Christofell Symbols: Derivation in Schutz & Wald

In summary, the Christoffel symbols are derived differently in Schutz and Wald. In Schutz, they are obtained through the product rule applied to a vector in a curvilinear basis. In Wald, they are derived by imposing conditions on an ansatz of the form of a covariant derivative, such as the metric covariant derivative being zero. This implies that one could potentially construct other theories of general relativity by imposing different conditions, but Schutz's derivation does not allow for this possibility. This is because Wald's definition of the Christoffel symbols assumes certain conditions, making it incompatible with theories of gravity with torsion. Additionally, Schutz and Wald only deal with general relativity and exclude other gravitational theories, such as Einstein
  • #1
HomogenousCow
737
213
In Schutz, the christofell symbols are dervied from applying the product rule to a vector in a curvillinear basis.
In Wald, the christofell symbols are dervied by making an ansatz of the form a covariant derivative must take and then imposing conditions on it like the metric covariant derivative being zero.

What I find odd about this is that the derivation in Wald implies that one could construct other theories of general relativity by imposing different conditions like a non-zero torsion or a non-zero metric covariant derivative, while the derivation in Schutz leaves no room for a different theory.
Why is this so?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Well Wald's definition assumes ##\nabla_{[a}\nabla_{b]}f = 0## so you can't use the affine connections Wald defines if you want a theory of gravity with torsion. Regardless, in general we can easily have affine connections with torsion that are still metric compatible (see Wald exercise 3.1) and define a theory of gravity using this connection such as Einstein-Cartan theory. Schutz and Wald are simply excluding these cases because they are gravitational theories that are distinct from GR whereas the contents of the books only deal with GR, that's all there is to it.
 

1. What are Christoffel symbols and why are they important in physics?

Christoffel symbols are mathematical objects used in differential geometry to describe the curvature of a space. In physics, they are important in the field of general relativity, where they help to calculate the geodesic equation for a given metric space.

2. How are Christoffel symbols derived in Schutz & Wald's approach?

In Schutz & Wald's approach, Christoffel symbols are derived using the metric tensor and its inverse. The metric tensor describes the distance between points in a space, while its inverse can be used to raise and lower indices in equations. By taking the derivative of the metric tensor and using the inverse, the Christoffel symbols can be calculated.

3. Can Christoffel symbols be used in any type of space, or are they specific to certain types of geometries?

Christoffel symbols can be used in any type of space that has a well-defined metric tensor. This includes Euclidean spaces, as well as curved spaces like those described in general relativity. They are not limited to any specific type of geometry.

4. How do Christoffel symbols relate to the concept of curvature?

Christoffel symbols are related to curvature through their use in the geodesic equation. This equation describes the shortest path between two points in a space, taking into account the curvature of the space. The Christoffel symbols help to calculate this curvature and thus play a crucial role in understanding the geometry of a space.

5. Are there any practical applications of Christoffel symbols outside of theoretical physics?

While Christoffel symbols were originally developed for use in general relativity, they have since found applications in other fields such as computer graphics and robotics. In these applications, the symbols are used to describe the curvature of surfaces and to calculate the shortest path between points, similar to their use in physics.

Similar threads

  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
2
Replies
36
Views
5K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
22
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
5
Views
4K
Replies
37
Views
8K
  • Special and General Relativity
3
Replies
78
Views
4K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
21
Views
4K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
4
Views
1K
Back
Top