Tensor Definition and 1000 Threads

Hello, so my question is, if for some metric, we have found (somehow) Fμν, and we know that: Fμν=∂μAν-∂νAμ, how do we find Aν? I tried solving the differential system after imposing the Lorentz gauge ∂μAμ=0 but still, without some initial guess about which components of A are zero, the system...

Homework Statement Hello, I know about the inertia tensor about one axis, but how about a body that rotates around 3 axis x,y and z such as a spacecraft with changes in the attitude. Thanks for you help. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution

We have got a disagreement with fresh_42 in https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/the-pantheon-of-derivatives-part-ii-comments.908009/#post-5718965 So I would like to ask specialists in differential geometry for a comment 1) gradient of a function defined as follows $$\nabla...

Consider a d dimensional integral of the form, $$\int \frac{d^d \ell}{(2\pi)^d} \frac{\ell^{\sigma} \ell^{\mu}}{D}\,\,\,\text{and}\,\,\, \int \frac{d^d \ell}{(2\pi)^d} \frac{\ell^{\sigma}}{D}$$ where ##D## is a product of several propagators. One can reduce this to a sum of scalar integrals by...

δij is the Kronecker delta - is this considered a tensor or vector? I know it means the identity when i=j so I'm going to guess tensor because it's a matrix rather than just a vector but I want to make sure. A matrix is a rank 2 tensor and a vector is a rank 1 and a scalar is a rank 0? How does...

Say, we have two Hilbert spaces ##U## and ##V## and their duals ##U^*, V^*##. Then, we say, ##u\otimes v~ \epsilon~ U\otimes V##, where ##'\otimes'## is defined as the tensor product of the two spaces, ##U\times V \rightarrow U\otimes V##. In Dirac's Bra-Ket notation, this is written as...

I am given a hamiltonian for a two electron system $$\hat H_2 = \hat H_1 \otimes \mathbb {I} + \mathbb {I} \otimes \hat H_1$$ and I already know ##\hat H_1## which is my single electron Hamiltonian. Now I am applying this to my two electron system. I know very little about the tensor product...

Suppose we wish to use Cartesian coordinates for points on the surface of a sphere. Then all derivatives of the metric would vanish and so the Riemann curvature tensor would vanish. But it would give us a wrong result, namely that the space is not curved. So it means that if we want to get...

Are they the same object?

We've been learning about tensor products. In particular, we've been looking at index notation for the tensor products of matrices like these: ## \left( \begin{array}{cc} a_{11} & a_{12} \\ a_{21} & a_{22} \end{array} \right)## And ## \left( \begin{array}{cc} b_{11} & b_{12} \\ b_{21} & b_{22}...

By space, I mean a vector space which could be a representation of a group or even have some expanded algebraic structure. So I am not sure if this question goes here or in the Algebra subforum. Consider the tensor square r\otimes r of an irreducible group representation r with itself, and...

Hello, I have encountered the concept of tensor product between two or more different vector spaces. I would like to get a more intuitive sense of what the final product is. Say we have two vector spaces ##V_1## of dimension 2 and ##V_2## of dimension 3. Each vector space has a basis that we...

Hi I am trying to follow the derivation in some notes I have for the field strength tensor using covariant derivatives defined by Du = ∂u - iqAu . The field strength is the defined by [ Du , Dv ] = -iqFuv The given answer is Fuv = ∂uAv - ∂vAu .When I expand the commutator I get this...

Before I go any further, I do understand the ways that mechanical engineering textbooks explain why stress is a tensor. But all of those explanations seem infused with geometry (which I do NOT mean in a negative way at all); and are demonsrtrations. I am searching for a more concise/abstract...

I'm stuck on an apparently obvious statement in special relativity, so I hope you can help me. Can I define Lorenz transformations as transformations that don't change the spacetime interval in M4 and from this deduct that the metric tensor is invariant under LT? I've always read that the...

Hi, I am struggling to derive the relations on the right hand column of eq.(4) in https://arxiv.org/pdf/1008.4884.pdfEven the easy abelian one (third row) which is $$D_\rho B_{\mu\nu}=\partial_\rho B_{\mu\nu}$$ doesn't match my calculation Since $$D_\rho B_{\mu\nu}=(\partial_\rho+i g...

The Cauchy stress tensor at a material point is usually visualized using an infinitesimal cube. The stress vectors (traction vectors) on opposite sides of the cube are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. As a result, the infinitesimal cube is in equilibrium. However, when we derive...

How to proof that εμνρσ Rμνρσ =0 ? Thanks.

Is that true in general and why: $$A^{mn}_{.~.~lm}=A^{nm}_{.~.~ml}$$

Homework Statement If f(x) is a scalar-valued function, show that ∂ƒ²/∂xi∂xj are the components of a Cartesian tensor of rank 2. Homework Equations N/A The Attempt at a Solution I don't even know where to begin. We began learning tensors in multivariable calculus (though I don't think this is...

Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I am really lost here because our professor gave us no example problems leading up to the final exam and now we are expected to understand everything about vector calculus. This is my attempt at the cross product and...

In one of our lectures we wrote Maxwell's equations as (with ##c=1##) ##\partial_\mu F^{\mu \nu} = 4\pi J^\nu## ##\partial_\mu F_{\nu \rho} + \partial_\nu F_{\rho \mu} + \partial_\rho F_{\mu \nu} = 0## where the E.M. tensor is ## F^{\mu \nu} = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & -B_3 & B_2 & E_1\\ B_3 & 0 &...

Homework Statement Suppose we have a covariant derivative of covariant derivative of a scalar field. My lecturer said that it should be equal to zero. but I seem to not get it Homework Equations Suppose we have $$X^{AB} = \nabla^A \phi \nabla^B \phi - \frac{1}{2} g^{AB} \nabla_C \phi \nabla^C...

I wonder if it is possible to write the components of the metric tensor (or any other tensor) as a summ of functions of the coordinates? Like this: g^{\mu\nu} = \sum_{\mu}^{D}\sum_{\nu}^{D} g_{_1}(x^{\mu}) g_{_2}(x^{\nu}) where g1 and g2 are functions of one variable alone and D is the...

Homework Statement Hi, I can't seem to understand the following formula in my professor's lecture notes: F_αβ = g_αγ*g_βδ*F^(γδ) Homework Equations Where g_αβ is the diagonal matrix in 4 dimensions with g_00 = 1 and g_11 = g_22 = g_33 = -1 and F^(γδ) is the electromagnetic tensor with c=1...

Homework Statement Hello, I am supposed to show that the quantity TR=JTF-t satisfies TR=∂W/∂F for some scalar function W(X, F, θ) in my continuum mechanics homework. The task is to identify this scalar function W(X, F, θ).Homework Equations This is part b) of a question. In part a), we get...

I was thinking about the metric tensor. Given a metric gμν we know that it is symmetric on its two indices. If we have gμν,α (the derivative of the metric with respect to xα), is it also valid to consider symmetry on μ and α? i.e. is the identity gμν,α = gαν,μ valid?

How would one go about setting up the stress energy tensor for a particle, say an electron subjected to electric an electric field that makes the particle oscillate with frequency \omega?

Hi, I'm looking for a modern, colourful, illustrative introductory textbook to work through on tensor calculus/continuum mechanics. I'd like one with lots of physical examples, exercises, summaries, etc. I'd like an emphasis on engineering. Something in the mould of Frank White's Fluid...

I am taking a course on GR and trying to understand Tensor calculus. I think I understand contravariant tensor (transformation of objects such as a vector from one frame to another) but I am having a hard time with covariant tensors. I looked into the Wikipedia page...

Hi, I know the generalized hookes law between stress and strain is given by the elastic tensor. This matrix has 81 constants which are reduced to 9 in the isotropic case. Can someone please help me to understand intuitively how this reduction in the elastic tensor takes place and why some of the...

I have been trying to understand what a tensor is, still I cannot make an intuitive idea about it. I need help. Thanks in advance.

Homework Statement Not sure if this is advanced, so move it wherever. A certain rigid body may be represented by three point masses: m_1 = 1 at (1,-1,-2) m_2 = 2 at (-1,1,0) m_3 = 1 at (1,1,-2) a) find the moment of inertia tensor b) diagonalize the matrix obtaining the eigenvalues and the...

Hi, I have trouble understanding why the following relations hold true. Given the Minkowski metric \eta_{\alpha\beta}=diag(1,-1,-1,-1) and the line segment ds^2 = dx^2+dy^2+dz^2, then how can i see that this line segment is equal to ds^2 = \eta_{\alpha\beta}dx^\alpha dx^\beta . Further, we...

Hi, I am trying to figure out why a term like ## L \sim i \bar \psi_L \sigma^{\mu\nu}G_{\mu\nu}^a t^a \psi_R + h.c=## ##= i \bar \psi_L \sigma^{\mu\nu}G_{\mu\nu}^a t^a \psi_R - i \bar \psi_R \sigma^{\mu\nu}G_{\mu\nu}^a t^a \psi_L ## violates CP by looking at all the terms composing the...

Hi everyone, I want to derive the Friedmann equations from Einstein Field Equations. However, I have a problem that stems from the energy-momentum tensor. I am also trying to keep track of ## c^2 ## terms. FRW Metric: $$ ds^2= -c^2dt^2 + a^2(t) \left( {\frac{dr^2}{1-kr^2} + r^2 d\theta^2 + r^2...

Homework Statement Let ##x##, ##y##, and ##z## be the usual cartesian coordinates in ##\mathbb{R}^{3}## and let ##u^{1} = r##, ##u^{2} = \theta## (colatitude), and ##u^{3} = \phi## be spherical coordinates. Compute the metric tensor components for the spherical coordinates...

Imagine a hole drilled through the Earth from which all air has been removed thus creating a vacuum. Let a cluster of test particles in the shape of a sphere be dropped into this hole. The volume of the balls should start to decrease. However, in his article "The Meaning of Einstein's Equation"...

Suppose we are given this definition of the wedge product for two one-forms in the component notation: $$(A \wedge B)_{\mu\nu}=2A_{[\mu}B_{\nu]}=A_{\mu}B_{\nu}-A_{\nu}B_{\mu}$$ Now how can we show the switch from tensor products to wedge product below...

The antisymmetric 2-tensor ##F_{ij}## is given by ##F_{ij}\equiv \partial_{i}A_{j}-\partial_{j}A_{i}## so that ##F_{ij}={\epsilon_{ij}}^{k}B_{k}## and ##B_{i}=\frac{1}{2}{\epsilon_{i}}^{jk}F_{jk}##. I was wondering if the permutation tensor with indices upstairs is different from the...

If a large cloud of dust of constant ρ is moving with a given ##\vec v ## in some frame, then at any given time and position inside the cloud there should not be no net energy or i-momentum flow on any surface of constant ##x^i ## (i=1,2,3) because the particles coming in cancels those going out...

Homework Statement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauchy_stress_tensor[/B] I don't understand the difference between τxy . τyx , τxz , τzx , τyz , τzy ..What did they mean ? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution taking τxy and τyx as example , what are the difference between them ? They...

Homework Statement i have a few homework question and want to be sure if I have solved them right. Q1) Write ##\vec{\triangledown}\cdot\vec{\triangledown}\times\vec{A}## and ##\vec{\triangledown}\times\vec{\triangledown}\phi## in tensor index notation in ##R^3## Q2) the spherical coordinates...

Hello everyone, There is something that has been bugging me for a long time about the meaning of Lorentz Transformations when looked at in the context of tensor analysis. I will try to be as clear as possible while at the same time remaining faithful to the train of thought that brought me...

I've seen the terms tensor calculus and tensor analysis both being used - what is the difference?

Hello I am little bit confused about calculating Ricci tensor for schwarzschild metric: So we have Ricci flow equation,∂tgμν=-2Rμν. And we have metric tensor for schwarzschild metric: Diag((1-rs/r),(1-rs]/r)-1,(r2),(sin2Θ) and ∂tgμν=0 so 0=-2Rμν and we get that Rμν=0.But Rμν should not equal to...

Hello! Why is the stress energy tensor defined as a (2 0) tensor? I understand that it needs 2 one-forms as arguments, but using the metric, can't we bring it to (1 1) or (0 2)? So is there is any physical or mathematical reason why it is defined as (2 0), or it is equally right to define it as...

From Carroll (2004) It is possible to derive the Einstein Equations (with ##c=1##) via functional variation of an action $$S=\dfrac{S_H}{16\pi G}+S_M$$ where $$S_H= \int \sqrt{-g}R_{\mu\nu}g^{\mu\nu}d^4 x$$ and ##S_M## is a corresponding action representing matter. We can decompose ##\delta...

Hello. I am confused about the notation for tensors and vectors. From what I saw, for a 4-vector the notation is with upper index. But for a second rank tensor (electromagnetic tensor for example) the notation is also upper index. I attached a screenshot of this. Initially I thought that for...

Why doesn't mass show up in the stress-energy tensor explicitly?