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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Find the curvature of the sphere

I have to find the curvature (sectional, of Ricci and scalar) of $\mathbb S^n\subset \mathbb R^{n+1}$. My formula are For the sectional curvature: $$K_p(\pi)=\frac{R(X,Y,Y,X)}{\|X\wedge Y\|^2}$$ where $\pi\subset T_pM$ is a $2-$plan, $\{X,Y\}$ a…
user330587
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Riemannian connection $ \lambda_{XX}=0$

$M$ is a Riemannian manifold with Riemannian connection $\nabla$. $X$ is a vector field on $M$. It is not in general true that $\nabla _XX=0$, for example a geodesic $\gamma$ satisfies $\nabla_{\frac{d\gamma}{dt}}\frac{d\gamma}{dt}\neq0$. (i) What…
user136592
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Show that $\hbox{div}(X)=\sum_{j=1}^{n}\langle\nabla_{E_j}X,E_j\rangle$

Let $M$ a riemannian manifold. Let $X\in\chi(M)$ and $f$ a function $C^{\infty}$ in $M$. Define the divergence of $X$ as a function $div X:M\to\mathbb{R}$ given by $\operatorname{div}X(p)=\{\mbox{trace of the linear application }\}…
MathUser
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Geometric meaning of a curvature equation

In Do Carmo's differential geometry, he proves a lemma about Riemannian curvature tensor. Let $f: A\in \mathbb R^2 \to M$ be a parametrized surface and let $(s,t)$ be the usual coordinates of $\mathbb R^2$. Let $V=V(s,t)$ be a vector field along …
user136592
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Basic question on second covariant derivative

I am having a question on the wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_covariant_derivative Using the notation therein I don't get why $(\nabla_{u}\nabla_{v}w )^a=u^c\nabla_{c}v^b\nabla_{b}w^a$. It is clear that $(\nabla_{u}\nabla_{v}w…
Lucien
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Nonstandard support functions for the Busemann function

Let $(M,g)$ be a $n$-dimensional complete Riemannian manifold. Assume that $M$ contains a ray $\gamma : [0, \infty) \to \mathbb{R}$. Let $b_\gamma$ be the associated Busemann function, i.e. $$ b_\gamma(x) = \lim_{t \rightarrow \infty}(d(x, \gamma(t)…
Onil90
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Computation of the Ricci tensor and scalar curvature using Cartan's formalism

I've computed the Ricci tensor and the scalar curvature of the following metric on $I\times S^2, I\subset \mathbb{R}$: $$g=(1-r^2)^{-1}dr \otimes dr + r^2 d\theta \otimes d\theta + r^2\sin^2\theta d\phi \otimes d\phi$$ My orthonormal (co)frame is…
Strider
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A question about covariant derivative of a tensor

Let $R'$ be a tensor of order 4 in a riemannian manifold $M$ defined by: $R'(W,Z,X,Y)=\langle W,X \rangle \langle Z,Y\rangle - \langle Z,X\rangle \langle W,Y\rangle $ And let $R$ be the curvature tensor of $M$, if we have $R=KR'$, how to conclude…
Jr.
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Is the cut locus geodesic?

Let $P$ be a point on compact Riemannian manifold $M$. Let $L$ be the cut locus. Let $Q$ be a smooth point of $L$. Is $L$ totally geodesic in a neighborhood of $Q$?
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Geodesics of the $\mathbb{S}^n$ are great circles

I am trying to show that the geodesics of $\mathbb{S}^n$ are the great circles, as an exercise for my introductory Riemannian geometry class. I don't really know how to go about this. I suppose that using the geodesic equation would be too…
baltazar
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Upper bound on volume growth

If the Ricci curvature of a compact Riemannian manifold of demsnion $n$ is greater than 1-n, does it follow that the volume entropy satisfies $$\liminf_{r\rightarrow \infty} \frac{\log vol B_r(p)}{r}\leq n-1$$
Luc
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Some results about Levi-Civita connection in euclidean space?

I calculated some properties of the Levi-Civita Connection on a semi-riemannian manifold. But I'm not sure, whether my results are correct. Can you please tell me, when something below is wrong or if everything is right?: 1) The Levi-Civita…
Braten
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To calculate covariant derivative in Riemannian Geometry

I want to solve the exercise $2.57$ using $2.56$ I know calculate $2.57$ by using christoffel symbols but this process is long.How can I solve this directly via $2.56$. Can somebody help me by elaborately explain this problems. Thanks for your help.
chatni
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Isometry and Immersion between two riemannian manifolds

I am confuse with these concepts: Isometry and Immersion. Let $M$ and $N$ be riemannian manifolds. If $f:M\to N$ is a smooth isometry and will it be a immersion... If $g$ is a immersion then i know that it need not be isometry... but whether…
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Is the Riemann curvature tensor the only tensor that can be constructed from the metric tensor and its first and second derivatives?

I am reading Gravitation and Cosmology by Steven Weinberg. On page 133, he says $R^{\lambda}_{\phantom{x}\mu\nu\kappa}$ is the only tensor that can be constructed from the metric tensor and its first and second derivatives, and is linear in the…