Confusion with Einstein tensor notation

Loro
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Homework Statement



I'm confused about writing down the equation: \Lambda \eta \Lambda^{-1} = \eta in the Einstein convention.

Homework Equations



The answer is: \eta_{\mu\nu}\Lambda^{\mu}{}_{\rho}\Lambda^{\nu}{}_{\sigma} = \eta_{\rho\sigma}

However it's strange because there seems to be no distinction between \Lambda and \Lambda^{-1} if we write it this way.
However we know that:

(\Lambda^{-1})^{\mu}{}_{\nu} = \Lambda_{\nu}{}^{\mu}

The Attempt at a Solution



If the equation was instead \Lambda B \Lambda^{-1} = B

Where B is a tensor given in the form B^{\mu}{}_{\nu} then it's clear to me how to write it:

\Lambda^{\rho}{}_{\mu} B^{\mu}{}_{\nu} \Lambda_{\sigma}{}^{\nu} = B^{\rho}{}_{\sigma}

But \eta is given in the form \eta^{\mu\nu} and I don't understand how I can contract it with both \Lambda^{\mu}{}_{\nu} and \Lambda_{\nu}{}^{\mu} in order to arrive eventually at the result quoted in (2).
 
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Loro said:

Homework Statement



I'm confused about writing down the equation: \Lambda \eta \Lambda^{-1} = \eta in the Einstein convention.

Homework Equations



The answer is: \eta_{\mu\nu}\Lambda^{\mu}{}_{\rho}\Lambda^{\nu}{}_{\sigma} = \eta_{\rho\sigma}

However it's strange because there seems to be no distinction between \Lambda and \Lambda^{-1} if we write it this way.
However we know that:

(\Lambda^{-1})^{\mu}{}_{\nu} = \Lambda_{\nu}{}^{\mu}

The Attempt at a Solution



If the equation was instead \Lambda B \Lambda^{-1} = B

Where B is a tensor given in the form B^{\mu}{}_{\nu} then it's clear to me how to write it:

\Lambda^{\rho}{}_{\mu} B^{\mu}{}_{\nu} \Lambda_{\sigma}{}^{\nu} = B^{\rho}{}_{\sigma}

But \eta is given in the form \eta^{\mu\nu} and I don't understand how I can contract it with both \Lambda^{\mu}{}_{\nu} and \Lambda_{\nu}{}^{\mu} in order to arrive eventually at the result quoted in (2).

Is there an actual question? :-p

So, your confusion is how (2) works?
 
Haha sorry :-p

I would like to know why (2) works, and possibly how I could arrive at it, starting from an expression that has both \Lambda^{\mu}{}_{\nu} and \Lambda_{\nu}{}^{\mu}.
 
Loro said:

Homework Statement



I'm confused about writing down the equation: \Lambda \eta \Lambda^{-1} = \eta in the Einstein convention.

Homework Equations



The answer is: \eta_{\mu\nu}\Lambda^{\mu}{}_{\rho}\Lambda^{\nu}{}_{\sigma} = \eta_{\rho\sigma}

However it's strange because there seems to be no distinction between \Lambda and \Lambda^{-1} if we write it this way.
However we know that:

(\Lambda^{-1})^{\mu}{}_{\nu} = \Lambda_{\nu}{}^{\mu}

The Attempt at a Solution



If the equation was instead \Lambda B \Lambda^{-1} = B

Where B is a tensor given in the form B^{\mu}{}_{\nu} then it's clear to me how to write it:

\Lambda^{\rho}{}_{\mu} B^{\mu}{}_{\nu} \Lambda_{\sigma}{}^{\nu} = B^{\rho}{}_{\sigma}

But \eta is given in the form \eta^{\mu\nu} and I don't understand how I can contract it with both \Lambda^{\mu}{}_{\nu} and \Lambda_{\nu}{}^{\mu} in order to arrive eventually at the result quoted in (2).

Well, just raise the ##\mu## index and lower the ##\rho## index on the first ##\Lambda## in your form with the B tensor using the metric tensor.
 
Last edited:
Thanks,

Like that: ?

\Lambda_{\rho}{}^{\mu} \eta_{\mu}{}_{\nu} \Lambda_{\sigma}{}^{\nu} = \eta_{\rho}{}_{\sigma}

But then again both \Lambda's are of the same form - this time they both seem to be inverses.
 
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