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.

7915 questions
2
votes
1 answer

Is $\operatorname{div}(X)=\partial_i X^i$?

We know that for a vector field $X$, $\operatorname{div}(X)$ is defined as $\nabla_I X^I$. This is not the same as $\partial_i X^i$ right? I would assume that $\nabla_I X^I=\partial_i X^i-X^j\Gamma_{ij}^i $.
user67803
2
votes
1 answer

If $S$ is the $(1,1)$ version of the Hessian of $f$, then $L_{\nabla f} S = \nabla_{\nabla f} S$

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold and let $\nabla$ be the Levi-Civita connection on $M$. Let $f: M \to \mathbb{R}$ be a smooth function and let $$S(X) = \nabla_{X} \nabla f $$ be the $(1,1)-$tensor version of $\mathrm{Hess} f.$ How do we show…
2
votes
0 answers

Derivative of normal vector field of $k$-submanifold

Let $\Sigma$ be a $k$ submanifold in $n$-Riemannian manifold $N$, suppose we have normal vector fields $\nu_1,\cdots,\nu_{n-k}$ and they are O.N. basis of normal space. Let $X\in \Gamma(T\Sigma)$, I want to calculate $\nabla_{X}\nu_1$ here $\nabla$…
STUDENT
  • 816
2
votes
1 answer

Exercise on conformal metrics

I am trying to prove that if we have 2 Levi-Civita Connections, $\nabla $ associated with the metric $\langle\cdot,\cdot\rangle$ and $\nabla^2$ associated with the metric $\langle\langle\cdot,\cdot\rangle\rangle$ ,…
Someone
  • 4,737
2
votes
1 answer

What exactly is the Euclidean metric on $\Bbb R^n\setminus\{0\}$?

Sorry for such question, But I don't know what exactly is the Euclidean metric on $\Bbb R^n\setminus\{0\}$? Induced by $\iota:\Bbb R^n\setminus\{0\}\to \Bbb R^n$ or $\varphi :\Bbb R^n\setminus\{0\}\to\Bbb R\times \Bbb S^{n-1}$ or something…
C.F.G
  • 8,523
2
votes
0 answers

What does "assigning a Riemannian metric in a differentiable fashion" mean?

In the book of Frankel, The Geometry of Physics, at page 45, he states that A Riemannian metric on a manifold $M^n$ assigns, in a differentiable fashion, a positive definite inner product $⟨, ⟩$ in each tangent space $M_p^n$ . However, what…
Our
  • 7,285
2
votes
0 answers

Jacobian between $TM$ and $M\times M$

Let $M$ be a closed riemannian manifold and $\phi: \begin{array}{ccc} TM&\to &M\times M \\ (x,v)&\mapsto & (\exp_x(v),\exp_x(-v)) \end{array}$ I need an asymptotic expression for the jacobian of $\phi^{-1}$ as $\|v\|\to 0$, but I'm unable to…
Isao
  • 316
2
votes
1 answer

Writing a vector field as the gradient of a function defined on a Riemannian manifold.

I'm reading this paper and there is a step in theorem $3.1$ on pages $4$ and $5$ that I can't understand. Basically, my doubt is how to ensure that there is a potential function for the vector field $X$, i.e., a smooth function $f: M \longrightarrow…
George
  • 3,817
  • 2
  • 15
  • 36
2
votes
1 answer

How is $d(L_X(a^i))=L_X(da^i)$?

In $\Bbb{R}^n$, how is $L_X(dx^i)=dL_X(x^i)$? This is a calculation that is given on pg 23 of Peter Petersen's book "Riemannian Geometry". Is this because $(dL_X)(x^i)=0$, and hence $d(L_X(x^i))=L_X(dx^i)$? I know that this is true for $\nabla$, but…
user67803
2
votes
2 answers

Why does a torus not have points with zero curvature?

By curvature I mean intrinsic curvature, if there even is such a thing as extrinsic curvature of a torus. If a torus has negative curvature in some points and positive in others shouldn't there be points with zero curvature since it is a continuous…
2
votes
1 answer

Unique geodesic between two points

Suppose $(X,g)$ is a simply connected complete Riemannian manifold, and $X$ has negative sectional curvature everywhere. Is it true in such a case, for any two points in this space, namely $A$ and $B$, there exists a unique geodesic between them? I…
Dai
  • 691
2
votes
1 answer

Generated group acts without fixed points

A friend of mine gave me a problem and while trying to solve it I came up with a question/conjecture: Let $M$ be a complete oriented Riemannian manifold and let $S\subset ISO_{+}(M)$ be a collection of orientation preserving isomorphisms from $M$ to…
Frieder Jäckel
  • 1,827
  • 7
  • 13
2
votes
1 answer

$f:M \rightarrow N$ an isometry, show that $X$ is a killing field on $M$ if and only if $Y=df(X)$ is a killing field.

The problem is stated as follows. Let $X$ be a differential vector field on $M$ and let $f: M \rightarrow N$ be an isometry. Show that the pushforward $Y=df(X)$ is a Killing field on $N$ if and only if $X$ is a Killing field on $M$. The "only if"…
Tuo
  • 4,556
2
votes
1 answer

Computations with respect to a Riemannian metric

I have the following Riemannian metric on $\mathbb{R}^2$ : $$g = 4\frac{1}{(1+r^2)^2}(dx^2+dy^2),\text{ with }r^2 = x^2 + y^2.$$ At every point of $\mathbb{R}^2\backslash \{(0,0)\}$, let $$e_r = \frac{1+r^2}{2} \partial_r, \quad e_{\theta} =…
user555164
2
votes
0 answers

a problem of comparison geometry: Riemannian manifold with upper bounded sectional curvaturee

I have a question about Comparison Geometry: I have a Riemannian Manifold $(X,g)$, complete and simply connected, with sectional curvature upper bounded by a positive constant $k>0$, so I can compare $(X,g)$ with the sphere of ray…
AX.J
  • 181