Covariant vector differentiation problem with kronecker delta?

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The discussion centers on understanding the appearance of the Kronecker delta in the context of covariant vector differentiation. The user is confused about the identity used to derive the Kronecker delta after differentiation, particularly in the relation involving the partial derivatives of the vector components. Clarifications are provided regarding the meaning of "wrt" (with respect to) and "a priori" (from the outset), emphasizing that vector components are linearly independent by definition. The conversation also touches on the differentiation process and how it relates to the transformation matrix, explaining that the subscripts in the Kronecker delta flip due to the differentiation with respect to specific components. Overall, the thread aims to clarify the mathematical principles underlying the differentiation of covariant vectors.
randombill
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I'm having trouble understanding the proof/solution below (please see photo, I also wrote out the problem below). I highlighted the part of my problem in red (in the picture attached). Basically I'm not sure what identity they use to get the Kronecker delta after differentiating or whether they use something else to get that part.

"Since A/\nu is covariant vector, it satisfies


A/\nu = (\partialx\rho/\partialx/\nu)A\rho

A/\rho = (\partialx/\mu/\partialx\rho)A/\mu

This next part gives me trouble with the relation:

(\partialA\rho/\partialA/\nu) = (\partialx/\nu/\partialx\rho) \delta\nu\mu

I'm lost as to how the kronecker delta appears. I know that

(\partialx\nu/\partialx\mu) = \delta\nu\mu

[Mod Note: Over-sized image removed. See attachment. Hoot]
 

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I updated the question without the photo, thanks.
 
One has
<br /> \frac{\partial A_{\rho}}{\partial A&#039;_{\nu}} = \frac{\partial}{\partial A&#039;_{\nu}} \frac{\partial x^{&#039;\mu}}{\partial x^{\rho}} A&#039;_{\mu} = \frac{\partial x^{&#039;\mu}}{\partial x^{\rho}}\frac{\partial A&#039;_{\mu}}{\partial A&#039;_{\nu}} <br />
So the functional derivative wrt A goes right to the transformation matrix. The primes on the fields A can then safely be removed; the components of A are a priori linear independent, if you write them in a primed coordinate system or not (the prime is just a label now). This is where the delta comes from:
<br /> \frac{\partial A_{\rho}}{\partial A&#039;_{\nu}} = \frac{\partial x^{&#039;\mu}}{\partial x^{\rho}}\delta^{\nu}_{\mu} <br />
 
So the functional derivative wrt A goes right to the transformation matrix. The primes on the fields A can then safely be removed; the components of A are a priori linear independent, if you write them in a primed coordinate system or not (the prime is just a label now). This is where the delta comes from:

What does wrt mean? Written?
What does priori linear independent mean?

Are there missing steps that you aren't showing, maybe that would help.

Forgive me I'm still confused, what math class teaches this in terms of schooling or what theorem are you using. I never really studied this formally. I did take linear algebra once and studied linear independence but not related to calculus and matrices.

thanks.
 
Last edited:
wrt means "with respect to".

"a priori" is maybe confusing; I meant "from the outset". A field without any symmetries and no constraints imposed has linear independent components per definition. So a vector has linear independent components, which is expressed as

<br /> \frac{\partial A_{\rho}}{\partial A_{\nu}} = \delta^{\nu}_{\rho} <br />

Similarly, for a tensor T,

<br /> \frac{\partial T_{\mu\nu}}{\partial T_{\rho\sigma}} = \delta^{\rho}_{\mu} \delta^{\sigma}_{\nu} <br />

Etc.
This of course changes whenever T is symmetric or antisymmetric!
 
By the way, these are functional derivatives, so you would like to look at that.
 
haushofer said:
<br /> \frac{\partial A_{\rho}}{\partial A_{\nu}} = \delta^{\nu}_{\rho} <br />

Why does the subscript for the vectors flip in the kronecker delta?

thanks.
 
Because you differentiate with respect to A_{\nu}. Compare with an ordinary derivative:

<br /> \partial_{\mu} = \frac{\partial}{\partial x^{\mu}}<br />
 

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