Undergrad Summation Convention in Einstein Notation

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The discussion centers on the proper application of the summation convention in Einstein notation, specifically whether summation should start from the first occurrence of an index or from the beginning of an equation. It is clarified that each term in an equation is summed individually, rather than combining terms under a single summation. The example provided illustrates that while some cases allow for combining terms, more complex expressions do not permit such simplification. The importance of adhering to standard notation in physics is emphasized, as deviations can lead to misunderstandings and complicate verification of work. Ultimately, clarity and consistency in mathematical expressions are crucial for effective communication in the field.
olgerm
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I got another basic question: should the summation in einstein notation start from first occurance of index or in beginning of equation?
For eampledoes this equation ##R_{\alpha \beta }={R^{\rho }}_{\alpha \rho \beta }=\partial _{\rho }{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\beta\alpha }-\partial _{\beta }{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\rho \alpha }+{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\rho \lambda }{\Gamma ^{\lambda }}_{\beta \alpha }-{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\beta \lambda }{\Gamma ^{\lambda }}_{\rho \alpha }## from wikipedia mean:
## \sum_{j_1=0}^D(\sum_{j_2=0}^D(\frac{\partial{\Gamma ^{j_1}}_{\beta \alpha }}{\partial x^{j_1}}-\frac{{\Gamma^{j_1}}_{j_1 \alpha}}{\partial x^{\beta}}+{\Gamma^{j_1}}_{j_1 j_2}{\Gamma ^{j_2}}_{\beta \alpha }-{\Gamma ^{j_1}}_{\beta j_2 }{\Gamma^{j_2}}_{j_1 \alpha }))##
or
##\sum_{j_1=0}^D(\frac{\partial{\Gamma ^{j_1}}_{\beta \alpha }}{\partial x^{j_1}}-\frac{{\Gamma^{j_1}}_{j_1 \alpha}}{\partial x^{\beta}}+\sum_{j_2=0}^D({\Gamma^{j_1}}_{j_1 j_2}{\Gamma ^{j_2}}_{\beta \alpha }-{\Gamma ^{j_1}}_{\beta j_2 }{\Gamma^{j_2}}_{j_1 \alpha }))##?
 
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olgerm said:
I got another basic question: should the summation in einstein notation start from first occurance of index or in beginning of equation?
Neither. Each individual term is summed by itself: ##A^iB_i+P^kQ_k## is to be read as##\sum_iA^iB_i+\sum_kP^kQ_k##
 
Nugatory said:
Neither. Each individual term is summed by itself: ##A^iB_i+P^kQ_k## is to be read as##\sum_iA^iB_i+\sum_kP^kQ_k##
so it is same as last one beacuse ##\sum_i(A^iB_i)+\sum_k(P^kQ_k)=\sum_i(A^iB_i+P^iQ_i)##?
 
olgerm said:
so it is same as last one beacuse ##\sum_i(A^iB_i)+\sum_k(P^kQ_k)=\sum_i(A^iB_i+P^iQ_i)##?
In this particular case, yes, that just happens to work. In more complex expressions you won't be able to combine terms under one summation the way you're trying to do. Consider, for example, ##A^iB_i+P^{ij}Q_{ij}## - the first term is a four-element summation and the second is a sixteen-element summation.
 
Nugatory said:
Consider, for example, ##A^iB_i+P^{ij}Q_{ij}##
if every term has its own summation it is ##\sum_{i=0}^D(A^iB_i)+\sum_{i=0}^D(\sum_{j=0}^D(P^{ij}Q_{ij}))=\sum_{i=0}^D(A^iB_i+\sum_{j=0}^D(P^{ij}Q_{ij}))##?

Can you say clearly whether it is true that the equation ##R_{\alpha \beta }={R^{\rho }}_{\alpha \rho \beta }=\partial _{\rho }{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\beta\alpha }-\partial _{\beta }{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\rho \alpha }+{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\rho \lambda }{\Gamma ^{\lambda }}_{\beta \alpha }-{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\beta \lambda }{\Gamma ^{\lambda }}_{\rho \alpha }## from wikipedia means:
##\sum_{j_1=0}^D(\frac{\partial{\Gamma ^{j_1}}_{\beta \alpha }}{\partial x^{j_1}}-\frac{{\Gamma^{j_1}}_{j_1 \alpha}}{\partial x^{\beta}}+\sum_{j_2=0}^D({\Gamma^{j_1}}_{j_1 j_2}{\Gamma ^{j_2}}_{\beta \alpha }-{\Gamma ^{j_1}}_{\beta j_2 }{\Gamma^{j_2}}_{j_1 \alpha }))##?
 
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olgerm said:
Can you say clearly whether it is true that the equation ##R_{\alpha \beta }={R^{\rho }}_{\alpha \rho \beta }=\partial _{\rho }{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\beta\alpha }-\partial _{\beta }{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\rho \alpha }+{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\rho \lambda }{\Gamma ^{\lambda }}_{\beta \alpha }-{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\beta \lambda }{\Gamma ^{\lambda }}_{\rho \alpha }## from wikipedia means:
##\sum_{j_1=0}^D(\frac{\partial{\Gamma ^{j_1}}_{\beta \alpha }}{\partial x^{j_1}}-\frac{{\Gamma^{j_1}}_{j_1 \alpha}}{\partial x^{\beta}}+\sum_{j_2=0}^D({\Gamma^{j_1}}_{j_1 j_2}{\Gamma ^{j_2}}_{\beta \alpha }-{\Gamma ^{j_1}}_{\beta j_2 }{\Gamma^{j_2}}_{j_1 \alpha }))##?
I can say clearly that it means$$R_{\alpha \beta }={R^{\rho }}_{\alpha \rho \beta }=\sum_\rho\partial _{\rho }{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\beta\alpha }-\sum_\rho\partial _{\beta }{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\rho \alpha }+\sum_{\rho,\lambda}{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\rho \lambda }{\Gamma ^{\lambda }}_{\beta \alpha }-\sum_{\lambda,\rho}{\Gamma ^{\rho }}_{\beta \lambda }{\Gamma ^{\lambda }}_{\rho \alpha }$$I haven't checked your algebra, but it is plausible that you've found a valid way of obscuring manipulating the formula.
 
Nugatory said:
obscuring
more easily readable for me. waiting foranswer whether it's correct or not.
 
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olgerm said:
more easily readable for me. waiting foranswer whether it's correct or not.

If you insist on writing things differently from the way everybody else writes them, you can't expect everybody else to check your work. We have standard ways of writing things in physics for a reason.

Thread closed.
 
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