Tensor Definition and 1000 Threads

  1. V

    I (2,0) tensor is not a tensor product of two vectors?

    Hi. I'm trying to understand tensors and I've come across this problem: "Show that, in general, a (2, 0) tensor can't be written as a tensor product of two vectors". Well, prior to that sentence, I would have thought it could... Why not?
  2. Jianphys17

    Differential Geometry book with tensor calculus

    Hi, there is a book of dg of surfaces that is also about tensor calculus ? Currently i study with Do Carmo, but i am looking for a text that there is also the tensor calculus! Thank you in advance
  3. S

    I What does the Einstein tensor actually tell you?

    I recently calculated the Einstein tensor for the exterior Schwarzschild solution. Here it is: G00 = 0 G11 = [-2GM/(r3c2 - 2GMr2)] - G2M2/[r2(rc2 - 2GM)2] - [-G2M2/(r4c4 - 2GMr3c2)] - (-2GM)/(r3c2) - (-2G3M3)/[r3c2(rc2 - 2GM)2] G22 = (2G2M2rc2 - 2G3M3) / (r3c6 - 2GMr2c4) G33 = G22sin2(θ)...
  4. redtree

    A Riemann Tensor Equation: Simplifying the Riemann-Christoffel Tensor

    The Riemann-Christoffel Tensor (##R^{k}_{\cdot n i j}##) is defined as: $$ R^{k}_{\cdot n i j}= \frac{\delta \Gamma^{k}_{j n}}{\delta Z^{i}} - \frac{\delta \Gamma^{k}_{i n}}{\delta Z^{j}}+ \Gamma^{k}_{i l} \Gamma^{l}_{j n}- \Gamma^{k}_{j l} \Gamma^{l}_{i n} $$ My question is that it seems that...
  5. redtree

    A Relationship between metric tensor and position vector

    Given the definition of the covariant basis (##Z_{i}##) as follows: $$Z_{i} = \frac{\delta \textbf{R}}{\delta Z^{i}}$$ Then, the derivative of the covariant basis is as follows: $$\frac{\delta Z_{i}}{\delta Z^{j}} = \frac{\delta^2 \textbf{R}}{\delta Z^{i} \delta Z^{j}}$$ Which is also equal...
  6. nomadreid

    I Tensor product and ultraproduct construction

    I do not know if this is the proper rubric to ask this question, but I picked the one that seemed the most relevant. I have noticed some superficial resemblance between the tensor product and the ultraproduct definitions. Does this resemblance go any further? While I am on the subject of...
  7. A

    I What are the independent components of the Riemann tensor

    What 20 index combinations yield Riemann tensor components (that are not identically zero) from which the rest of the tensor components can be determined?
  8. O

    Don't understand what the book means, a tensor thing....

    Homework Statement Right, so it's not really an assignment or anything, just confused of what a book says. the book is "mathematical methods for physicists." The screenshot is attached. The thing that I'm confused about is that it says "As before, aij is the cosine of the angle between x′i...
  9. mertcan

    A How Is the Taylor Expansion Applied to Metric Tensors?

    hi, when I dug up something about metric tensors, I found a equation in my attached file. Could you provide me with how the derivation of this ensured? What is the logic of that expansion in terms of metric tensor? I really need your valuable responses. I really wonder it. Thanks in advance...
  10. A

    I What Does the Ricci Tensor Reveal About Einstein's Field Equations?

    Hello I've been have been done some research about Einstein Field Equations and I want to get great perspective of Ricci tensor so can somebody explain me what Ricci tensor does and what's the mathmatical value of Ricci tensor.
  11. G

    I Why the tensor product (historical question)?

    Hi. Why did the founding fathers of QM know that the Hilbert space of a composite system is the tensor product of the component Hilbert spaces and not a direct product, where no entanglement would emerge? I mean today we can verify entanglement experimentally, but this became technologically...
  12. chi_rho

    A Transforming Spin Matrices (Sx, Sy, Sz) to a Spherical Basis

    Say I have {S_{x}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left(\begin{array}{ccc} 0 & 1 & 0\\ 1 & 0 & 1\\ 0 & 1 & 0\\ \end{array}\right)} Right now, this spin operator is in the Cartesian basis. I want to transform it into the spherical basis. Since, {\vec{S}} acts like a vector I think that I only need to...
  13. mertcan

    A Stress energy tensor general relativity

    Hi, I would like say that in this link ( ) and starting from 56.28 Suskind tries to find the energy tensor equation using \phi, afterwards he finds a equation similar to wave equation in terms of \phi. My question is: For what does \phi stand ? I could not capture the meaning of \phi. Could...
  14. S

    I Is the Tensor Product of Two Matrices Really This Simple?

    I was just watching a video that was reviewing some linear algebra, and it said that this was the tensor product: Let's say you have a matrix A and a matrix B (both 2 by 2 matrices). If I want to calculate the tensor A ⊗ B, then the answer is basically just a matrix of matrices. In other words...
  15. C

    Finding the geodesic equation from a given line element

    Homework Statement We've got a line element ds^2 = f(x) du^2 + dx^2 From that we should find the geodesic equation Homework Equations Line Element: ds^2 = dq^j g_{jk} dq^k Geodesic Equation: \ddot{q}^j = -\Gamma_{km}^j \dot{q}^k \dot{q}^m Christoffel Symbol: \Gamma_{km}^j = \frac{g^{jl}}{2}...
  16. arpon

    I Is there any 2D surface whose metric tensor is eta?

    Does there exist any 2D surface whose metric tensor is, ##\eta_{\mu\nu}= \begin{pmatrix} -1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}##
  17. Math Amateur

    I Tensor Products of Modules - Bland - Remark, Page 65

    I am reading Paul E. Bland's book "Rings and Their Modules ... Currently I am focused on Section 2.3 Tensor Products of Modules ... ... I need some help in order to fully understand the Remark that Bland makes on Pages 65- 66 Bland's remark reads as follows: Question 1 In the above text by...
  18. Math Amateur

    MHB Tensor Products of Modules - Bland - Remark, Page 65

    I am reading Paul E. Bland's book "Rings and Their Modules ... Currently I am focused on Section 2.3 Tensor Products of Modules ... ... I need some help in order to fully understand the Remark that Bland makes on Pages 65- 66 Bland's remark reads as follows: Question 1 In the above text by...
  19. mertcan

    A Riemann tensor and covariant derivative

    hi, I tried to take the covariant derivative of riemann tensor using christoffel symbols, but it is such a long equation that I have always been mixing up something. So, Could you share the entire solution, pdf file, or links with me? ((( I know this is the long way to derive the einstein...
  20. J

    A Stress-Energy Tensor: Basics & Questions

    I understand the basics of the stress-energy tensor (I think) but I still have a couple questions about it. But first, I'd like to give a quick run down of what I do understand, and I would appreciate if one of you could correct me where I am wrong and also answer my questions afterward. So...
  21. M

    Deriving perfect fluid energy tensor from point particles

    Homework Statement For a system of discrete point particles the energy momentum takes the form T_{\mu \nu} = \sum_a \frac{p_\mu^{(a)}p_\nu^{(a)}}{p^{0(a)}} \delta^{(3)}(\vec{x}-\vec{x}^{(a)}), where the index a labels the different particles. Show that, for a dense collection of particles...
  22. M

    A Conservation of Electromagnetic Energy-Momentum Tensor

    I'm trying to show that \partial_\mu T^{\mu \nu}=0 for T^{\mu \nu}=F^{\mu \lambda}F^\nu_{\; \lambda} - \frac{1}{4} \eta^{\mu \nu} F^{\lambda \sigma}F_{\lambda \sigma}, with the help of the electromagnetic equations of motion (no currents): \partial_\mu F^{\mu \nu}=0, \partial_\mu F_{\nu...
  23. Logic Cloud

    I Tensor Formalism in GR: Why We Need Tensors

    In explanations of the importance the tensors I often see people refer to transformation properties, general covariance and the like. Now, I have also often read that in principle any physical theory, e.g. classical mechanics and special relativity, can be written in a generally covariant form...
  24. H

    Tensor determinant using box product

    Homework Statement Using index notation only (i.e. don't expand any sums) show that: \begin{align*} &\text{(a) } \epsilon_{ijk} \det \underline{\bf{A}} = \epsilon_{mnp} A_{mi} A_{nj} A_{pk} \\ & \text{(b) } \det \underline{\bf{A}} = \epsilon_{mnp} A_{m1} A_{n2} A_{p3} \end{align*} Homework...
  25. H

    Show Tensor Determinants Equality

    Homework Statement show that \det(\underline{\bf{A}})\det(\underline{\bf{B}}) = \det(\underline{\bf{AB}}) Homework Equations \begin{align*} &\underline{\bf{A}} = A_{ij} \underline{e}_i \otimes \underline{e}_j \\ &\underline{\bf{B}} = B_{mn} \underline{e}_m \otimes \underline{e}_n \\...
  26. M

    A Does My Understanding of Tensor Calculus and Divergence Look Correct?

    Hi PF! I have a question on the dyadic product and the divergence of a tensor. I've never formally leaned this, although I'm sure it's published somewhere, but this is how I understand the operators. Can someone tell me if this is right or wrong? Let's say I have some vector ##\vec{V} = v_x i +...
  27. W

    Riemann tensor given the space/metric

    Homework Statement Given two spaces described by ##ds^2 = (1+u^2)du^2 + (1+4v^2)dv^2 + 2(2v-u)dudv## ##ds^2 = (1+u^2)du^2 + (1+2v^2)dv^2 + 2(2v-u)dudv## Calculate the Riemann tensor Homework Equations Given the metric and expanding it ##~~~g_{τμ} = η_{τμ} + B_{τμ,λσ}x^λx^σ + ...## We have...
  28. M

    Deriving perfect fluid energy tensor from point particles

    Homework Statement [ For a system of discrete point particles the energy momentum takes the form T_{\mu \nu} = \sum_a \frac{p_\mu^{(a)}p_\nu^{(a)}}{p^{0(a)}} \delta^{(3)}(\vec{x}-\vec{x}^{(a)}), where the index a labels the different particles. Show that, for a dense collection of particles...
  29. A

    Maxwell's Equations from EM field tensor

    Hello, I have derived two Maxwell's equations from the electromagnetic field tensor but I have a problem understanding the second formula, which is: \partial_{\lambda} F_{\mu\nu} + \partial_{\mu} F_{\nu\lambda}+\partial_{\nu} F_{\lambda\mu} =0 I have a few questions to help me start: 1) Is...
  30. D

    A Interpretation of the EM tensor as a rotation matrix

    In special relativity, the electromagnetic field is represented by the tensor $$F^{\mu\nu} = \begin{pmatrix}0 & -E_{x} & -E_{y} & -E_{z}\\ E_{x} & 0 & -B_{z} & B_{y}\\ E_{y} & B_{z} & 0 & -B_{x}\\ E_{z} & -B_{y} & B_{x} & 0 \end{pmatrix}$$ which is an anti-symmetric matrix. Recalling the...
  31. mertcan

    A Why Do Torsion Tensor Derivations Differ Between Sources?

    hi, I looked up torsion tensor derivation on 2 different books, and encountered 2 different situations, so my mind has been confused. For the first image, I could totally understand how torsion tensor was derived, but for the second image although there are similar things, I can not make a...
  32. mertcan

    A Curvature tensor in all flat space coordinates

    hi, I am just curious about, and really wonder if there is a proof which demonstrates that curvature tensor is 0 in all flat space coordinates. Nevertheless, I have seen the proofs related to curvature tensor in Cartesian coordinates and polar coordinates, but have not been able to see that zero...
  33. B

    A What is the coordinate free stress-energy-momentum tensor

    Without regard to a coordinate system (I only wish to consider special relativity) the stress-energy-momentum tensor defines a linear transformation from a 4-vector to a 4-vector. Let T be the linear transformation then b = T(a), a and b are 4-vectors. What is the physical meaning of a and b...
  34. Math Amateur

    MHB Tensor Products and the Free Z-module - Bland Propostion 2.2.3 .... ....

    Tensor Products and the Free Z-module - Bland Proposition 2.2.3 ... ... I am reading Paul E. Bland's book "Rings and Their Modules ... Currently I am focused on Section 2.3 Tensor Products of Modules ... ... I need some help in order to fully understand the nature of the free Z-module...
  35. Math Amateur

    MHB Tensor Products of Modules and Free Abelian Groups based on Cartesian Product

    I am reading Donald S. Passmore's book "A Course in Ring Theory" ... I am currently focussed on Chapter 9 Tensor Products ... ... I need help in order to get a full understanding of the free abelian group involved in the construction of the tensor product ... ... The text by Passmore...
  36. T

    I Derivation of equations using tensor

    http://hitoshi.berkeley.edu/221a/tensorproduct.pdf I was following the above pdf and got through most of it but am not quite understanding how (41), (42), and (43) are derived. It appears that (31) and (41) are representing the same states and are still orthogonal, but how exactly is (41)...
  37. J

    A Is the Dual Vector in Wald's Abstract Tensor Notation a Contraction?

    In Wald's "General Relativity", in his section on abstract tensor notation, he let's g_{ab} denote the metric tensor. When applied to a vector v^a, we get a dual vector, because g_{ab}(v^a, \cdot) is just a dual vector. Okay cool. But then he says that this dual vector is actually g_{ab}v^b...
  38. T

    A Question about properites of tensor product

    They are being 2 by 2 matrices and I being the identity. Physically they are Pauli matrices. 1. Is $$((A\otimes I\otimes I) + (I\otimes A\otimes I) + (I\otimes I\otimes A))\otimes B$$ = $$(A\otimes I\otimes I)\otimes B + (I\otimes A\otimes I)\otimes B + (I\otimes I\otimes A)\otimes B$$? I...
  39. J

    I Taking the Tensor Product of Vectors

    What is meant by taking the tensor product of vectors? Taking the tensor product of two tensors is straightforward, but I am currently reading a book where the author is talking about tensor product on tensors then in the next paragraph declares that tensors can then be constructed by taking...
  40. I

    I Riemann/Metric Tensor Calculator

    Hi all! I'm really interested in the physical interpretation of the Riemann and metric tensors. Is there any program that let's you type in a Riemann or metric tensor (or even better, an Einstein tensor) and then gives you an image of how the space would look (i.e. the curved grid lines)? Thanks!
  41. S

    Maxwell equations from tensor notation to component notation

    Homework Statement Verify that ##\partial_{\mu}F_{\nu\lambda}+\partial_{\nu}F_{\lambda\mu}+\partial_{\lambda}F_{\mu\nu}## is equivalent to ##\partial_{[\mu}F_{\nu\lambda]}=0##, and that they are both equivalent to ##\tilde{\epsilon}^{ijk}\partial_{j}E_{k}+\partial_{0}B^{i}=0## and...
  42. Math Amateur

    I Tensor Algebras and Graded Algebras - Cooperstein

    I am reading Bruce N. Coopersteins book: Advanced Linear Algebra (Second Edition) ... ... I am focused on Section 10.3 The Tensor Algebra ... ... I need help in order to get an understanding of an aspect of Example 10.11 and Definition 10.7 in Section 10.3 ... The relevant text in...
  43. Math Amateur

    MHB Tensor Algebras and Graded Algebras - Cooperstein - Theorem 10.11 and Defn 10.7

    I am reading Bruce N. Coopersteins book: Advanced Linear Algebra (Second Edition) ... ... I am focused on Section 10.3 The Tensor Algebra ... ... I need help in order to get an understanding of an aspect of Example 10.11 and Definition 10.7 in Section 10.3 ... The relevant text in...
  44. S

    Finding tensor components via matrix manipulations

    Homework Statement Imagine we have a tensor ##X^{\mu\nu}## and a vector ##V^{\mu}##, with components ## X^{\mu\nu}=\left( \begin{array}{cccc} 2 & 0 & 1 & -1 \\ -1 & 0 & 3 & 2 \\ -1 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ -2 & 1 & 1 & -2 \end{array} \right), \qquad V^{\mu} = (-1,2,0,-2). ## Find the components of...
  45. Math Amateur

    I Tensor Algebras - Dummit and Foote, Section 11.5

    I am reading Dummit and Foote: Abstract Algebra (Third Edition) ... and am focused on Section 11.5 Tensor Algebras. Symmetric and Exterior Algebras ... In particular I am trying to understand Theorem 31 but at present I am very unsure about how to interpret the theorem and need some help in...
  46. Math Amateur

    MHB Tensor Algebras - Dummit and Foote, Section 11.5

    I am reading Dummit and Foote: Abstract Algebra (Third Edition) ... and am focused on Section 11.5 Tensor Algebras. Symmetric and Exterior Algebras ... In particular I am trying to understand Theorem 31 but at present I am very unsure about how to interpret the theorem and need some help in...
  47. S

    Energy-Momentum Tensor for the electromagnetic field

    Homework Statement Maxwell's Lagrangian for the electromagnetic field is ##\mathcal{L}=-\frac{1}{4}F_{\mu\nu}F^{\mu\nu}## where ##F_{\mu\nu}=\partial_{\mu}A_{\nu}-\partial_{\nu}A_{\mu}## and ##A_{\mu}## is the ##4##-vector potential. Show that ##\mathcal{L}## is invariant under gauge...
  48. Math Amateur

    I The Tensor Algebra - Cooperstein, Example 10.1

    I am reading Bruce N. Coopersteins book: Advanced Linear Algebra (Second Edition) ... ... I am focused on Section 10.3 The Tensor Algebra ... ... I need help in order to get a basic understanding of Example 10.1 in Section 10.3 ...Example 10.1 plus some preliminary definitions reads as...
  49. F

    I What is the outer product of a tensor product of vectors?

    If one has two single-particle Hilbert spaces ##\mathcal{H}_{1}## and ##\mathcal{H}_{2}##, such that their tensor product ##\mathcal{H}_{1}\otimes\mathcal{H}_{2}## yields a two-particle Hilbert space in which the state vectors are defined as $$\lvert\psi ,\phi\rangle...
  50. Math Amateur

    MHB Tensor Algebras - Cooperstein Example 10.1

    I am reading Bruce N. Coopersteins book: Advanced Linear Algebra (Second Edition) ... ... I am focused on Section 10.3 The Tensor Algebra ... ... I need help in order to get a basic understanding of Example 10.1 in Section 10.3 ...Example 10.1 plus some preliminary definitions reads as...
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