Tensor Definition and 1000 Threads

It seems there should be a list of tensor identities on the internet that answers the following, but I can't find one. For tensors in ##R^4##, ##S = S_\mu{}^\nu = S_{(\mu}{}^{\nu)}## is a symmetric tensor. ##A = A_{\nu\rho\sigma}= A_{[\nu\rho\sigma]}## is an antisymmetric tensor in all...

Here's a question that has bugged me for a while. The full Riemann curvature tensor R^\mu_{\nu \lambda \sigma} can be split into the Einstein tensor, G_{\mu \nu}, which vanishes in vacuum, and the Weyl tensor C^\mu_{\nu \lambda \sigma}, which does not. (I'm a little unclear on whether R^\mu_{\nu...

Homework Statement I am trying to derive the curvature tensor by finding the commutator of two covariant derivatives. I think I've got it, but my head is spinning with Nablas and indices. Would anyone be willing to check my work? Thanks Homework Equations I am trying to derive the curvature...

Is correct to say that two vectors , three vectors or n vectors as a common point of origin form a tensor ? What is the correct geometric representation of a tensor ? The doubt arises from the fact that in books on the subject , in general there is no geometric representation. Sometimes appears...

I have managed to work out parts a and b of Exercise 13.7 from MTW (attached), but can't see how part c works. I can see how it could work in (say) the example of taking a radar measurement of the distance to Venus, where we have the Euclidian distance prediction and the result of the radar...

Homework Statement A charged particle of charge q with arbitrary velocity ##\vec v_0## enters a region with a constant ##\vec B_0## field. 1)Write down the covariant equations of motion for the particle, without considering the radiation of the particle. 2)Find ##x^\mu (\tau)## 3)Find the...

I have recently derived both the purely covariant Riemann tensor as well as the purely covariant Weyl tensor for the Gödel solution to Einstein's field equations. Here is a wiki for the Gödel metric if you need it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gödel_metric There you can see the line element I...

Say you have a scalar ##S=A^{\alpha}_{\beta}B^{\beta}_{\alpha}## . Since this just means to sum over ##{\alpha}## and ##{\beta}## , is it allowable to rewrite it as ##S=A^{\alpha}_{\alpha}B^{\beta}_{\beta}## . I don't see anything wrong with this, I simply rewrote the dummy indices, but since I...

When we define line element of Minkowski space, we also define the metric tensor of the equation. What actually is the function of the tensor with the line element.

I've started f(T) theory but I have a simple question like something that i couldn't see straightforwardly. In Teleparallel theories one has the torsion scalar: And if you take the product you should obtain But there seems to be the terms like . How does this one vanish? because we know...

Would it be possible to write the torsion tensor in terms of the metric? I know that a symmetric Christoffel Symbol can be written in terms of the partial derivatives of the metric. This definition of the christoffel symbols does not apply if they are not symmetric. Is it possible to write a...

I just want to make sure I have this right because when I go to different sites, it seems to look different every time. This is the Weyl tensor: Cabcd = Rabcd + (1/2) [- Racgbd + Radgbc + Rbcgad - Rbdgac + (1/3) (gacgbd - gadgbc)R] Is this correct?

In a multi-particle system, the total state is defined by the tensor product of the individual states. Why is it the case that operators, say position of 2 particles, is of the form X⊗I + I⊗Y and not X⊗Y where I are the identities for the respective spaces and X and Y are the position operators...

From introductory courses on EM, I was given 'sketchy' proofs that, in a EM field in vacuum, magnetic energy density is B² and electric energy density is E² (bar annoying multiplication factors; they just get under my skin, I'll skip them all in the following). Other facts of life: -FμνFμν, the...

Hello! The Einstein field equation relates the curvature of space-time to the energy tensor of mass-energy. This is fine. These field equations are derived by varying the Hilbert action. Now the Hilbert action is an integral of scalar curvature (R) over volume. So, when we vary this action, we...

Why Maxwell's stress tensor has minus sign to the corresponding components of electromagnetic momentum energy tensor ? From WP --- , where , is the Poynting vector, is the Maxwell stress tensor, and c is the speed of light. ----

<<Mentor note: This thread has been split from this thread due to going a bit off-topic.>> I would actually disagree with this. Any tensor has well defined units, but its components may not have the same units as the tensor basis may consist of basis tensors with different units. For example...

The coefficient of the stress energy tesor in the GR equation reduces to 8π/Ν, where N = {"(Kg)m/s^2.} Is it correct to conclude that all the elements of the stress energy tensor must have the dimension of N = (Kg)m/s^2 since the curvature and metric tensors on the other side of the equation are...

Homework Statement Hi I am reviewing the following document on tensor: https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/Numbers/Math/documents/Tensors_TM2002211716.pdf Homework Equations In the middle of page 27, the author says: Now, using the covariant representation, the expression $$\vec V=\vec V^*$$...

Homework Statement So I've been trying to derive field strength tensor. What to do with the last 2 parts ? They obviously don't cancel (or do they?) Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution [D_{\mu},D_{\nu}] = (\partial_{\mu} + A_{\mu})(\partial_{\nu} + A_{\nu}) - (\mu <-> \nu) =...

I have 2 basic questions: 1. Since a type (m,n) tensor can be created by component by component multiplication of m contravariant and n covariant vectors, does this mean an (m,n) tensor can always be decomposed into m contravariant and n covariant tensors? Uniquely? 2. Since a tensor in GR , or...

So i am studying GR at the moment, and I've been trying to figure out what the derivative (not covarient) of the mixed metric tensor $$\delta^\mu_\nu$$ would be, since this tensor is just the identity matrix surely its derivative should be zero. Yet at the same time $$\delta^\mu_\nu =...

Say I want to find ##\delta \bigg( \sqrt{- \eta_{\mu \nu} \frac{dx^{\mu}}{d \tau} \frac{dx^{\nu}}{d \tau}} \bigg)##. Is the following alright: ##\delta \bigg( \sqrt{- \eta_{\mu \nu}} \bigg( \frac{dx^{\mu}}{d \tau} \bigg)^{-1/2} \bigg( \frac{dx^{\nu}}{d \tau} \bigg)^{1/2} \bigg)##?

The General Relativity text I am using gives two forms of the Electromagnetic Energy Momentum Tensor: {\rm{ }}\mu _0 S_{ij} = F_{ik} F_{jk} - \frac{1}{4}\delta _{ij} F_{kl} F_{kl} \\ {\rm{ }}\mu _0 S_j^i = F^{ik} F_{jk} - \frac{1}{4}\delta _{ij} F^{kl} F_{kl} \\ I don't see how these...

I am studying the generation of tensor perturbations during inflation, and I am trying to check every statement as carefully as possible. Starting from the metric ds^2 = dt^2 - a^2(\delta_{ij}+h_{ij})dx^idx^j I make use of Einstein's equations to find the equation of motion for the...

In my lecture we were discussing the Lagrangian construction of Electromagnetism. We built it from the vector potential ##A^\mu##. We introduced the field tensor ##F^{\mu \nu}##. We could write the Langrangian in a very short fashion as ##-\frac{1}{4}F_{\mu \nu}F^{\mu \nu}## In the end we...

In the Einstein Field Equations: Rμν - 1/2gμνR + Λgμν = 8πG/c^4 × Tμν, which tensor will describe the coordinates for the curvature of spacetime? The equations above describe the curvature of spacetime as it relates to mass and energy, but if I were to want to graph the curvature of spacetime...

Homework Statement Hi all, I'm trying to learn how to manipulate tensors and in particular to differentiate expressions. I was looking at a Lagrangian density and trying to apply the Euler-Lagrange equations to it. Homework Equations Lagrangian density: \mathcal{L} = -\frac{1}{2}...

Hello buddies, Could someone please help me to understand where the second and the third equalities came from? Thanks,

I'm relatively new to differential geometry and would like to check that this is the correct definition for the tensor product of (for simplicity) two one-forms \alpha,\;\beta\;\;\in V^{\ast} : (\alpha\otimes\beta)(\mathbf{v},\mathbf{w})=\alpha (\mathbf{v})\beta (\mathbf{w}) where...

Homework Statement I am given this metric: ##ds^2 = - c^2dt^2 + a(t)^2 \left( dx^2 + dy^2 + dz^2 \right)##. The non-vanishing christoffel symbols are ##\Gamma^t_{xx} = \Gamma^t_{yy} = \Gamma^t_{zz} = \frac{a a'}{c^2}## and ##\Gamma^x_{xt} = \Gamma^x_{tx} = \Gamma^y_{yt} = \Gamma^y_{ty} =...

Why cosmological constant term ##\Lambda g_{uv}## in Einstein equation is proportional to ##g_{uv}##. Why it is even proportional to ##g_{uv}## in spacetime of MInkowski?

In textbooks, a tensor is usually defined in terms of its transformation properties. But this definition actually seems vague when it comes to checking a set of quantities to see whether they form a tensor or not. Imagine I have four functions and want to see whether they form a 2d 2nd rank...

I am reading Baez's article http://arxiv.org/pdf/gr-qc/0103044v5.pdf and I do not understand paragraph before equation (10), page 18. Equation (9) will be true if anyone component holds in all local inertial coordinate systems. This is a bit like the observation that all of Maxwell’s equations...

Homework Statement I'm just wondering if I'm doing this calculation correct? eta and f are both tensors Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution \frac{\delta \left ( \gamma_{3}f{_{\lambda}}^{k}f{_{k}}^{\sigma}f{_{\sigma}}^{\lambda} \right )}{\delta f^{\mu\nu}}=\frac{\delta\left (\gamma_{3}...

as a new proposal for QGhttp://arxiv.org/abs/1502.05385 Tensor network renormalization yields the multi-scale entanglement renormalization ansatz Glen Evenbly, Guifre Vidal (Submitted on 18 Feb 2015) We show how to build a multi-scale entanglement renormalization ansatz (MERA) representation of...

Homework Statement [/B] So, I need to show Lorentz covariance of a Proca field E-L equation, conceptually I have no problems with this, I just have to make one final step that I cannot really justify. Homework Equations "Proca" (quotation marks because of the minus next to the mass part, I...

Homework Statement A sphere with dielectric constant ##\varepsilon## and radius R is placed inside a homogenous external electric field ##\vec E_0##. The sphere is divided in 2 hemispheres such that their common interface is orthogonal to the external field. Using the energy-momentum tensor...

I've been thinking about the number of degrees of freedom in a tensor with n indices in 2-dimensions which is traceless and symmetric. Initially, there are 2^{n} degrees of freedom. The hypothesis of symmetry provides n!-1 number of conditions of the form: T_{i_{1}, \ldots i_{n}}-...

When writing ##A_{a}\text{ }^{b}## one means ''The element on the a-th row and b-th column of the TRANSPOSE of A" right? Such that ##A_{a}\text{ } ^{b}= A^{b}\text{ } _{a}## ? I would just like a confirmation so I'm not learning the convention in a wrong manner.

Homework Statement Let Aijkl be a rank 4 square tensor with the following symmetries: A_{ijkl} = -A_{jikl}, \qquad A_{ijkl} = - A_{ijlk}, \qquad A_{ijkl} + A_{iklj} + A_{iljk} = 0, Prove that A_{ijkl} = A_{klij} Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution From the first two properties...

Hi, my question is the title, if Ricci tensor equals zero implies flat space? Thanks for your help

Homework Statement Calculate the force of magnetic attraction between the northern and southern hemispheres of a uniformly charged spinning spherical shell, with radius R, angular velocity ω, and surface charge density σ. Use the Maxwell Stress TensorHomework Equations F=\oint \limits_S \...

Seems exist some relationship between the inverse of a matrix with the inertia tensor, looks: This relationship really exist?

Acting upon a vector say, so it is defined as: ##\frac{d}{d\lambda}V^{u}+\Gamma^{u}_{op}\frac{dx^{o}}{d\lambda}V^{p}=\frac{DV^{u}}{D\lambda}## And this can also be written in terms of the covariant derivative, ##\bigtriangledown_{k}## by ##\frac{DV^{u}}{D\lambda}=\frac{d x^{k}}{d \lambda}...

Homework Statement I was working through my text on deriving the tensor for Angular momentum of the sums of elements of a rigid body, I follow it all except for one step. Here is a great page which shows the derivation nicely - http://www.kwon3d.com/theory/moi/iten.html I follow clearly to the...

Hello, Let ##g_{jk}## be a metric tensor; is it possible for some ##i## that ##g_{ii}=0##, i.e. one or more diagonal elements are equal to zero? What would be the geometrical/ topological meaning of this?

I just have a quick question on which order around the numerator and denominator should be in the jacobian matrix that multiplies the expression. As in general Lecture Notes on General Relativity by Sean M. Carroll, 1997 he has the law as ## \xi_{\mu'_{1}\mu'_{2}...\mu'_{n}}=|\frac{\partial...

I'm looking at the informal arguements in deriving the EFE equation. The step that by the bianchi identity the divergence of the einstein tensor is automatically zero. So the bianchi identity is ##\bigtriangledown^{u}R_{pu}-\frac{1}{2}\bigtriangledown_{p}R=0##...

I have a conceptual question associated with one of the worked examples in my notes. The question is: 'Let ##\nabla## and ##\nabla^*## be connections on a manifold ##M##. Show that ##H(X,Y) = \nabla_X Y - \nabla_X^* Y## where ##X,Y## are vector fields defines a (1,2) tensor on M. To show it...