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)||σσ0|a,|ττ0|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:=τXσσXτ

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)|σ0σσ0+Δσ,τ0τΔτ}

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,ττ0)T(σσ0,τ)T(σ,τ0τ)T(σ0σ,τ0)W

Since T(σσ0,τ)T(σ0σ,τ)=I, an identity, limΔσ,Δτ01ΔσΔτ(WTW)=limΔσ,Δτ01ΔσΔτ[T(σ0,ττ0)T(σσ0,τ)][T(σ0σ,τ0)T(σ0,τ0τ)WT(σ,τ0τ)T(σ0σ,τ0)W] Since X(σ0,τ0)=W, after adding some terms, limΔσ,Δτ01ΔσΔτ(WTW)=limΔσ,Δτ01ΔσΔτT(σ0σ,τ)[T(σ0,τ0τ)X(σ0,τ0)X(σ0,τ)]+[T(σ0σ,τ)X(σ0,τ)X(σ,τ)]T(σ,τ0τ)[T(σ0σ,τ0)X(σ0,τ0)X(σ,τ0)][T(σ,τ0τ)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)=limϵ01ϵ(ξi(t+ϵ)ξi(t))Ei(t)=limϵ01ϵ(ξi(t+ϵ)ξi(t))Ei(t+ϵ)=limϵ01ϵ(ξi(t+ϵ)Ei(t+ϵ)ξi(t)Ei(t+ϵ))=limϵ01ϵ(X(t+ϵ)T(tt+ϵ)X(t)) we have limΔσ,Δτ01ΔσΔτ(WTW)=limΔσ,Δτ01ΔσΔτ[1ΔσT(σ0σ,τ)(Xτ)σ0,τ01Δτ(Xσ)σ0,τ+1ΔτT(σ,τ0τ)(Xσ)(σ0,τ0)+1Δσ(Xτ)(σ,τ0)]=limΔσ,Δτ0[1Δσ[(Xτ)(σ,τ0)T(σ0σ,τ)(Xτ)(σ0,τ0)]+1Δτ[T(σ,τ0τ)(Xσ)(σ0,τ0)(Xσ)(σ0,τ)]]

Since the 1st term is the covariant derivative of Xτ along the σ-lines and the 2nd term is the covariant derivative of Xσ along the τ-lines, we have

limΔσ,Δτ01ΔσΔτ(WTW)=(σXττXσ)(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,Δτ01ΔσΔτ(WTW)=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

Wσ=Wiσi+WiiστWσ=2Wτσ+Wiσiτ+Wiτiσ+Wi2iτσ. Similarly, σWτ=2Wτσi+Wτiσ+Wσiτ+Wi2iστ. Since partial derivatives commute, subtracting will give τWσσWτ=Wi2iτσ+Wi2iστ. Since τi=xjτxji and xji=Γkijk, iσ=xjσxj=xjσΓkijk2iτσ=τ(xjσΓkijk)=2xjτσΓkijk+xjσ(Γkijτk+Γkijkτ)=2xjτσΓkijk+xjσ(Γkijτk+Γkijxlτxlm)=2xjτσΓkijk+xjσ(Γkijτk+ΓkijxlτΓnkln)=2xjτσΓkijk+(xjσ)(xlτ)(Γkijxl+ΓnijΓknl)k. Similarly for the 2nd term, iστ=2xjστΓkijk+(xjτ)(xlσ)(Γkijxl+ΓnijΓknl)k. Replacing dummy variable l with j and j with l, iστ=2xjστΓkijk+(xlτ)(xjσ)(Γkilxj+ΓnilΓknj)k. Subtracting the two terms, τWσσWτ=Wi(xjσ)(xlτ)(lΓkij+ΓnijΓknljΓkilΓnilΓknj)k. Since Uj=xjσ and Vl=xlτ, R(U,V)W=RkijlUjVlWik, where Rkijl=lΓkij+ΓnijΓknljΓkilΓnilΓknj.

Bianchi Identities

By Riemann tensor defintion, Rαβμν,λ=12(gαν,βμλgαμ,βνλ+gβμ,ανλgβν,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 uR(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;λRβλ;ν+Rμβνλ;μ)=0R;λRμλ;μ+(Rμλ;μ)=0. Since R is a scalar, R;λ=R,λ, (2RμλδμλR);λ=0. Define the Einstein tensor as GαβRαβ12gαβR=Gβα. Then, we have Gαβ;β=0


Reference: Lectures on Differential Geometry by Wulf Rossmann.

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