The Lie derivative and cohomology of $G$-structures

In [1], J. F. Pommaret constructed the so-called Spencer $P$-complex for a differential operator. Applying this construction to the Lie derivative associated with a general pseudogroup structure on a smooth manifold, he defined the deformation cohomology of a pseudogroup structure. The aim of this paper is to specify this complex for a particular case of pseudogroup structure, namely, for a first-order $G$-structure, and to express this complex in differential geometric form, i.e., in terms of tensor fields and the covariant derivative. We show that the Pommaret construction provides a powerful tool for associating a differential complex to a $G$-structure. In a unified way one can obtain the Dolbeaut complex for the complex structure, the Vaisman complex for the foliation structure [2], and the Vaisman–Molino cohomology for the structure of manifold over an algebra [3].