What is the meaning of the notation \partial \betaD\alpha in General Relativity?

[Reedeegi]

What does the notation $$\partial$$ _$$\beta$$D^$$\alpha$$
mean? I came across it in General Relativity, so I think it's the set of all partial derivatives of the vector function, i.e.
$$\partial$$₀D¹, $$\partial$$₀D^$$2$$

and so on... but I'm not entirely sure.

 

[cristo]

If you mean $\partial_{\beta}D^{\alpha}$, then it is short hand for $$\frac{\partial D^{\alpha}}{\partial x^{\beta}}$$

 

[slider142]

Depending on the context, it can also mean boundary. What is the context?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Since Reedeegi said it was from General Relativity I suspect the context is as cristo assumed and it is the "outer derivative" of the vector- the tensor represented by array in which the "$\alpha\beta$" component is the derivative of the [itex]\alpha[/itiex] component of D with respect to $x^\beta$- which is, of course, just what cristo said.[/itex]