The Affine Connection components

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the properties of the Affine connection, specifically the Christoffel symbols. The user, Hannah, questions the relationship between the components of the Affine connection, particularly the equality of off-diagonal terms such as \(\Gamma^{t}_{rt}\) and \(\Gamma^{t}_{tr}\). It is established that these terms should indeed be equal due to the symmetry of the Christoffel symbols in their lower indices. Additionally, it is clarified that while the Affine connection is not a tensor and does not have diagonal "1" terms like the metric tensor, it does not imply that all other components must be zero.

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  • Understanding of differential geometry concepts
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  • Knowledge of Christoffel symbols and their properties
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Radiohannah
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Hello!

I have a few questions about how the Affine connection works.

I know the geodesic equation;


\Gamma^{\lambda}_{\mu \nu} = \frac{\partial x^{\lambda}}{\partial \xi^{\alpha}} \frac{\partial^{2} \xi^{\alpha}}{\partial x^{\nu} \partial x^{\mu}}

So, for example, if I had the expression

\ddot{t} + \frac{A'}{A} \frac{dr}{d \tau} \frac{dt}{d \tau} = 0

I can read off

\Gamma^{t}_{rt} = \frac{A'}{2A}

Where the expression is divided by 2 because they are off diagonal terms, since the subscript indices are not the same.

I am not sure how this then applies to the actual


\Gamma_{t}


matrix. Should the


\Gamma^{t}_{rt} = \Gamma^{t}_{tr} terms be exactly the same? Because in an example the

\Gamma^{t}_{tr} = \frac{A'}{2A}

Whereas the

\Gamma^{t}_{rt} = \frac{A'}{2B}

And I don't understand why there should be a different letter on the denominator, I had always thought that if they are off-diagonal terms they should be identical?? Is that not the case?

And finally, as for all of the other components in the matrix, would these all just be 0? I think that because, I know that the Affine connection is not a tensor, and so will not have diagonal "1" terms like the metric tensor, so all other terms must be 0? Is that true?
ie
\Gamma^{t}_{tt} = 0 ?

Many thanks in advance!

Hannah
 
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The Christoffell symbols are symmetric in the lower two indicies:

\Gamma^{a}{}_{bc}=\Gamma^{a}{}_{cb}

So they should be the same. Check the reference.
 
jfy4 said:
The Christoffell symbols are symmetric in the lower two indicies:

It follows from the first equation by the commutativity of partial differentiation.
 

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