The tensor product of tensors confusion

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the definition and properties of the tensor product of tensors, specifically addressing how the tensor product of two tensors can be viewed as another tensor. Participants explore the implications of defining tensors as multilinear functions and the nature of the outputs produced by these functions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that a tensor is a multilinear function that produces a number when dual vectors are fed by vectors, while the vectors themselves remain as vectors.
  • Others argue that the definition of a tensor implies it maps ordered tuples of vectors and covectors to numbers, thus producing a number as an output.
  • There is a discussion on how to define the tensor product of two tensors based on their definitions, with some participants providing mathematical expressions to illustrate their points.
  • Participants present conflicting views on whether the tensor product itself can be considered a number or if it merely produces a number through its function.
  • Some participants provide examples and mathematical formulations to clarify the structure of the tensor product and its components.
  • Questions arise regarding the commutation of covectors and vectors in the context of the tensor product, indicating a need for further clarification.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the nature of tensors and the outputs they produce, leading to a lack of consensus on several key points regarding definitions and interpretations of tensor products.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights various interpretations of tensor definitions and the implications of these interpretations on the understanding of tensor products. There are unresolved questions about the nature of outputs from tensor functions and the relationships between vectors and covectors in this context.

  • #31
The standard definition of tensor product of two vector spaces (perhaps infinite dimensional) is as follows. let ##E,F## be vector spaces (say over ##\mathbb{R}##) and let ##B(E,F)## be a space of bilinear functions ##f:E\times F\to \mathbb{R}##.

Define a mapping ##u_{xy}:B(E,F)\to \mathbb{R}## as follows
##u_{xy}(f)=f(x,y)## so that ##u_{xy}\in (B(E,F))^*.## We have also got a bilinear mapping
$$\chi:E\times F\to (B(E,F))^*,\quad \chi(x,y)=u_{xy}.$$
By definition the tensor product ##E\otimes F## is the linear span of $$\chi(E\times F);\quad x\otimes y:=u_{xy}.$$

The main feature is as follows. Any bilinear function ##A:E\times F\to W## (W is some other vector space) can be presented as follows ##A=\tilde A\chi ##
here ##\tilde A:E\otimes F\to W## is a linear mapping.
 
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  • #32
wrobel said:
The standard definition of tensor product of two vector spaces (perhaps infinite dimensional) is as follows. let ##E,F## be vector spaces (say over ##\mathbb{R}##) and let ##B(E,F)## be a space of bilinear functions ##f:E\times F\to \mathbb{R}##.

Define a mapping ##u_{xy}:B(E,F)\to \mathbb{R}## as follows
##u_{xy}(f)=f(x,y)## so that ##u_{xy}\in (B(E,F))^*.## We have also got a bilinear mapping
$$\chi:E\times F\to (B(E,F))^*,\quad \chi(x,y)=u_{xy}.$$
By definition the tensor product ##E\otimes F## is the linear span of $$\chi(E\times F);\quad x\otimes y:=u_{xy}.$$

The main feature is as follows. Any bilinear function ##A:E\times F\to W## (W is some other vector space) can be presented as follows ##A=\tilde A\chi ##
here ##\tilde A:E\otimes F\to W## is a linear mapping.
Thanks
 
  • #33
In a general sense, the tensor product of two vector spaces ##V, W ## over the same field is a third vector space ##V \otimes W##, whose dimension is the product of those of ##V, W ##and so that every bilinear map from ## V \times W \rightarrow Z ## , becomes a linear map from ## V\otimes W \rightarrow Z ##, for ##Z## any vector space.
Idea is to transform multilinear maps into linear ones, as the latter are simpler and easier to deal with.
 
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