Tangent vectors as derivations

In summary, the author has some problems with the definition of the tangent vector as it is given in this text. He would like to show that every derivation can be expressed as a directional derivative, but is not successful in doing so.
  • #1
martin_blckrs
43
0
I've encountered a definition of the tangent vector via the notion of derivations on the manifold and I have some problems with it. I would actually like to show that every derivation can be expressed as a directional derivative, but I'm not ver successful in doing so.

I have this definition of the derivation:

A derivation X in the point p on the manifold M is a linear functional on [tex]C^{\infty}(M)[/tex] such that the Jacobi rule holds: [tex]X(fg) = X(f)g(p)+f(p)X(g)[/tex], where [tex]f,g \in C^{\infty}(M)[/tex]. (The tangent space in p is then the set of all derivations in p.)

Now we know that each directional derivative, i.e. each operator [tex]v_i\frac{\partial }{\partial x_i}[/tex] (in some local coordinates [tex]x_i[/tex]) is a derivation. Thus there is a map [tex]h: DD \rightarrow D [/tex] between the set of directional derivatives (DD) and the set of the derivations (D) and it is easy to see that this map is linear. Now I'd like to show that this map is bijective, i.e. that every derivation can be uniquely expressed by a directional derivative.

I'm able to show the injectivity of this map, by showing that the kernel of h is {0}. To do this, I take any directional derivative [tex]V=v_i\frac{\partial }{\partial x_i}[/tex] (in some coordinate chart U, with local coordinates [tex]x_i[/tex]) and plug in a function [tex]f_j=\chi x_j[/tex], where [tex]\chi[/tex] is a smooth bump function around the point p with support in the chart U. This gives us that all [tex]v_j=0[/tex] and thus V=0.

But how do I show surjectivity? Note that the the functions are defined globally on the whole manifold, not locally (i.e. not via germs). How can I do this?
 
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  • #2
Note that the the functions are defined globally on the whole manifold, not locally (i.e. not via germs). How can I do this?
Well, you can use the usual approach -- solve the problem locally first, then collate the local solutions into a global one.
 
  • #3
Can you be more specific?
 
  • #4
I'm not sure if I can without starting to do the problem for you!

You said that your problem is that things are defined globally, so you circumvent that by working locally: solve the problem on a coordinate chart rather than the whole manifold.

Now, typically one of three things happen:
(1) It's easy to assemble solutions on coordinate charts into a solution on the whole manifold.
(2) The fact that you can assemble solutions on coordinate charts into a solution on the whole manifold is a deep theorem.
(3) There is a homology group (or similar object) that tells you that cannot produce a solution on the whole manifold unless certain conditions are met.
 
  • #5
I'm not really sure what you mean by "solution".

I can prove the surjectivity in the R^n case. If I defined the derivation to be acting on the germs of [tex]C^{\infty}(M)[/tex] functions, I'd be done.

But since I defined the derivation to be defined on the whole [tex]C^{\infty}(M)[/tex], it's not clear to me, if this property will extend to the whole manifold (i.e. if it will still hold true if I take functions defined globally).

(also, the manifold isn't assumed to be paracompact)
 
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  • #6
Whoops, my bad, local-global isn't the general method you want to use, it's excision -- you want to prove that what happens away from P doesn't matter. Can't you use your bump function to show the values of your functions outside of your chart are irrelevant to the derivation?
 
  • #7
You are acting on germs of [tex]C^{\infty}(M) [/tex] functions! Think of it this way: if two functions agree on a neighborhood of a point p, all derivatives (including the first one) of their difference vanish at p.
 
  • #8
zhentil said:
You are acting on germs of [tex]C^{\infty}(M) [/tex] functions! Think of it this way: if two functions agree on a neighborhood of a point p, all derivatives (including the first one) of their difference vanish at p.
You're assuming that every derivation at p is a differential operator -- but that's essentially the very statement he is trying to prove!
 
  • #9
I thought he figured out how to prove it otherwise. Never mind, here's a shot at it.

Fix a coordinate chart at p, and assume by restriction if necessary that the coordinate chart is a ball in R^n centered at 0. For x near p, we have

[tex] f(x)-f(0) = \int_0^1 \frac{d}{dt} f(tx) \text{ dt} = \int_0^1 \sum \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_i} (tx)(x_i) \text{ dt}
[/tex]

So if

[tex]f \in C^\infty(p), \text{ } f(x) = f(0) + \sum x_i g_i(x), \text{ where } g_i(0) = \frac{\partial f}{\partial x_i} (0)[/tex].

Since constants annihilate derivations, we have

[tex] D f(x) = D(f(0)) + \sum D[x_i g_i(x)] = 0 + \sum D(x_i) g_i(0) + \sum (0)D(g_i(x)) = \sum g_i(0)D(x_i) [/tex]

But that's a directional derivative, so we're done.
 
  • #10
Hurkyl said:
Whoops, my bad, local-global isn't the general method you want to use, it's excision -- you want to prove that what happens away from P doesn't matter. Can't you use your bump function to show the values of your functions outside of your chart are irrelevant to the derivation?

The problem is that I can only construct the bump functions locally in a coordinate chart. If I assumed the manifold to be paracompact, I could construct bump functions on the whole manifold, but I don't assume that.

Zhentil: My definition of derivation is not via germs of functions. The derivation acts on functions which are defined globally. Thus the proof for a coordinate chart is not sufficient.
 
  • #11
The set of derivations at p has an obvious vector space structure, and the partial derivative operators at p clearly span a subspace of that vector space. The dimension of the subspace is the same as the dimension of the manifold. So if you can prove that the dimension of the tangent space at p (i.e. the vector space of derivations at p) isn't greater than the dimension of the manifold, you're done.
 
  • #12
martin_blckrs said:
The problem is that I can only construct the bump functions locally in a coordinate chart. If I assumed the manifold to be paracompact, I could construct bump functions on the whole manifold, but I don't assume that.
The (sub)goal is to prove that points away from P don't matter -- therefore, you only need to use one bump function that vanishes outside of a neighborhood of P.

Or... (just checking) is the problem that you haven't realized you can take a bump function defined on your chart and turn it into a global function by defining it to be zero everywhere outside of your chart?
 

1. What are tangent vectors?

Tangent vectors are mathematical objects that represent the direction and rate of change of a curve or surface at a specific point. They are used in differential geometry and multivariable calculus to study the behavior of curves and surfaces.

2. How are tangent vectors related to derivatives?

Tangent vectors can be thought of as a geometric interpretation of derivatives. They represent the instantaneous rate of change of a curve or surface at a specific point, similar to how derivatives represent the slope of a function at a specific point.

3. What is the difference between a tangent vector and a tangent space?

A tangent vector is a single vector that represents the direction and rate of change at a specific point on a curve or surface. A tangent space, on the other hand, is a collection of all possible tangent vectors at a given point. It is a vector space that contains all the possible directions and rates of change for a curve or surface at that point.

4. How are tangent vectors used in physics?

In physics, tangent vectors are used to represent the velocity and acceleration of objects in motion. They are also used in the study of forces and motion, such as in the calculation of centripetal and tangential forces in circular motion.

5. How do you calculate a tangent vector?

To calculate a tangent vector, you first need to define a curve or surface and a point on that curve or surface. Then, you can use the derivative or gradient of the curve or surface at that point to find the tangent vector. Alternatively, you can also use the directional derivative or partial derivatives to calculate the tangent vector.

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