compact groups are unimodular


Theorem - If G is a compact Hausdorff topological groupMathworldPlanetmath, then G is unimodular, i.e. it’s left and right Haar measures coincide.

Proof:

Let Δ denote the modular functionMathworldPlanetmath of G. It is enough to prove that Δ is constant and equal to 1, since this proves that every left Haar measure is right invariant.

Since Δ is continuousPlanetmathPlanetmath and G is compact, Δ⁢(G) is a compact subset of ℝ+. In particular, Δ⁢(G) is a bounded subset of ℝ+.

But if Δ is not identically one, then there is a t∈G such that Δ⁢(t)>1 (recall that Δ is an homomorphismPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath). Hence, Δ⁢(tn)=Δ⁢(t)n⟶∞ as n∈ℕ increases, which is a contradictionMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmath since Δ⁢(G) is bounded. □

Title compact groups are unimodular
Canonical name CompactGroupsAreUnimodular
Date of creation 2013-03-22 17:58:23
Last modified on 2013-03-22 17:58:23
Owner asteroid (17536)
Last modified by asteroid (17536)
Numerical id 4
Author asteroid (17536)
Entry type Theorem
Classification msc 22C05
Classification msc 28C10