Variation of Metric Tensor Under Coord Transf | 65 chars

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the variation of the metric tensor \( g^{\mu\nu} \) under the coordinate transformation \( \bar{x} = x + \varepsilon \). The variation is expressed as \( \delta g^{\mu\nu}(x) = -\frac{\partial g^{\mu\nu}}{\partial x^{\alpha}} \varepsilon^{\alpha} + g^{\mu\beta} \frac{\partial \varepsilon^{\nu}}{\partial x^{\beta}} + g^{\alpha\nu} \frac{\partial \varepsilon^{\mu}}{\partial x^{\alpha}} \). The proof of the equality \( \varepsilon^{\mu;\nu} + \varepsilon^{\nu;\mu} = g^{\alpha\nu} \varepsilon^{\mu}_{;\alpha} + g^{\alpha\mu} \varepsilon^{\nu}_{;\alpha} \) is questioned, particularly regarding the sign discrepancy in the terms. The discussion emphasizes the importance of metric compatibility of the connection, defined by \( \nabla_\mu g^{\nu\rho} = 0 \).

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QipshaqUli
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TL;DR
Under the coordinate transformation $\bar x=x+\varepsilon$, the variation of the metric $g^{\mu\nu}$ is:
$$
\delta g^{\mu\nu}(x)=\bar g^{\mu\nu}(x)-g^{\mu\nu}(x)=-\frac{\partial{ g^{\mu\nu}}}{\partial x^{\alpha}}\varepsilon^{\alpha}+ g^{\mu\beta}\frac{\partial \varepsilon^{\nu}}{\partial x^{\beta}}+g^{\alpha\nu}\frac{\partial \varepsilon^{\mu}}{\partial x^{\alpha}}
$$
the right hand side is equal to $$- {g^{\mu\nu}}_{,\alpha}\varepsilon^{\alpha}+ {\varepsilon^{\mu,\nu}}+{\varepsilon^{\nu,\mu}}
Under the coordinate transformation $\bar x=x+\varepsilon$, the variation of the metric $g^{\mu\nu}$ is:
$$
\delta g^{\mu\nu}(x)=\bar g^{\mu\nu}(x)-g^{\mu\nu}(x)=-\frac{\partial{ g^{\mu\nu}}}{\partial x^{\alpha}}\varepsilon^{\alpha}+ g^{\mu\beta}\frac{\partial \varepsilon^{\nu}}{\partial x^{\beta}}+g^{\alpha\nu}\frac{\partial \varepsilon^{\mu}}{\partial x^{\alpha}}
$$
the right hand side is equal to $$- {g^{\mu\nu}}_{,\alpha}\varepsilon^{\alpha}+ {\varepsilon^{\mu,\nu}}+{\varepsilon^{\nu,\mu}}=\varepsilon^{\mu;\nu}+\varepsilon^{\nu;\mu}$$
I have problem with the proof of the last equality.
$$
\varepsilon^{\mu;\nu}+\varepsilon^{\nu;\mu}=g^{\alpha\nu}{\varepsilon^{\mu}}_{;\alpha}+g^{\alpha\mu}{\varepsilon^{\nu}}_{;\alpha}=
$$

$$
g^{\alpha\nu}({\varepsilon^{\mu}}_{,\alpha}+\Gamma_{\beta\alpha}^{\mu}\varepsilon^{\beta})+g^{\alpha\mu}({\varepsilon^{\nu}}_{,\alpha}+\Gamma_{\beta\alpha}^{\nu}\varepsilon^{\beta})=
$$

$$
\varepsilon^{\mu,\nu}+g^{\alpha\nu}\frac{1}{2}g^{\mu\gamma}(g_{\gamma\beta,\alpha}+g_{\gamma\alpha,\beta}-g_{\beta\alpha,\gamma})\varepsilon^{\beta}+
\varepsilon^{\nu,\mu}+g^{\alpha\mu}\frac{1}{2}g^{\nu\gamma}(g_{\gamma\beta,\alpha}+g_{\gamma\alpha,\beta}-g_{\beta\alpha,\gamma})\varepsilon^{\beta}=
$$
Considering the summation over the repeated indeces each of the three items in both brackets gives the same quantity coupling with the respective indeces as: A(B+C-D)E, ABE=ACE=ADE, then A(B+C-D)E=ACE. I chose ACE
$$
\varepsilon^{\mu,\nu}+\varepsilon^{\nu,\mu}+g^{\alpha\mu}g^{\nu\gamma}g_{\gamma\alpha,\beta}\varepsilon^{\beta}={g^{\mu\nu}}_{,\beta}\varepsilon^{\beta}+{\varepsilon^{\mu}}^{,\nu}+{\varepsilon^{\nu}}^{,\mu}
$$
I have the first term with plus sign, opposite to the original one. What I did wrong?
 
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You do not need to use the expression for the Christoffel symbols. All that is needed is the metric compatibility of the connection
$$
\nabla_\mu g^{\nu\rho} = \partial_\mu g^{\nu\rho} + \Gamma^\nu_{\mu\sigma} g^{\sigma\rho} + \Gamma^\rho_{\mu\sigma} g^{\nu\sigma} = 0.
$$
 
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