Mixed symmetry property and degrees of freedom

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on calculating the degrees of freedom of a rank (0,3) tensor, Aabc, that exhibits mixed symmetry and is antisymmetric in the first two indices. The conversation explores various approaches and calculations related to this tensor's properties, including constraints imposed by symmetry conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a calculation method starting with 27 options for A_{ijk} and applying antisymmetry to reduce the number of independent terms to 24.
  • They further refine their calculation by considering mixed symmetry, leading to a total of 17 degrees of freedom after accounting for additional constraints.
  • Another participant mentions that for a rank (0,3) tensor without constraints, the degrees of freedom would be 216, which decreases to 90 when antisymmetry is applied.
  • This participant also introduces a formula for the number of constraint equations due to mixed symmetry, suggesting that for n=6, the degrees of freedom would be 70.
  • There is a suggestion that this topic could lead to a programming task to compute arbitrary tensors under the discussed constraints.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present differing calculations for the degrees of freedom, with no consensus reached on the final number. The discussion reflects competing views on how to account for the constraints imposed by mixed symmetry and antisymmetry.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding their calculations, and there are multiple interpretations of how to apply the constraints related to mixed symmetry and antisymmetry. The discussion does not resolve these uncertainties.

sourena
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How can I calculate degrees of freedom of a rank (o,3) tensor, Aabc, that is mixed symmetry and antisymmetric in the first 2 indices? By mixed symmetry I mean this:
Aabc+Acab+Abca=0.
 
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You have 3*3*3=27 options for A_{ijk}.

Now by antisymmetry terms like A_{abc}=-A_{bac};
A_{cab}=-A_{acb}; A_{bca}=-A_{cba};

So only 27-3=24 terms are independent, now after the mixed symmetry we are left with:
24-1=23 (cause one term depends on the other two).

So we are left with 5 dof.

Hope I helped somehow.
Edit:
Obviously that terms with the same first two indices are zero, and we have 3*2=6 such terms, so we are left with 23-6=17 dof.
After that we have terms like:
A_{abb}=-A_{bab}; A_{acc}=-A_{cac} ; A_{cbb}=-A_{bcb}; A_{caa}=-A_{aca} ; A_{bcc}=-A_{cbc} ; A_{baa}=-A_{aba}
Which means in the end:
17-6=11 dof.

I hope I counted right this time. :-D
 
Last edited:
BTW this raises a nice programming task of how to compute some arbitrary tensor of rank 0\choose n with the above constraints.

Pitty I am not that good programmer.
 
For a rank (0,3) tensor, Aabc, without any constraint, degrees of freedom are 216, a,b,c = 0, ..., 6.

If this tensor is antisymmetric in the first 2 indices, degrees of freedom dicrease to 90.

If it is mixed symmetry, the number of constraint equations are:

\frac{n(n-1)(n-2)}{3!}, a,b,c=0, ..., n.

For our example n = 6 so, the number of constraint equations are 20 therefore degrees of freedom are 70.
 
Last edited:

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