Definition of manifolds with boundary

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SUMMARY

The boundary of a manifold \( M \) in differential geometry is defined as the set of points \( p \in M \) for which there exists a chart \( (U,\varphi) \) such that \( \varphi(p) \in \partial\mathbb{H}^n \), where \( \partial\mathbb{H}^n = \{ x \in \mathbb{R}^n : x^n = 0 \} \). This definition requires that \( M \) is locally homeomorphic to \( \mathbb{H}^n = \{ x \in \mathbb{R}^n : x^n \geq 0 \} \), differing from the traditional topological definition where the boundary is the closure of \( M \) without its interior. The discussion emphasizes the distinction between the necessity of mapping boundary points to \( \partial\mathbb{H}^n \) and the existence of a chart that allows such mapping.

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PhysicsRock
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TL;DR
Why do we define manifolds with boundary differently from the topological definition of the boundary?
In differential geometry, we typically define the boundary ##\partial M## of a manifold ##M## as all ##p \in M## for which there exists a chart ##(U,\varphi), p \in U## such that ##\varphi(p) \in \partial\mathbb{H}^n := \{ x \in \mathbb{R}^n : x^n = 0 \}##. Consequently, we also demand that ##M## is locally homeomorphic to ##\mathbb{H}^n := \{ x \in \mathbb{R}^n : x^n \geq 0 \}##, instead of ##\mathbb{R}^n## as in the (usually) previously encountered definitions of topological manifolds.

For such topological manifolds, the boundary is typically defined to be the closure of ##M## without it's interior, i.e. ##\partial M_{top} = \bar{M} \setminus \mathring{M}##. Perhaps I'm missing something, but theoretically I don't see any restrictions in this definition that would demand that boundary points are to be mapped onto the boundary of ##\mathbb{H}^n##.

My question is, why do we make that alteration?
 
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PhysicsRock said:
theoretically I don't see any restrictions in this definition that would demand that boundary points are to be mapped onto the boundary of Hn.
There is a big difference between needing to be mapped like that and there existing a chart where it is.
 
Orodruin said:
There is a big difference between needing to be mapped like that and there existing a chart where it is.

Orodruin said:
There is a big difference between needing to be mapped like that and there existing a chart where it is.
The way I understand it is that if a point ##p \in M## lies within a chart ##(U,\varphi)## and ##\varphi(p) \in \partial\mathbb{H}^n## then ##p## is considered to be a boundary point. The set of all such ##p## is then called the boundary of ##M##.

However, what I don't understand is why we alter the definition from that of the boundary of topological spaces, as given here.
 
PhysicsRock said:
However, what I don't understand is why we alter the definition from that of the boundary of topological spaces, as given here.
It doesn't, really. It should be clear that ##\partial \mathbb H## is the boundary of ##\mathbb H## and the chart is a homeomorphism.
 

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