Levi-Civita: very small problem, need two steps explained

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Waxterzz
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Levi-civita
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interpretation and clarification of specific steps in a mathematical exercise involving the Levi-Civita symbol and tensor notation, particularly focusing on the manipulation of indices and the properties of a term denoted as D. The scope includes technical reasoning and clarification of mathematical expressions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests clarification on the introduction of a term with only two indices and the subsequent manipulation that leads to three indices.
  • Another participant points out that indices are missing in the middle step and emphasizes the need for a definition of D and its properties to provide accurate assistance.
  • A participant provides a complete exercise and solution, questioning the correctness of a specific term involving the Levi-Civita symbol and suggesting alternatives for the expression.
  • Another participant proposes a corrected form of the second to last step, noting the inclusion of a factor of one half that should also apply to the last expression.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correctness of specific terms and the presence of missing indices, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include missing definitions and properties of D, as well as unresolved mathematical steps related to the manipulation of indices in the expressions discussed.

Waxterzz
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
Hi all,

kLW43Jw.png


Can someone explain me the last two steps?

I don't know why suddenly there is a term with only two indices, and then in the last step you do something distributive and again three indices.

Thanks in advance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Obviously indices are missing in the middle step as well as a definition of what D is and what properties it has. The latter is probably in the text you are quoting but we have no way of knowing this and it is important in order to be able to help you.
 
Orodruin said:
Obviously indices are missing in the middle step as well as a definition of what D is and what properties it has. The latter is probably in the text you are quoting but we have no way of knowing this and it is important in order to be able to help you.

Hi,

Here is the complete exercise and solution from Zangwhil Modern Electrodynamics. Since my question is about the levi-civita symbol, I thought it would be better to post it here since it is a tensor.

So in the step e(ijk) D(jk) = e(ijk)D(jk) + e(kj)D(kj)

So The e(kj)D(kj) part is wrong and it should be e(ikj)D(kj) or e(kji)D(kj) ? And since the other terms ( e(ijk) D(jk) )cancel since they are equal, this e(ikj)D(kj) or e(kji)D(kj) term should be zero, why is this?The very last step is just swapping again an index so it turns out to be negative and then you can pull the symbol out, so I think the last step I understand (if it's indeed the case if an index was missing in the former step)

i9vnbM2.png
 
Last edited:
The second to last step should be
$$\frac 12 (\epsilon_{ijk} D_{jk} + \epsilon_{ikj} D_{kj}).$$
Note the factor of one half. There should also be a factor of a half in front of the last expression.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
8K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
5K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
24K