Help Needed: Rewriting Covariant Derivative to Killing Equations

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the Killing equations from the covariant derivative expression involving the Christoffel symbols and the metric tensor. The initial equation provided is -\xi^c(\Gamma^d_{ca}g_{db}+\Gamma^d_{cb}g_{ad})+\partial_b\xi^dg_{ad}+\partial_a\xi^cg_{cb}=0. The user seeks assistance in transitioning from the expression -\Gamma^c_{ba}\xi_c-\Gamma^c_{ab}\xi_c to -\xi^c(\Gamma^d_{ca}g_{db}+\Gamma^d_{cb}g_{ad}). A suggested method involves replacing \xi with \xi * metric and appropriately lowering indices on the Christoffel symbols.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of covariant derivatives and their relation to partial derivatives.
  • Familiarity with Christoffel symbols and their role in differential geometry.
  • Knowledge of metric tensors and their application in lowering indices.
  • Basic proficiency in tensor notation and manipulation.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the Killing equations in the context of Riemannian geometry.
  • Learn about the properties and applications of Christoffel symbols in tensor calculus.
  • Explore the process of lowering and raising indices using metric tensors.
  • Investigate the implications of Killing vectors in the study of symmetries in differential geometry.
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, physicists, and students studying differential geometry, particularly those interested in the properties of Killing vectors and their applications in general relativity and theoretical physics.

trv
Messages
74
Reaction score
9
A little stuck while working through a derivation. Hope someone can help.

Homework Statement



Starting from

[itex] -\xi^c(\Gamma^d_{ca}g_{db}+\Gamma^d_{cb}g_{ad})+\partial_b\xi^dg_{ad}+\partial_a\xi^cg_{cb}=0[/itex]

I need to obtain the Killing equations, i.e.

[itex] \bigtriangledown_b\xi_a+\bigtriangledown_a\xi_b=0[/itex]

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution



Working backwards...

Rewriting the covariant derivative in terms of the partial derivative gives

[itex] \bigtriangledown_b\xi_a+\bigtriangledown_a\xi_b=\partial_a\xi_b+\partial_b\xi_a-\Gamma^c_{ba}\xi_c-\Gamma^c_{ab}\xi_c=0[/itex]

Lowering the vector in the partial derivatives gives...

[itex] \partial_a\xi_b+\partial_b\xi_a-\Gamma^c_{ba}\xi_c-\Gamma^c_{ab}\xi_c=-\Gamma^c_{ba}\xi_c-\Gamma^c_{ab}\xi_c+\partial_b\xi^dg_{ad}+\partial_a\xi^cg_{cb}=0[/itex]

I don't however know how to go from

[itex] -\Gamma^c_{ba}\xi_c-\Gamma^c_{ab}\xi_c[/itex]

to

[itex] -\xi^c(\Gamma^d_{ca}g_{db}+\Gamma^d_{cb}g_{ad}[/itex])

Can someone help?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
trv said:
A little stuck while working through a derivation. Hope someone can help.

Homework Statement



Starting from

[itex] -\xi^c(\Gamma^d_{ca}g_{db}+\Gamma^d_{cb}g_{ad})+\partial_b\xi^dg_{ad}+\partial_a\xi^cg_{cb}=0[/itex]

I need to obtain the Killing equations, i.e.

[itex] \bigtriangledown_b\xi_a+\bigtriangledown_a\xi_b=0[/itex]

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution



Working backwards...

Rewriting the covariant derivative in terms of the partial derivative gives

[itex] \bigtriangledown_b\xi_a+\bigtriangledown_a\xi_b=\partial_a\xi_b+\partial_b\xi_a-\Gamma^c_{ba}\xi_c-\Gamma^c_{ab}\xi_c=0[/itex]

Lowering the vector in the partial derivatives gives...

[itex] \partial_a\xi_b+\partial_b\xi_a-\Gamma^c_{ba}\xi_c-\Gamma^c_{ab}\xi_c=-\Gamma^c_{ba}\xi_c-\Gamma^c_{ab}\xi_c+\partial_b\xi^dg_{ad}+\partial_a\xi^cg_{cb}=0[/itex]

I don't however know how to go from

[itex] -\Gamma^c_{ba}\xi_c-\Gamma^c_{ab}\xi_c[/itex]

to

[itex] -\xi^c(\Gamma^d_{ca}g_{db}+\Gamma^d_{cb}g_{ad}[/itex])

Can someone help?

its a little difficult to show. first you should replace Xi with Xi*metric, then use this metric to lower the index on Gamma, then replace this Gamma with Gamma*metric, which is what we want. hopefully that makes some sense.
 
Thanks, it does make sense.

[itex] \xi^c\Gamma^d_{ca}g_{bd}=\xi_eg^{ce}\Gamma^d_{ca}g_{bd}=\xi_eg^{ce}\Gamma_{bca}=\xi_e\Gamma^e_{ba}=\xi_c\Gamma^c_{ba}[/itex]
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 71 ·
3
Replies
71
Views
4K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • Sticky
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
10K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
6K