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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Riemannian properties of Clifford torus as a boundary.

As far as I know, the Clifford torus $$C \mathbb{T}^2 = \left\{ (z,w) \in \mathbb{C}^2 : |z|^2 = |w|^2 = \frac{1}{2} \right\}$$ is a closed minimal ($H_g=0$) hypersurface in the unit sphere $\mathbb{S}^{3}$, $$\mathbb{S}^3 = \left\{ (z,w) \in…
Alice
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in Riemannian geometry, when is there an ambient space?

I am reading Kuhnel's Differential Geometry of Curves,Surfaces,Manifolds (2ed). On p.209, discussing tangent space of riemannian manifold, it says: ``since there is no ambient space, this notion has to be intrinsically defined''. Does this mean…
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Manifold with unit balls of unbounded volume

Does there exist a Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$ such that for every $S>0$ there is a geodesic unit ball $B\subset M$ with $\text{Vol}(B)>S$? If I understand the Bishop-Gromov-inequality correctly, then this cannot happen for complete $(M,g)$. However…
Jan Bohr
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eigenfunctions of the tensor Laplace-Beltrami

Let $(\mathcal{M},g)$ be a Riemannian manifold and $\Delta_g$ be the corresponding Laplace Beltrami operator. The Laplace Beltrami operator can be applied to tensor fields. Do we also get some results about eigentensor-fields being an orthogonal…
Chevallier
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Why isn't a $CAT(k)$ space a $CAT(k)$ space for every $k$?

In the Wikipedia article for $CAT(k)$ spaces, the first example says: Any $CAT(k)$ space is a $CAT(l)$ space for all $l>k$. In fact, the converse holds: if a space is a $CAT(l)$ space for all $l>k$, then it is a $CAT(k)$ space. In which direction…
Ben Sheller
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How can i prove that the Hyperbolic space is complete by using Divergent Curves?

Let $$H_+^2=\{(x,y)\in\mathbb{R}^2:\ y>0\}$$ and consider the Lobatchevski metric on $H_+^2$: $$g_{11}=g_{22}=\frac{1}{y^2},\ g_{12}=0$$ How can one prove the completeness property of this space by using divergence curves? Here you can find the…
Tomás
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A question about isometries

Let $S$ be a regular connected surface and let $\varphi , \psi : S \to S$ two isometries and we suppose that exists $p \in S$, with $\varphi(p) = \psi(p)$, such that $d {\varphi}_p = d {\psi}_p$. I have to prove that $\varphi = \psi$ in $S$. I have…
joseabp91
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Norm of Weyl tensor on homogeneous riemannian manifold

A connected riemannian manifold $(M, g)$ is called homogeneous if the group of isometries of $(M, g)$ is transitive on $M$. Why is the norm of Weyl tensor constant on a homogeneous $M$?
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Inequality about convex function

This question is arised when I study the content in the following question entitled by " lower bound of a special type of convex functions " in here. Let $f: {\bf R}^n \rightarrow {\bf R}$ be a function in $C^1$ with $f(sx+(1-s)y)< s f(x) + (1-s)…
HK Lee
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Expression of the metric in normal coordinates using Jacobi fields

I would like to know wether the derivation of the following formula is wrong (I'm a bit confused because we have to show a different formula in a exercise sheet [however I don't want a solution of the exercise, I only want to know where my mistake…
Frieder Jäckel
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Question about Christoffel symbols of Riemann metric

Let $(M,g)$ be a smooth Riemannian manifold. There exist a connection $∇ $ that is compatible with the Riemannian structure, and this connection is called the Levi-Civita connection of the Riemmannian metric. "Compatible" means that $∇g=0$. And as…
unicornki
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Reference showing that positively curved balls in surfaces have area at most $\pi r^2$

Given a Riemannian surface with nonnegative Gaussian curvature, the area of a ball of radius $r$ around any point has area at most $\pi r^2$. I have a simple proof of this in the Euclidean cone case (a surface which is flat except at a discrete set…
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Every closed and totally geodesic submanifold $M^k$ of $H^n$ is isometric to $H^k$, $k \le n.$

Let $H^n$ be the hyperbolic space. Then the claim is: Every closed and totally geodesic submanifold $M^k$ of $H^n$ is isometric to $H^k$, $k \le n.$ This problem comes from do Carmo's book of Riemannian geometry. It supposed to be easy under the…
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If $f:M\to \bar{M}$ is an immersion, $\bar{M}$ riemannian with Levi-Civita connection $\bar{\nabla}$ then ${\bar{\nabla}}^\perp$ is riemannian on $M$

If $f:M\to \bar{M}$ is a immersion, $\bar{M}$ riemannian manifold with Levi-Civita connection $\bar{\nabla}$ then, if we pull-back the metric of $\bar{M}$ to $M$, and let ${\bar{\nabla}}^\perp$ the projection on $T_pM$ of the connection…
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If $f\in \mathbb C^\infty (M)$ and $(M,g)$ a Riemannian metric, does $g(fX,Y)=fg(X,Y)$?

Let $(M,g)$ a riemanian manifold and $f\in \mathcal C^\infty (M)$. Does $$g(fX,Y)=fg(X,Y)\ \ ?$$ I know that $g$ is $\mathbb R-$bilinear, but is it also $\mathcal C^\infty (M)-$bilinear ? In fact, in an exercise, I have $(M,g)$ and $(M,g')$ where…
user330587
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