Questions tagged [riemannian-geometry]

For questions about Riemann geometry, which is a branch of differential geometry dealing with Riemannian manifolds.

Introduction

Metaphorically, Riemannian geometry is what happens when we try to generalize the Pythagorean theorem to work on smooth manifolds in general, but accidently drop the Pythagorean theorem in a blender along the way.

Definition 1.1a: (Riemannian Metric) Suppose $M$ is a smooth manifold. A Riemannian metric on $M$ is a section $\mathrm{g}\in\Gamma(T^\vee\hspace{-.25em}M\otimes T^\vee\hspace{-.25em}M)$ such that, for each $p\in M$ and all $X_p,Y_p\in T_pM$,

  • $\mathrm{g}_p(X_p\otimes Y_p)=\mathrm{g}_p(Y_p\otimes X_p)$,

  • $\mathrm{g}_p(X_p\otimes X_p)\geq0$, with equality if and only if $X_p=0$.

Note that many mathematicians use the following equivalent definition.

Definition 1.1b: (Riemannian Metric) Suppose $M$ is a smooth manifold. A Riemannian metric is a smooth function $\mathrm{g}:TM\times_MTM\to\mathbb{R}$, where $TM\times_MTM$ is the fiber product, such that, for each $p\in M$, all $X_p,Y_p,Z_p\in T_pM$, and all $a,b\in\mathbb{R}$,

  • $\mathrm{g}(aX_p+bY_p,Z_p)=a\mathrm{g}(X_p,Z_p)+b\mathrm{g}(Y_p,Z_p)$,
  • $\mathrm{g}(X_p,Y_p)=\mathrm{g}(Y_p,X_p)$,
  • $\mathrm{g}(X_p,X_p)\geq0$, with equality if and only if $X_p=0$.

Regardless of the particulars of the definition, a Riemannian metric is essentially a smooth choice of inner product on each tangent space. Making a choice of Riemannian metric gives us a Riemannian manifold.

Definition 1.2: (Riemannian Manifold) A Riemannian manifold is a pair $(M,\mathrm{g})$, where $M$ is a smooth manifold and $\mathrm{g}$ is a Riemannian metric.

There is a plethora of examples of Riemannian manifolds that appear all over geometry.

Example 1.3: (Euclidean Space) Let $x$ be the (global) identity chart on $\mathbb{R}^n$. A Euclidean space is a Riemannian manifold of the form $$\left(\mathbb{R}^n,\sum_{i=1}^n\mathrm{d}x^i\otimes\mathrm{d}x^i\right).$$ Usually, we identify $n$-dimensional Euclidean space with $\mathbb{R}^n$.

Example 1.4: (Hyperbolic Plane) Let $(x,y)$ be the (global) identity chart on the upper half plane. Then, the hyperbolic plane is the Riemannian manifold $$H^2=\left(\mathbb{R}\times\mathbb{R}_+,\frac{1}{y^2}\left(\mathrm{d}x\otimes\mathrm{d}x+\mathrm{d}y\otimes\mathrm{d}y\right)\right).$$

This tag is for questions about Riemann geometry, which is a branch of differential geometry dealing with Riemannian manifolds. Usually, Riemannian geometry focuses on the notions of distance, curvature, and shape. Consider using this tag if your question involves Riemannian manifolds or objects generally associated with them, such as Levi-Civita connections.

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covariant derivative of the logarithm on the Riemannian manifold

Let $M$ be a completed Riemmannian manifold with bounded curvature. Let $d(\cdot,\cdot):M\times M\rightarrow R$ is the distance function. Suppose that the injective Radius of $M$ is $ injM$. Then the logarithm map $\log_x:M\rightarrow T_x M$ can…
Xiaoyu
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What is Riemannian Manifold intuitively?

Recently I was studying dimensionality reduction. When I come to a state-of-the-art dimensionality reduction algorithm -- UMAP, I couldn't understand their mathematics part. I think the first obstacle to understand it is -- I do not understand what…
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$\lim_{t \to 0} \left( \frac{d_g(\mathrm{exp}_p(tv), \mathrm{exp}_p(tw))}{t} \right) = |v - w|_g$

Let $(M, g)$ be a Riemannian $n$-manifold and let $p \in M$. Show that, for $v, w \in T_pM$, we have $$\lim_{t \to 0} \left( \frac{d_g(\mathrm{exp}_p(tv), \mathrm{exp}_p(tw))}{t} \right) = |v - w|_{g_p},$$ where $d_g$ is the distance induced by the…
S.T.
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Why curvature operator is the infinitesimal holonomy rotation

First picture below is from Topping's Lectures on the Ricci flow. I don't understand the red line. I read the holonomy in Wiki, I understand the second picture which is from Wiki. But I fail to know the strict definition of holonomy. I want to know…
Enhao Lan
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Conjugate points in do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry

Picture below is from the do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry. First, what is the mean of "not identically zero" ? Does it mean that $J(t)\neq 0~~~\forall t\in [0,a]$ ? If so, it is contradictory with $J(0)=0=J(t_0)$. Therefore, I think it means that…
Enhao Lan
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Is there a characterization for compact and orientable hypersurfaces with positive sectional curvature?

I know that a compact surface $S \subset \mathbb{R}^3$ of positive Gaussian curvature is homeomorphic to a sphere from Gauss-Bonnet's theorem. This led me to ask if there is a characterization for compact and orientable hypersurfaces with positive…
George
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Is the lebesgue measure of all the conjugate points of a point in an pseudo-riemannian manifold zero?

Let $M$ be a pseudo-riemannian manifold. Let $p\in M$. Let $\mathcal{D}_p$ be the maximal domain of the exponential map $T_pM\supseteq\mathcal{D}_p\xrightarrow{\exp_p}M$. Define the set of conjugate points of $p$ as…
Rasmus
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How can I calculate the derivative of $\| \mathrm{d}f \|^2_h$?

The present question refers to one of the answers of this other one. Let $h=h_{ij}dx^i \otimes dx^j$ be a Riemannian metric. (1) Why does the inverse $(h_{ij})^{-1}=h^{ij}$ appear here: $$\| \mathrm{d}f \|^2_h = h^{-1}(\mathrm{d}f ,\mathrm{d}f) =…
Alice
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How to show $d(\exp_q)_0(v)=\frac{d}{dt}\Big|_{t=0} (\exp_q(tv))$?

How to show $$ d(\exp_q)_0(v)=\frac{d}{dt}\Big|_{t=0} (\exp_q(tv)) $$ where $q\in M$, $M$ is a smooth Riemannian manifold, and $v\in T_qM$. $\exp$ is exponential map, defined as $$ \exp_q(v)=\exp(q,v)=\gamma(1,q,v) $$ where $\gamma(t)$ is a geodesic…
Enhao Lan
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Does every manifold with boundary admit a flat metric?

There are several obstructions for a closed manifold $M$ admit a flat metric. for example Cartan-Hadamard Theorem implies the universal cover of $M$ must be $\mathbb R^n$. So if the manifold $M$ is allowed to have nonempty boundary and we do not put…
user60933
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Show a connection $\nabla$ is compatible with a metric $\langle \cdot, \cdot \rangle$ of $\mathbb{R}^3$

We introduce in $\mathbb{R}^3$ with the usual Euclidean metric $\langle \cdot, \cdot \rangle$, the connection defined in Cartesian ccoordinates $(x^1, x^2, x^3)$ by $$\Gamma_{jk}^i = \omega \varepsilon_{ijk}$$ where $\omega: \mathbb{R}^3…
José
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Derivative of the exponential map

I'm new to Riemannian geometry and always confused by the derivatives there. Consider on a Riemannian manifold $M$, define the following map $$u(r,\theta)=\text{exp}_{x} (rf(\theta))$$ where $x \in M$, $r \in \mathbb{R}$ and $f(\theta)\in…
user388493
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4.8 Example of 0 chapter of Do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry

Picture below is from 23th page of Do Carmo's Riemannian geometry. I don't know why $\pi_1^{-1}\circ \pi_2$ is coincide with $\varphi_g$ on $x_2(W)$. Since in my view, it is needed that proving $g$ is independent to $p_2$. But there is not proof…
Enhao Lan
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Divergence of Einstein $(1,1)$-tensor

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold. I am trying to show that \begin{align*} \text{div}(G)\leq 0 \end{align*} where $G$ is the Einstein $(1,1)$-tensor given by $$ G=\operatorname{Rc}-\frac{\operatorname{sc}}{2} \operatorname{Id} $$ where…
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Divergence rate for the length of the boundary of a riemann disk

Let $\Sigma$ be a smooth open disk munished with a Riemannian metric $g$. We assume that $\Sigma$ has finite volume. Let $x$ be any point on $\Sigma$. For $\epsilon>0$, let $m_\epsilon$ be the minimal length of a curve $\gamma$ that winds once…
Isao
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