Product of Two Levi-Civita Symbols in N-dimensions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties and product of Levi-Civita symbols in N-dimensions, particularly focusing on an expression involving the product of two Levi-Civita symbols without dummy indices. Participants explore the definitions, implications, and potential proofs related to this expression.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Ali presents an expression for the product of two Levi-Civita symbols and seeks assistance in proving it, noting the absence of a proof in the literature.
  • Another participant questions the definition of the raised indices in the expression and whether an Einstein summation convention is being applied.
  • A participant points out that the right-hand side of Ali's expression is antisymmetric in the indices and suggests that verifying it for specific values of the indices could be straightforward.
  • Ali clarifies that the Levi-Civita symbols behave as tensors under coordinate transformations and asserts that there is no summation notation in the context of his statement.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and clarification regarding the definitions and implications of the Levi-Civita symbols, but no consensus on the proof or validity of the expression has been reached.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the definitions of raised indices and the implications of antisymmetry in the context of the Levi-Civita symbols. The discussion also highlights the absence of a formal proof for the proposed expression.

akoohpaee
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Dear You,

In N-dimensions Levi-Civita symbol is defined as:

\begin{align}
\varepsilon_{ijkl\dots}=
\begin{cases}
+1 & \mbox{if }(i,j,k,l,\dots) \mbox{ is an even permutation of } (1,2,3,4,\dots) \\
-1 & \mbox{if }(i,j,k,l,\dots) \mbox{ is an odd permutation of } (1,2,3,4,\dots) \\
0 & \mbox{otherwise}
\end{cases}
\end{align}



I found the following expression for the product of two Levi-Civita symbols when there are no dummy indices (i_1,...,i_n,j_1,...,j_n are in {1,...,n}):

\begin{align}& \varepsilon_{i_1 \dots i_n} \varepsilon^{j_1 \dots j_n} = n! \delta^{j_1}_{[ i_1} \dots \delta^{j_n}_{i_n ]} &&\\& \end{align}

But I could not find its proof through literature and also I was failed to prove it!

Can you please help me? Thanks!

Best Regards,
Ali
 
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When N=2 we have for example \varepsilon_{12}=+1. Now, you didn't define \varepsilon^{12} for us. Also, is there some Einstein summation convention in effect here?
 
Firstly, notice that the RHS is antisymmetric in exchange of any pair of the i's and any pair of the j's. So all you have to check is that you get the right answer for i_1=1, i_2=2, \ldots and the same for the j's, which is straightforward.
 
### REPLY TO g_edgar ###

Hi,

Many thanks for your reply!

Assume that the array K_{ijk} (i,j,k are in {1,2,3}) is defined in such a way that K_{ijk}=\varepsilon_{ijk}. It can be shown that, this array behave as a tensor under covariant and contravariant coordinate transformations. In other words:

\begin{align}
\varepsilon_{ijk}=\varepsilon^{ijk}
\end{align}

Also this is the case for N-dimensional:

\begin{align}
\varepsilon_{ijklm\dots}=\varepsilon^{ijklm\dots}
\end{align}

And regarding to the second part of your question: There is no Einstein summation notation in effect here. In fact there is no summation in this statement.

Many thanks for your reply and your attention.

Ali
 

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