In mathematics, the Bianchi classification provides a list of all real 3-dimensional Lie algebras (up to isomorphism). The classification contains 11 classes, 9 of which contain a single Lie algebra and two of which contain a continuum-sized family of Lie algebras. (Sometimes two of the groups are included in the infinite families, giving 9 instead of 11 classes.) The classification is important in geometry and physics, because the associated Lie groups serve as symmetry groups of 3-dimensional Riemannian manifolds. It is named for Luigi Bianchi, who worked it out in 1898.

The term "Bianchi classification" is also used for similar classifications in other dimensions and for classifications of complex Lie algebras.

• Dimension 0: The only Lie algebra is the abelian Lie algebra R⁰.
• Dimension 1: The only Lie algebra is the abelian Lie algebra R¹, with outer automorphism group the multiplicative group of non-zero real numbers.
• Dimension 2: There are two Lie algebras:
  • (1) The abelian Lie algebra R², with outer automorphism group GL₂(R).
  • (2) The solvable Lie algebra of 2×2 upper triangular matrices of trace 0. It has trivial center and trivial outer automorphism group. The associated simply connected Lie group is the affine group of the line.

All the 3-dimensional Lie algebras other than types VIII and IX can be constructed as a semidirect product of R² and R, with R acting on R² by some 2 by 2 matrix M. The different types correspond to different types of matrices M, as described below.

• Type I: This is the abelian and unimodular Lie algebra R³. The simply connected group has center R³ and outer automorphism group GL₃(R). This is the case when M is 0.
• Type II: The Heisenberg algebra, which is nilpotent and unimodular. The simply connected group has center R and outer automorphism group GL₂(R). This is the case when M is nilpotent but not 0 (eigenvalues all 0).
• Type III: This algebra is a product of R and the 2-dimensional non-abelian Lie algebra. (It is a limiting case of type VI, where one eigenvalue becomes zero.) It is solvable and not unimodular. The simply connected group has center R and outer automorphism group the group of non-zero real numbers. The matrix M has one zero and one non-zero eigenvalue.
• Type IV: The algebra generated by [y,z] = 0, [x,y] = y, [x, z] = y + z. It is solvable and not unimodular. The simply connected group has trivial center and outer automorphism group the product of the reals and a group of order 2. The matrix M has two equal non-zero eigenvalues, but is not diagonalizable.
• Type V: [y,z] = 0, [x,y] = y, [x, z] = z. Solvable and not unimodular. (A limiting case of type VI where both eigenvalues are equal.) The simply connected group has trivial center and outer automorphism group the elements of GL₂(R) of determinant +1 or −1. The matrix M has two equal eigenvalues, and is diagonalizable.
• Type VI: An infinite family: semidirect products of R² by R, where the matrix M has non-zero distinct real eigenvalues with non-zero sum. The algebras are solvable and not unimodular. The simply connected group has trivial center and outer automorphism group a product of the non-zero real numbers and a group of order 2.
• Type VI₀: This Lie algebra is the semidirect product of R² by R, with R where the matrix M has non-zero distinct real eigenvalues with zero sum. It is solvable and unimodular. It is the Lie algebra of the 2-dimensional Poincaré group, the group of isometries of 2-dimensional Minkowski space. The simply connected group has trivial center and outer automorphism group the product of the positive real numbers with the dihedral group of order 8.
• Type VII: An infinite family: semidirect products of R² by R, where the matrix M has non-real and non-imaginary eigenvalues. Solvable and not unimodular. The simply connected group has trivial center and outer automorphism group the non-zero reals.
• Type VII₀: Semidirect product of R² by R, where the matrix M has non-zero imaginary eigenvalues. Solvable and unimodular. This is the Lie algebra of the group of isometries of the plane. The simply connected group has center Z and outer automorphism group a product of the non-zero real numbers and a group of order 2.
• Type VIII: The Lie algebra sl₂(R) of traceless 2 by 2 matrices, associated to the group SL₂(R). It is simple and unimodular. The simply connected group is not a matrix group; it is denoted by ${\displaystyle {\overline {{\mbox{SL}}(2,\mathbf {R} )}}}$, has center Z and its outer automorphism group has order 2.
• Type IX: The Lie algebra of the orthogonal group O₃(R). It is denoted by 𝖘𝖔(3) and is simple and unimodular. The corresponding simply connected group is SU(2); it has center of order 2 and trivial outer automorphism group, and is a spin group.

The classification of 3-dimensional complex Lie algebras is similar except that types VIII and IX become isomorphic, and types VI and VII both become part of a single family of Lie algebras.

The connected 3-dimensional Lie groups can be classified as follows: they are a quotient of the corresponding simply connected Lie group by a discrete subgroup of the center, so can be read off from the table above.

The groups are related to the 8 geometries of Thurston's geometrization conjecture. More precisely, seven of the 8 geometries can be realized as a left-invariant metric on the simply connected group (sometimes in more than one way). The Thurston geometry of type S²×R cannot be realized in this way.

The three-dimensional Bianchi spaces each admit a set of three Killing vector fields ${\displaystyle \xi _{i}^{(a)}}$ which obey the following property:

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {\partial \xi _{i}^{(c)}}{\partial x^{k}}}-{\frac {\partial \xi _{k}^{(c)}}{\partial x^{i}}}\right)\xi _{(a)}^{i}\xi _{(b)}^{k}=C_{\ ab}^{c}}$

where ${\displaystyle C_{\ ab}^{c}}$, the "structure constants" of the group, form a constant order-three tensor antisymmetric in its lower two indices. For any three-dimensional Bianchi space, ${\displaystyle C_{\ ab}^{c}}$ is given by the relationship

${\displaystyle C_{\ ab}^{c}=\varepsilon _{abd}n^{cd}-\delta _{a}^{c}a_{b}+\delta _{b}^{c}a_{a}}$

where ${\displaystyle \varepsilon _{abd}}$ is the Levi-Civita symbol, ${\displaystyle \delta _{a}^{c}}$ is the Kronecker delta, and the vector ${\displaystyle a_{a}=(a,0,0)}$ and diagonal tensor ${\displaystyle n^{cd}}$ are described by the following table, where ${\displaystyle n^{(i)}}$ gives the ith eigenvalue of ${\displaystyle n^{cd}}$;^[1] the parameter a runs over all positive real numbers:

Bianchi type	${\displaystyle a}$	${\displaystyle n^{(1)}}$	${\displaystyle n^{(2)}}$	${\displaystyle n^{(3)}}$	class	notes	graphical (Fig. 1)
I	0	0	0	0	A	describes Euclidean space	at the origin
II	0	1	0	0	A		interval [0,1] along ${\displaystyle n^{(1)}}$
III	1	0	1	-1	B	the subcase of type VIa with ${\displaystyle a=1}$	projects to fourth quadrant of the a = 0 plane
IV	1	0	0	1	B		vertical open face between first and fourth quadrants of the a = 0 plane
V	1	0	0	0	B	has a hyper-pseudosphere as a special case	the interval (0,1] along the axis a
VI0	0	1	-1	0	A		fourth quadrant of the horizontal plane
VIa	${\displaystyle a}$	0	1	-1	B	when ${\displaystyle a=1}$, equivalent to type III	projects to fourth quadrant of the a = 0 plane
VII0	0	1	1	0	A	has Euclidean space as a special case	first quadrant of the horizontal plane
VIIa	${\displaystyle a}$	0	1	1	B	has a hyper-pseudosphere as a special case	projects to first quadrant of the a = 0 plane
VIII	0	1	1	-1	A		sixth octant
IX	0	1	1	1	A	has a hypersphere as a special case	second octant

The standard Bianchi classification can be derived from the structural constants in the following six steps:

1. Due to the antisymmetry ${\displaystyle C_{ab}^{c}=-C_{ba}^{c}}$, there are nine independent constants ${\displaystyle C_{ab}^{c}}$. These can be equivalently represented by the nine components of an arbitrary constant matrix C^ab:
   ${\displaystyle C_{ab}^{c}=\varepsilon _{abd}C^{dc},}$
   where ε_abd is the totally antisymmetric three-dimensional Levi-Civita symbol (ε₁₂₃ = 1). Substitution of this expression for ${\displaystyle C_{ab}^{c}}$ into the Jacobi identity, results in
   ${\displaystyle \varepsilon _{abd}C^{bd}C^{ac}=0.}$
2. The structure constants can be transformed as:
   ${\displaystyle C^{ab}=\left(\det {A}\right)^{-1}A_{m}^{a}A_{n}^{b}{\acute {C}}^{mn}.}$
   Appearance of det A in this formula is due to the fact that the symbol ε_abd transforms as tensor density: ${\displaystyle \varepsilon _{abc}=\left(\det {A}\right)D_{a}^{m}D_{b}^{n}D_{c}^{d}{\acute {\varepsilon }}_{mnd}}$, where έ_mnd ≡ ε_mnd. By this transformation it is always possible to reduce the matrix C^ab to the form:
   ${\displaystyle C^{ab}={\begin{bmatrix}n_{1}&0&0\\0&C^{22}&C^{23}\\0&C^{32}&C^{33}\end{bmatrix}}.}$
   After such a choice, one still have the freedom of making triad transformations but with the restrictions ${\displaystyle A_{2}^{1}=A_{3}^{1}=0}$ and ${\displaystyle A_{1}^{2}=A_{1}^{3}=0.}$
3. Now, the Jacobi identities give only one constraint:
   ${\displaystyle \left(C^{23}-C^{32}\right)n_{1}=0.}$
4. If n₁ ≠ 0 then C²³ – C³² = 0 and by the remaining transformations with ${\displaystyle A_{\bar {b}}^{\bar {a}}\neq 0,\quad {\bar {a}},{\bar {b}}={\bar {2}},{\bar {3}}}$, the 2 × 2 matrix ${\displaystyle C^{{\bar {a}}{\bar {b}}}}$ in C^ab can be made diagonal. Then
   ${\displaystyle C^{ab}={\begin{bmatrix}n_{1}&0&0\\0&n_{2}&0\\0&0&n_{3}\end{bmatrix}}.}$
   The diagonality condition for C^ab is preserved under the transformations with diagonal ${\displaystyle A_{b}^{a}}$. Under these transformations, the three parameters n₁, n₂, n₃ change in the following way:
   ${\displaystyle n_{a}=\left(A_{1}^{1}A_{2}^{2}A_{3}^{3}\right)\left(A_{a}^{a}\right)^{2}{\acute {n}}_{a},{\text{no summation over}}\ a.}$
   By these diagonal transformations, the modulus of any n_a (if it is not zero) can be made equal to unity. Taking into account that the simultaneous change of sign of all n_a produce nothing new, one arrives to the following invariantly different sets for the numbers n₁, n₂, n₃ (invariantly different in the sense that there is no way to pass from one to another by some transformation of the triad ${\displaystyle e_{a}^{\bar {a}}=A_{\bar {b}}^{\bar {a}}e_{a}^{\bar {b}}}$), that is to the following different types of homogeneous spaces with diagonal matrix C^ab:
   ${\displaystyle {\begin{matrix}Bianchi\ IX&:&(n_{1},n_{2},n_{3})&=&(1,1,1),\\Bianchi\ VIII&:&(n_{1},n_{2},n_{3})&=&(1,1,-1),\\Bianchi\ VII_{0}&:&(n_{1},n_{2},n_{3})&=&(1,1,0),\\Bianchi\ VI_{0}&:&(n_{1},n_{2},n_{3})&=&(1,-1,0),\\Bianchi\ II&:&(n_{1},n_{2},n_{3})&=&(1,0,0).\end{matrix}}}$
5. Consider now the case n₁ = 0. It can also happen in that case that C²³ – C³² = 0. This returns to the situation already analyzed in the previous step but with the additional condition n₁ = 0. Now, all essentially different types for the sets n₁, n₂, n₃ are (0, 1, 1), (0, 1, −1), (0, 0, 1) and (0, 0, 0). The first three repeat the types VII₀, VI₀, II. Consequently, only one new type arises:
   ${\displaystyle Bianchi\ I\ :\ (n_{1},n_{2},n_{3})\ =\ (0,0,0).}$
6. The only case left is n₁ = 0 and C²³ – C³² ≠ 0. Now the 2 × 2 matrix ${\displaystyle C^{{\bar {a}}{\bar {b}}}({\bar {a}},{\bar {b}}=2,3)}$ is non-symmetric and it cannot be made diagonal by transformations using ${\displaystyle A_{\bar {b}}^{\bar {a}}\neq 0}$. However, its symmetric part can be diagonalized, that is the 3 × 3 matrix C^ab can be reduced to the form:
   ${\displaystyle C^{ab}={\begin{bmatrix}0&0&0\\0&n_{2}&a\\0&-a&n_{3}\end{bmatrix}},}$
   where a is an arbitrary number. After this is done, there still remains the possibility to perform transformations with diagonal ${\displaystyle A_{\bar {b}}^{\bar {a}}}$, under which the quantities n₂, n₃ and a change as follows:
   ${\displaystyle n_{2}=\left(A_{1}^{1}A_{2}^{2}A_{3}^{3}\right)^{-1}\left(A_{2}^{2}\right)^{2}{\acute {n}}_{2},\quad n_{3}=\left(A_{1}^{1}A_{2}^{2}A_{3}^{3}\right)^{-1}\left(A_{3}^{3}\right)^{2}{\acute {n}}_{3},\quad a=\left(A_{1}^{1}\right)^{-1}{\acute {a}}.}$
   These formulas show that for nonzero n₂, n₃, a, the combination a²(n₂n₃)⁻¹ is an invariant quantity. By a choice of ${\displaystyle A_{1}^{1}}$, one can impose the condition a > 0 and after this is done, the choice of the sign of ${\displaystyle A_{3}^{3}\left(A_{2}^{2}\right)^{-1}}$ permits one to change both signs of n₂ and n₃ simultaneously, that is the set (n₂ , n₃) is equivalent to the set (−n₂,−n₃). It follows that there are the following four different possibilities:
   ${\displaystyle (a,n_{2},n_{3})=(a,0,0),(a,0,1),(a,1,1),(a,1,-1).}$
   For the first two, the number a can be transformed to unity by a choice of
   the parameters ${\displaystyle A_{1}^{1}}$ and ${\displaystyle A_{3}^{3}\left(A_{2}^{2}\right)^{-1}}$. For the second two possibilities, both of these parameters are already fixed and a remains an invariant and arbitrary positive number. Historically these four types of homogeneous spaces have been classified as:
   ${\displaystyle {\begin{matrix}Bianchi\ V&:&n_{1}=0,\ (a,n_{2},n_{3})&=&(1,0,0),\\Bianchi\ IV&:&n_{1}=0,\ (a,n_{2},n_{3})&=&(1,0,1),\\Bianchi\ VII&:&n_{1}=0,\ (a,n_{2},n_{3})&=&(a,1,1),\\Bianchi\ III&:&n_{1}=0,\ (a,n_{2},n_{3})&=&(1,1,-1),\\Bianchi\ VI&:&n_{1}=0,\ (a,n_{2},n_{3})&=&(a,1,-1).\end{matrix}}}$
   Type III is just a particular case of type VI corresponding to a = 1. Types VII and VI contain an infinity of invariantly different types of algebras corresponding to the arbitrariness of the continuous parameter a. Type VII₀ is a particular case of VII corresponding to a = 0 while type VI₀ is a particular case of VI corresponding also to a = 0.

The Bianchi spaces have the property that their Ricci tensors can be separated into a product of the basis vectors associated with the space and a coordinate-independent tensor.

For a given metric:

${\displaystyle ds^{2}=\gamma _{ab}\xi _{i}^{(a)}\xi _{k}^{(b)}dx^{i}dx^{k}}$

(where ${\displaystyle \xi _{i}^{(a)}dx^{i}}$　are 1-forms), the Ricci curvature tensor ${\displaystyle R_{ik}}$ is given by:

${\displaystyle R_{ik}=R_{(a)(b)}\xi _{i}^{(a)}\xi _{k}^{(b)}}$

${\displaystyle R_{(a)(b)}={\frac {1}{2}}\left[C_{\ \ b}^{cd}\left(C_{cda}+C_{dca}\right)+C_{\ cd}^{c}\left(C_{ab}^{\ \ d}+C_{ba}^{\ \ d}\right)-{\frac {1}{2}}C_{b}^{\ cd}C_{acd}\right]}$

where the indices on the structure constants are raised and lowered with ${\displaystyle \gamma _{ab}}$ which is not a function of ${\displaystyle x^{i}}$.

In cosmology, this classification is used for a homogeneous spacetime of dimension 3+1. The 3-dimensional Lie group is as the symmetry group of the 3-dimensional spacelike slice, and the Lorentz metric satisfying the Einstein equation is generated by varying the metric components as a function of t. The Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker metrics are isotropic, which are particular cases of types I, V, ${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\text{VII}}_{h}}$ and IX. The Bianchi type I models include the Kasner metric as a special case. The Bianchi IX cosmologies include the Taub metric.^[2] However, the dynamics near the singularity is approximately governed by a series of successive Kasner (Bianchi I) periods. The complicated dynamics, which essentially amounts to billiard motion in a portion of hyperbolic space, exhibits chaotic behaviour, and is named Mixmaster; its analysis is referred to as the BKL analysis after Belinskii, Khalatnikov and Lifshitz.^[3][4] More recent work has established a relation of (super-)gravity theories near a spacelike singularity (BKL-limit) with Lorentzian Kac–Moody algebras, Weyl groups and hyperbolic Coxeter groups.^[5][6][7] Other more recent work is concerned with the discrete nature of the Kasner map and a continuous generalisation.^[8][9][10] In a space that is both homogeneous and isotropic the metric is determined completely, leaving free only the sign of the curvature. Assuming only space homogeneity with no additional symmetry such as isotropy leaves considerably more freedom in choosing the metric. The following pertains to the space part of the metric at a given instant of time t assuming a synchronous frame so that t is the same synchronised time for the whole space.

Homogeneity implies identical metric properties at all points of the space. An exact definition of this concept involves considering sets of coordinate transformations that transform the space into itself, i.e. leave its metric unchanged: if the line element before transformation is

${\displaystyle dl^{2}=\gamma _{\alpha \beta }\left(x^{1},x^{2},x^{3}\right)dx^{\alpha }dx^{\beta },}$

then after transformation the same line element is

${\displaystyle dl^{2}=\gamma _{\alpha \beta }\left(x^{\prime 1},x^{\prime 2},x^{\prime 3}\right)dx^{\prime \alpha }dx^{\prime \beta },}$

with the same functional dependence of γ_αβ on the new coordinates. (For a more theoretical and coordinate-independent definition of homogeneous space see homogeneous space). A space is homogeneous if it admits a set of transformations (a group of motions) that brings any given point to the position of any other point. Since space is three-dimensional the different transformations of the group are labelled by three independent parameters.

In Euclidean space the homogeneity of space is expressed by the invariance of the metric under parallel displacements (translations) of the Cartesian coordinate system. Each translation is determined by three parameters — the components of the displacement vector of the coordinate origin. All these transformations leave invariant the three independent differentials (dx, dy, dz) from which the line element is constructed. In the general case of a non-Euclidean homogeneous space, the transformations of its group of motions again leave invariant three independent linear differential forms, which do not, however, reduce to total differentials of any coordinate functions. These forms are written as ${\displaystyle e_{\alpha }^{(a)}dx^{\alpha }}$ where the Latin index (a) labels three independent vectors (coordinate functions); these vectors are called a frame field or triad. The Greek letters label the three space-like curvilinear coordinates. A spatial metric invariant is constructed under the given group of motions with the use of the above forms:

${\displaystyle dl^{2}=\eta _{ab}\left(e_{\alpha }^{(a)}dx^{\alpha }\right)\left(e_{\beta }^{(b)}dx^{\beta }\right)}$

(eq. 6a)

i.e. the metric tensor is

${\displaystyle \gamma _{\alpha \beta }=\eta _{ab}e_{\alpha }^{(a)}e_{\beta }^{(b)}}$

(eq. 6b)

where the coefficients η_ab, which are symmetric in the indices a and b, are functions of time. The choice of basis vectors is dictated by the symmetry properties of the space and, in general, these basis vectors are not orthogonal (so that the matrix η_ab is not diagonal).

The reciprocal triple of vectors ${\displaystyle e_{(a)}^{\alpha }}$ is introduced with the help of Kronecker delta

${\displaystyle e_{(a)}^{\alpha }e_{\alpha }^{(b)}=\delta _{a}^{b};\quad e_{(a)}^{\alpha }e_{\beta }^{(a)}=\delta _{\alpha }^{\beta }}$

(eq. 6c)

In the three-dimensional case, the relation between the two vector triples can be written explicitly

${\displaystyle \mathbf {e} _{(1)}={\frac {1}{v}}\mathbf {e} ^{(2)}\times \mathbf {e} ^{(3)},\quad \mathbf {e} _{(2)}={\frac {1}{v}}\mathbf {e} ^{(3)}\times \mathbf {e} ^{(1)},\quad \mathbf {e} _{(3)}={\frac {1}{v}}\mathbf {e} ^{(1)}\times \mathbf {e} ^{(2)},}$

(eq. 6d)

where the volume v is

${\displaystyle v=\left\vert e_{\alpha }^{(a)}\right\vert =\mathbf {e} ^{(1)}\cdot \mathbf {e} ^{(2)}\times \mathbf {e} ^{(3)},}$

with e_(a) and e^(a) regarded as Cartesian vectors with components ${\displaystyle e_{(a)}^{\alpha }}$ and ${\displaystyle e_{\alpha }^{(a)}}$, respectively. The determinant of the metric tensor eq. 6b is γ = ηv² where η is the determinant of the matrix η_ab.

The required conditions for the homogeneity of the space are

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {\partial e_{\alpha }^{(c)}}{\partial x^{\beta }}}-{\frac {\partial e_{\beta }^{(c)}}{\partial x^{\alpha }}}\right)e_{(a)}^{\alpha }e_{(b)}^{\beta }=C_{ab}^{c}.}$

(eq. 6e)

The constants ${\displaystyle C_{ab}^{c}}$ are called the structure constants of the group.

Proof of eq. 6e

The invariance of the differential forms ${\displaystyle e_{\alpha }^{(a)}dx^{\alpha }}$ means that ${\displaystyle e_{\alpha }^{(a)}(x)dx^{\alpha }=e_{\alpha }^{(a)}(x^{\prime })dx^{\prime \alpha }}$ where the ${\displaystyle e_{\alpha }^{(a)}}$ on the two sides of the equation are the same functions of the old and new coordinates, respectively. Multiplying this equation by ${\displaystyle e_{(a)}^{\beta }(x^{\prime })}$, setting ${\displaystyle dx^{\prime \beta }={\frac {\partial x^{\prime \beta }}{\partial x^{\alpha }}}dx^{\alpha },}$ and comparing coefficients of the same differentials dxα, one finds ${\displaystyle {\frac {\partial x^{\prime \beta }}{\partial x^{\alpha }}}=e_{(a)}^{\beta }(x^{\prime })e_{\alpha }^{(a)}(x).}$ These equations are a system of differential equations that determine the functions ${\displaystyle x^{\prime \beta }(x)}$ for a given frame. In order to be integrable, these equations must satisfy identically the conditions ${\displaystyle {\frac {\partial ^{2}x^{\prime \beta }}{\partial x^{\alpha }\partial x^{\gamma }}}={\frac {\partial ^{2}x^{\prime \beta }}{\partial x^{\gamma }\partial x^{\alpha }}}.}$ Calculating the derivatives, one finds ${\displaystyle \left[{\frac {\partial e_{(a)}^{\beta }(x^{\prime })}{\partial x^{\prime \delta }}}e_{(b)}^{\delta }(x^{\prime })-{\frac {\partial e_{(b)}^{\beta }(x^{\prime })}{\partial x^{\prime \delta }}}e_{(a)}^{\delta }(x^{\prime })\right]e_{\gamma }^{(b)}(x)e_{\alpha }^{(a)}(x)=e_{(a)}^{\beta }(x^{\prime })\left[{\frac {\partial e_{\gamma }^{(a)}(x)}{\partial x^{\alpha }}}-{\frac {\partial e_{\alpha }^{(a)}(x)}{\partial x^{\gamma }}}\right].}$ Multiplying both sides of the equations by ${\displaystyle e_{(d)}^{\alpha }(x)e_{(c)}^{\gamma }(x)e_{\beta }^{(f)}(x^{\prime })}$ and shifting the differentiation from one factor to the other by using eq. 6c, one gets for the left side: ${\displaystyle e_{\beta }^{(f)}(x^{\prime })\left[{\frac {\partial e_{(d)}^{\beta }(x^{\prime })}{\partial x^{\prime \delta }}}e_{(c)}^{\delta }(x^{\prime })-{\frac {\partial e_{(c)}^{\beta }(x^{\prime })}{\partial x^{\prime \delta }}}e_{(d)}^{\delta }(x^{\prime })\right]=e_{(c)}^{\beta }(x^{\prime })e_{(d)}^{\delta }(x^{\prime })\left[{\frac {\partial e_{\beta }^{(f)}(x^{\prime })}{\partial x^{\prime \delta }}}-{\frac {\partial e_{\delta }^{(f)}(x^{\prime })}{\partial x^{\prime \beta }}}\right].}$ and for the right, the same expression in the variable x. Since x and x' are arbitrary, these expression must reduce to constants to obtain eq. 6e.

Multiplying by ${\displaystyle e_{(c)}^{\gamma }}$, eq. 6e can be rewritten in the form

${\displaystyle e_{(a)}^{\alpha }{\frac {\partial e_{(b)}^{\gamma }}{\partial x^{\alpha }}}-e_{(b)}^{\beta }{\frac {\partial e_{(a)}^{\gamma }}{\partial x^{\beta }}}=C_{ab}^{c}e_{(c)}^{\gamma }.}$

(eq. 6f)

Equation 6e can be written in a vector form as

${\displaystyle \mathbf {e} _{(a)}\times \mathbf {e} _{(b)}{\text{curl }}\mathbf {e} ^{(c)}=-C_{ab}^{c},}$

where again the vector operations are done as if the coordinates x^α were Cartesian. Using eq. 6d, one obtains

${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{v}}\left(\mathbf {e} ^{(1)}{\text{curl }}\mathbf {e} ^{(1)}\right)=C_{32}^{1},\quad {\frac {1}{v}}\left(\mathbf {e} ^{(2)}{\text{curl }}\mathbf {e} ^{(1)}\right)=C_{13}^{1},\quad {\frac {1}{v}}\left(\mathbf {e} ^{(3)}{\text{curl }}\mathbf {e} ^{(1)}\right)=C_{21}^{1}}$

(eq. 6g)

and six more equations obtained by a cyclic permutation of indices 1, 2, 3.

The structure constants are antisymmetric in their lower indices as seen from their definition eq. 6e: ${\displaystyle C_{ab}^{c}=-C_{ba}^{c}}$. Another condition on the structure constants can be obtained by noting that eq. 6f can be written in the form of commutation relations

${\displaystyle \left[X_{a},X_{b}\right]\equiv X_{a}X_{b}-X_{b}X_{a}=C_{ab}^{c}X_{c}}$

(eq. 6h)

for the linear differential operators

${\displaystyle X_{a}=e_{(a)}^{\alpha }{\frac {\partial }{\partial x^{\alpha }}}}$

(eq. 6i)

In the mathematical theory of continuous groups (Lie groups) the operators X_a satisfying conditions eq. 6h are called the generators of the group. The theory of Lie groups uses operators defined using the Killing vectors ${\displaystyle \xi _{(a)}^{\alpha }}$ instead of triads ${\displaystyle e_{(a)}^{\alpha }}$. Since in the synchronous metric none of the γ_αβ components depends on time, the Killing vectors (triads) are time-like.

The conditions eq. 6h follow from the Jacobi identity

${\displaystyle [[X_{a},X_{b}],X_{c}]+[[X_{b},X_{c}],X_{a}]+[[X_{c},X_{a}],X_{b}]=0}$

and have the form

${\displaystyle C_{ab}^{e}C_{ec}^{d}+C_{bc}^{e}C_{ea}^{d}+C_{ca}^{e}C_{eb}^{d}=0}$

(eq. 6j)

It is a definite advantage to use, in place of the three-index constants ${\displaystyle C_{ab}^{c}}$, a set of two-index quantities, obtained by the dual transformation

${\displaystyle C_{ab}^{c}=e_{abd}C^{dc}}$

(eq. 6k)

where e_abc = e^abc is the unit antisymmetric symbol (with e₁₂₃ = +1). With these constants the commutation relations eq. 6h are written as

${\displaystyle e^{abc}X_{b}X_{c}=C^{ad}X_{d}}$

(eq. 6l)

The antisymmetry property is already taken into account in the definition eq. 6k, while property eq. 6j takes the form

${\displaystyle e_{bcd}C^{cd}C^{ba}=0}$

(eq. 6m)

The choice of the three frame vectors in the differential forms ${\displaystyle e_{\alpha }^{(a)}dx^{\alpha }}$ (and with them the operators X_a) is not unique. They can be subjected to any linear transformation with constant coefficients:

${\displaystyle \mathbf {e} _{(a)}=A_{a}^{b}\mathbf {e} _{(b)}.}$

(eq. 6n)

The quantities η_ab and C^ab behave like tensors (are invariant) with respect to such transformations.

The conditions eq. 6m are the only ones that the structure constants must satisfy. But among the constants admissible by these conditions, there are equivalent sets, in the sense that their difference is related to a transformation of the type eq. 6n. The question of the classification of homogeneous spaces reduces to determining all nonequivalent sets of structure constants. This can be done, using the "tensor" properties of the quantities C^ab, by the following simple method (C. G. Behr, 1962).

The asymmetric tensor C^ab can be resolved into a symmetric and an antisymmetric part. The first is denoted by n^ab, and the second is expressed in terms of its dual vector a_c:

${\displaystyle C^{ab}=n^{ab}+e^{abc}a_{c}.}$

(eq. 6o)

Substitution of this expression in eq. 6m leads to the condition

${\displaystyle n^{ab}a_{b}=0.}$

(eq. 6p)

By means of the transformations eq. 6n the symmetric tensor n^ab can be brought to diagonal form with eigenvalues n₁, n₂, n₃. Equation 6p shows that the vector a_b (if it exists) lies along one of the principal directions of the tensor n^ab, the one corresponding to the eigenvalue zero. Without loss of generality one can therefore set a_b = (a, 0, 0). Then eq. 6p reduces to an₁ = 0, i.e. one of the quantities a or n₁ must be zero. The Jacobi identities take the form:

${\displaystyle [X_{1},X_{2}]=-aX_{2}+n_{3}X_{3},\quad [X_{2},X_{3}]=n_{1}X_{1},\quad [X_{3},X_{1}]=n_{2}X_{2}+aX_{3}.}$

(eq. 6q)

The only remaining freedoms are sign changes of the operators X_a and their multiplication by arbitrary constants. This permits to simultaneously change the sign of all the n_a and also to make the quantity a positive (if it is different from zero). Also all structure constants can be made equal to ±1, if at least one of the quantities a, n₂, n₃ vanishes. But if all three of these quantities differ from zero, the scale transformations leave invariant the ratio h = a²(n₂n₃)⁻¹.

Thus one arrives at the Bianchi classification listing the possible types of homogeneous spaces classified by the values of a, n₁, n₂, n₃ which is graphically presented in Fig. 3. In the class A case (a = 0), type IX (n⁽¹⁾=1, n⁽²⁾=1, n⁽³⁾=1) is represented by octant 2, type VIII (n⁽¹⁾=1, n⁽²⁾=1, n⁽³⁾=–1) is represented by octant 6, while type VII₀ (n⁽¹⁾=1, n⁽²⁾=1, n⁽³⁾=0) is represented by the first quadrant of the horizontal plane and type VI₀ (n⁽¹⁾=1, n⁽²⁾=–1, n⁽³⁾=0) is represented by the fourth quadrant of this plane; type II ((n⁽¹⁾=1, n⁽²⁾=0, n⁽³⁾=0) is represented by the interval [0,1] along n⁽¹⁾ and type I (n⁽¹⁾=0, n⁽²⁾=0, n⁽³⁾=0) is at the origin. Similarly in the class B case (with n⁽³⁾ = 0), Bianchi type VI_h (a=h, n⁽¹⁾=1, n⁽²⁾=–1) projects to the fourth quadrant of the horizontal plane and type VII_h (a=h, n⁽¹⁾=1, n⁽²⁾=1) projects to the first quadrant of the horizontal plane; these last two types are a single isomorphism class corresponding to a constant value surface of the function h = a²(n⁽¹⁾n⁽²⁾)⁻¹. A typical such surface is illustrated in one octant, the angle θ given by tan θ = |h/2|^1/2; those in the remaining octants are obtained by rotation through multiples of π/2, h alternating in sign for a given magnitude |h|. Type III is a subtype of VI_h with a=1. Type V (a=1, n⁽¹⁾=0, n⁽²⁾=0) is the interval (0,1] along the axis a and type IV (a=1, n⁽¹⁾=1, n⁽²⁾=0) is the vertical open face between the first and fourth quadrants of the a = 0 plane with the latter giving the class A limit of each type.

The Einstein equations for a universe with a homogeneous space can reduce to a system of ordinary differential equations containing only functions of time with the help of a frame field. To do this one must resolve the spatial components of four-vectors and four-tensors along the triad of basis vectors of the space:

${\displaystyle R_{(a)(b)}=R_{\alpha \beta }e_{(a)}^{\alpha }e_{(b)}^{\beta },\quad R_{0(a)}=R_{0\alpha }e_{(a)}^{\alpha },\quad u^{(a)}=u^{\alpha }e_{\alpha }^{(a)},}$

where all these quantities are now functions of t alone; the scalar quantities, the energy density ε and the pressure of the matter p, are also functions of the time.

The Einstein equations in vacuum in synchronous reference frame are^{[11][12][note 1]}

${\displaystyle R_{0}^{0}=-{\frac {1}{2}}{\frac {\partial \varkappa _{\alpha }^{\alpha }}{\partial t}}-{\frac {1}{4}}\varkappa _{\alpha }^{\beta }\varkappa _{\beta }^{\alpha }=0,}$

(eq. 11)

${\displaystyle R_{\alpha }^{\beta }=-{\frac {1}{2{\sqrt {-g}}}}{\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\left({\sqrt {-g}}\varkappa _{\alpha }^{\beta }\right)-P_{\alpha }^{\beta }=0,}$

(eq. 12)

${\displaystyle R_{\alpha }^{0}={\frac {1}{2}}\left(\varkappa _{\alpha ;\beta }^{\beta }-\varkappa _{\beta ;\alpha }^{\beta }\right)=0,}$

(eq. 13)

where ${\displaystyle \varkappa _{\alpha }^{\beta }}$ is the 3-dimensional tensor ${\displaystyle \varkappa _{\alpha }^{\beta }={\frac {\partial \gamma _{\alpha }^{\beta }}{\partial t}}}$, and P_αβ is the 3-dimensional Ricci tensor, which is expressed by the 3-dimensional metric tensor γ_αβ in the same way as R_ik is expressed by g_ik; P_αβ contains only the space (but not the time) derivatives of γ_αβ. Using triads, for eq. 11 one has simply

${\displaystyle \varkappa _{(a)(b)}={\frac {\partial \eta _{ab}}{\partial t}},\quad \varkappa _{(a)}^{(b)}={\frac {\partial \eta _{ac}}{\partial t}}\eta ^{cb}.}$

The components of P_(a)(b) can be expressed in terms of the quantities η_ab and the structure constants of the group by using the tetrad representation of the Ricci tensor in terms of quantities ${\displaystyle \lambda _{abc}=\left(e_{(a)i,k}-e_{(a)k,i}\right)e_{(b)}^{i}e_{(c)}^{k}}$^[13]

${\displaystyle R_{(a)(b)}=-{\frac {1}{2}}\left(\lambda _{ab,c}^{c}+\lambda _{ba,c}^{c}+\lambda _{ca,b}^{c}+\lambda _{cb,a}^{c}+\lambda _{b}^{cd}\lambda _{cda}+\lambda _{b}^{cd}\lambda _{dca}-{\frac {1}{2}}\lambda _{b}^{cd}\lambda _{acd}+\lambda _{cd}^{c}\lambda _{ab}^{d}+\lambda _{cd}^{c}\lambda _{ba}^{d}\right).}$

After replacing the three-index symbols ${\displaystyle \lambda _{bc}^{a}=C_{bc}^{a}}$ by two-index symbols C^ab and the transformations:

${\displaystyle \eta _{ad}\eta _{bc}\eta _{cf}e^{def}=\eta e_{abc},\quad e_{abf}e^{cdf}=\delta _{a}^{c}\delta _{b}^{d}-\delta _{a}^{d}\delta _{b}^{c}}$

one gets the "homogeneous" Ricci tensor expressed in structure constants:

${\displaystyle P_{(a)}^{(b)}={\frac {1}{2\eta }}\left\{2C^{bd}C_{ad}+C^{db}C_{ad}+C^{bd}C_{da}-C_{d}^{d}\left(C_{a}^{b}+C_{a}^{b}\right)+\delta _{a}^{b}\left[\left(C_{d}^{d}\right)^{2}-2C^{df}C_{df}\right]\right\}.}$

Here, all indices are raised and lowered with the local metric tensor η_ab

${\displaystyle C_{a}^{b}=\eta _{ac}C^{cb},\quad C_{ab}=\eta _{ac}\eta _{bd}C^{cd}.}$

The Bianchi identities for the three-dimensional tensor P_αβ in the homogeneous space take the form

${\displaystyle P_{b}^{c}C_{ca}^{b}+P_{a}^{c}C_{cb}^{b}=0.}$

Taking into account the transformations of covariant derivatives for arbitrary four-vectors A_i and four-tensors A_ik

${\displaystyle A_{i;k}e_{(a)}^{i}e_{(b)}^{k}=A_{(a)(b)}-A^{(d)}\gamma _{dab},}$

${\displaystyle A_{ik;l}e_{(a)}^{i}e_{(b)}^{k}e_{(c)}^{l}=A_{(a)(b)(c)}-A_{(b)}^{(d)}\gamma _{dac}+A_{(a)}^{(d)}\gamma _{dbc},}$

the final expressions for the triad components of the Ricci four-tensor are:

${\displaystyle R_{0}^{0}=-{\frac {1}{2}}{\frac {\partial \varkappa _{(a)}^{(a)}}{\partial t}}-{\frac {1}{4}}\varkappa _{(a)}^{(b)}\varkappa _{(b)}^{(a)},}$

(eq. 11a)

${\displaystyle R_{(a)}^{(b)}=-{\frac {1}{2{\sqrt {\eta }}}}{\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\left({\sqrt {\eta }}\varkappa _{(a)}^{(b)}\right)-P_{(a)}^{(b)},}$

(eq. 12a)

${\displaystyle R_{(a)}^{0}=-{\frac {1}{2}}\varkappa _{(b)}^{(c)}\left(C_{ca}^{b}-\delta _{a}^{b}C_{dc}^{d}\right).}$

(eq. 13a)

In setting up the Einstein equations there is thus no need to use explicit expressions for the basis vectors as functions of the coordinates.

• Table of Lie groups
• List of simple Lie groups
• BKL singularity