Paper 4, Section II, G

Differential Geometry
Part II, 2015

Let U(n)\mathrm{U}(n) denote the set of n×nn \times n unitary complex matrices. Show that U(n)\mathrm{U}(n) is a smooth (real) manifold, and find its dimension. [You may use any general results from the course provided they are stated correctly.] For AA any matrix in U(n)\mathrm{U}(n) and HH an n×nn \times n complex matrix, determine when HH represents a tangent vector to U(n)\mathrm{U}(n) at AA.

Consider the tangent spaces to U(n)\mathrm{U}(n) equipped with the metric induced from the standard (Euclidean) inner product ,\langle\cdot, \cdot\rangle on the real vector space of n×nn \times n complex matrices, given by L,K=Retrace(LK)\langle L, K\rangle=\operatorname{Re} \operatorname{trace}\left(L K^{*}\right), where Re\operatorname{Re} denotes the real part and KK^{*} denotes the conjugate transpose of KK. Suppose that HH represents a tangent vector to U(n)\mathrm{U}(n) at the identity matrix II. Sketch an explicit construction of a geodesic curve on U(n)\mathrm{U}(n) passing through II and with tangent direction HH, giving a brief proof that the acceleration of the curve is always orthogonal to the tangent space to U(n)\mathrm{U}(n).

[Hint: You will find it easier to work directly with n×nn \times n complex matrices, rather than the corresponding 2n×2n2 n \times 2 n real matrices.]