Riemann Curvature Tensor
Definition of Riemann Curvature Tensor
Let M be a manifold equipped with a covariant derivative ∇.
A parametrized surface in M is a smooth function that maps R to M (σ,τ)↦p=p(σ,τ) and is defined on some rectangle {(σ,τ)||σ−σ0|≤a,|τ−τ0|≤b}
Let X=X(σ,τ) be a smooth vector field along this parametrized surface p(σ,τ). U=∂p(σ,τ)/∂σ and V=∂p(σ,τ)/∂τ are parameter vector fields, which are tangential to the surface. The covariant derivatives along the σ-lines and τ-lines are denoted as ∇/∂σ and ∇/∂τ respectively. The curvature tensor of the connection ∇ is defined as R(U,V)X:=∇∂τ∇X∂σ−∇∂σ∇X∂τ
Geometrical Meaning
Let U0, V0 and W be three vectors at the point p_0, such that ∂p/∂σ|(σ0,τ0)=U0, ∂p/∂τ|(σ0,τ0)=V0 and W=X(p0). Let T=T(σ0,τ0;Δσ,Δτ) be a linear transformation operates on a vector such that TW=parallel transport of W along the boundary {p(σ,τ)|σ0≤σ≤σ0+Δσ,τ0≤τ≤Δτ}
The vector after parallel transport along the boundary after one loop can be broken down by the four edges of the rectangle TW=T(σ0,τ→τ0)T(σ→σ0,τ)T(σ,τ0→τ)T(σ0→σ,τ0)W
Since T(σ→σ0,τ)T(σ0→σ,τ)=I, an identity, limΔσ,Δτ→01ΔσΔτ(W−TW)=limΔσ,Δτ→01ΔσΔτ[T(σ0,τ→τ0)T(σ→σ0,τ)][T(σ0→σ,τ0)T(σ0,τ0→τ)W−T(σ,τ0→τ)T(σ0→σ,τ0)W] Since X(σ0,τ0)=W, after adding some terms, limΔσ,Δτ→01ΔσΔτ(W−TW)=limΔσ,Δτ→01ΔσΔτT(σ0→σ,τ)[T(σ0,τ0→τ)X(σ0,τ0)−X(σ0,τ)]+[T(σ0→σ,τ)X(σ0,τ)−X(σ,τ)]−T(σ,τ0→τ)[T(σ0→σ,τ0)X(σ0,τ0)−X(σ,τ0)]−[T(σ,τ0→τ)X(σ,τ0)−X(σ,τ)]
Since X(t)=ξi(t)Ei(t), where E1(t),...,En(t) are of a Euclidean frame, ∇Xdt=dξidtEi(t)=limϵ→01ϵ(ξi(t+ϵ)−ξi(t))Ei(t)=limϵ→01ϵ(ξi(t+ϵ)−ξi(t))Ei(t+ϵ)=limϵ→01ϵ(ξi(t+ϵ)Ei(t+ϵ)−ξi(t)Ei(t+ϵ))=limϵ→01ϵ(X(t+ϵ)−T(t→t+ϵ)X(t)) we have limΔσ,Δτ→01ΔσΔτ(W−TW)=limΔσ,Δτ→01ΔσΔτ[−1ΔσT(σ0→σ,τ)(∇X∂τ)σ0,τ0−1Δτ(∇X∂σ)σ0,τ+1ΔτT(σ,τ0→τ)(∇X∂σ)(σ0,τ0)+1Δσ(∇X∂τ)(σ,τ0)]=limΔσ,Δτ→0[1Δσ[(∇X∂τ)(σ,τ0)−T(σ0→σ,τ)(∇X∂τ)(σ0,τ0)]+1Δτ[T(σ,τ0→τ)(∇X∂σ)(σ0,τ0)−(∇X∂σ)(σ0,τ)]]
Since the 1st term is the covariant derivative of ∇X∂τ along the σ-lines and the 2nd term is the covariant derivative of ∇X∂σ along the τ-lines, we have
limΔσ,Δτ→01ΔσΔτ(W−TW)=(∇∂σ∇X∂τ−∇∂τ∇X∂σ)(σ0,τ0)=R(U0,V0)W. We conclude that the Riemann curvature tensor of a vector W at a point p0 is the difference between W and its parallel transport along an infinitely small rectangle loop. limΔσ,Δτ→01ΔσΔτ(W−TW)=R(U0,V0)W. If the manifold is flat, parallel transport of a vector does not change the vector at all, hence has zero curvature. The more curved the manifold, the larger the difference after transporting the loop. This is a way to measure how curved a manifold is, without knowing how its normal vector changes w.r.t the Euclidean space. We can still tell how curved is the space even with the set of changing coordinate system.Component Form
∇W∂σ=∂Wi∂σ∂i+Wi∇∂i∂σ∇∂τ∇W∂σ=∂2W∂τ∂σ+∂Wi∂σ∇∂i∂τ+∂Wi∂τ∇∂i∂σ+Wi∇2∂i∂τ∂σ. Similarly, ∇∂σ∇W∂τ=∂2W∂τ∂σ∂i+∂W∂τ∇∂i∂σ+∂W∂σ∇∂i∂τ+Wi∇2∂i∂σ∂τ. Since partial derivatives commute, subtracting will give ∇∂τ∇W∂σ−∇∂σ∇W∂τ=Wi∇2∂i∂τ∂σ+Wi∇2∂i∂σ∂τ. Since ∇∂τ∂i=∂xj∂τ∇∂xj∂i and ∇∂xj∂i=Γkij∂k, ∇∂i∂σ=∂xj∂σ∇∂xj=∂xj∂σΓkij∂k∇2∂i∂τ∂σ=∇∂τ(∂xj∂σΓkij∂k)=∂2xj∂τ∂σΓkij∂k+∂xj∂σ(∂Γkij∂τ∂k+Γkij∇∂k∂τ)=∂2xj∂τ∂σΓkij∂k+∂xj∂σ(∂Γkij∂τ∂k+Γkij∂xl∂τ∇∂xl∂m)=∂2xj∂τ∂σΓkij∂k+∂xj∂σ(∂Γkij∂τ∂k+Γkij∂xl∂τΓnkl∂n)=∂2xj∂τ∂σΓkij∂k+(∂xj∂σ)(∂xl∂τ)(∂Γkij∂xl+ΓnijΓknl)∂k. Similarly for the 2nd term, ∇∂i∂σ∂τ=∂2xj∂σ∂τΓkij∂k+(∂xj∂τ)(∂xl∂σ)(∂Γkij∂xl+ΓnijΓknl)∂k. Replacing dummy variable l with j and j with l, ∇∂i∂σ∂τ=∂2xj∂σ∂τΓkij∂k+(∂xl∂τ)(∂xj∂σ)(∂Γkil∂xj+ΓnilΓknj)∂k. Subtracting the two terms, ∇∂τ∇W∂σ−∇∂σ∇W∂τ=Wi(∂xj∂σ)(∂xl∂τ)(∂lΓkij+ΓnijΓknl−∂jΓkil−ΓnilΓknj)∂k. Since Uj=∂xj∂σ and Vl=∂xl∂τ, R(U,V)W=RkijlUjVlWi∂k, where Rkijl=∂lΓkij+ΓnijΓknl−∂jΓkil−ΓnilΓknj.Bianchi Identities
By Riemann tensor defintion, Rαβμν,λ=12(gαν,βμλ−gαμ,βνλ+gβμ,ανλ−gβν,αμλ). Since the metric tensor is symmetric and the partial derivatives commute, Rαβμν,λ+Rαβλμ,ν+Rαβνλ,μ=0. Since the Christoffel symbols vanish locally, Rαβμν;λ+Rαβλμ;ν+Rαβνλ;μ=0. This is known as the Bianchi identities.
Ricci Tensor
The Ricci tensor is defined as the trace of the linear transformation u→R(u,v)w, i.e. Ric(v,w)=Rkqklvlwq, which is the contraction of Rμανβ on the first and third indices. So, one may write the Ricci tensor as Rαβ:=Rμαμβ=Rβα. Since the Riemann tensor is antisymmetric on the first and second indices and the third and fourth indices, the contraction on these pairs are zero. Other contraction will reduce to ±Rαβ because of the symmetry of the Riemann tensor in other indices. Therefore, the Ricci tensor actually tells all the contraction of a Riemann tensor. Define the Ricci scalar as R:=gμνRμν=gμνgαβRαμβν
Einstein Tensor
By the Bianchi identities, gαμ(Rαβμν;λ+Rαβλμ;ν+Rαβνλ;μ)=0. As gαβ;μ=0, the metric tensor can be moved into the covariant derivative, Rβν;λ+(−Rβλ;ν)+Rμβνλ;μ=0. Contracting again gβν(Rβν;λ−Rβλ;ν+Rμβνλ;μ)=0R;λ−Rμλ;μ+(−Rμλ;μ)=0. Since R is a scalar, R;λ=R,λ, (2Rμλ−δμλR);λ=0. Define the Einstein tensor as Gαβ≡Rαβ−12gαβR=Gβα. Then, we have Gαβ;β=0
Reference: Lectures on Differential Geometry by Wulf Rossmann.
Comments
Post a Comment