On singular spaces
The Poincaré lemma generally fails for singular spaces. For example, if one considers algebraic differential forms on a complex algebraic variety (in the Zariski topology), the lemma is not true for those differential forms.

However, the variants of the lemma still likely hold for some singular spaces (precise formulation and proof depend on the definitions of such spaces and non-smooth differential forms on them.) For example, Kontsevich and Soibelman claim the lemma holds for certain variants of different forms (called PA forms) on their piecewise algebraic spaces.