Vectors, One-forms and Tensors in General Relativity

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GeoffFB
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Type (k,l) tensors, dual vectors and vectors.
In both Wald and Carroll, a type (k,l) tensor has k dual vectors and l vectors, yet a (1,0) tensor is a vector and a (0,1) tensor is a dual vector. I must be missing something simple. Please explain.
 

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In both Wald and Carroll, a type (k,l) tensor has k dual vectors and l vectors
No, it doesn't. A type (k, 1) tensor can be contracted with k dual vectors and l vectors to produce a scalar. That does not mean the k dual vectors and l vectors are "part of" the tensor.

a (1,0) tensor is a vector and a (0,1) tensor is a dual vector.
Yes, because a (1, 0) tensor can be contracted with 1 dual vector to produce a scalar, so it's a vector; and a (0, 1) tensor can be contracted with 1 vector to produce a scalar, so it's a dual vector.
 
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martinbn
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Summary:: Type (k,l) tensors, dual vectors and vectors.

In both Wald and Carroll, a type (k,l) tensor has k dual vectors and l vectors, yet a (1,0) tensor is a vector and a (0,1) tensor is a dual vector. I must be missing something simple. Please explain.
A tensor, as they define it, is a multilinear map, it has k dual vectors and l vectors as input. So a (0,1) tensor will be a linear map that has a vector as an input i.e. it will be a dual vector.
 
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In both Wald and Carroll
You are evidently misinterpreting statements from these sources, but unless you give specific quotes and where they are from, it's impossible to tell exactly what you are misinterpreting.
 
  • #5
GeoffFB
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Sorry!
General Relativity by Robert M. Wald, Page 20.
Spacetime and Geometry by Sean M. Carroll, Page 21.
 
  • #7
GeoffFB
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No, it doesn't. A type (k, 1) tensor can be contracted with k dual vectors and l vectors to produce a scalar. That does not mean the k dual vectors and l vectors are "part of" the tensor.


Yes, because a (1, 0) tensor can be contracted with 1 dual vector to produce a scalar, so it's a vector; and a (0, 1) tensor can be contracted with 1 vector to produce a scalar, so it's a dual vector.
Thanks. Now I understand.
 
  • #8
GeoffFB
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What on this page led you to believe what you said in the OP?
I was confused by thinking that type (0, 1) tensor meant (k, l) tensor, not understanding about the mapping to R.
 

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