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
2 answers

Does a Riemannian metric allow definition of a tangent vector's length?

In Euclidean spaces, we define the Euclidean norm of a vector $\vec{x} = (x_1,x_2,...x_n)$ as $\|\vec{x}\|:=\sqrt{x_1^2+x_2^2+ \cdots +x_n^2 }$ Does the metric tensor field of a Riemannian manifold allow us to establish something similar to a norm…
1
vote
1 answer

Existence of normal orthogonal frame on sphere such that it is normal at every point in a neighbourhood?

It seems that on sphere $S^{n-1}$, there exists a better frame than the usually normal frame. In the literature, some author asserts that there exists a local orthogonal frame $\left\{e_i\right\}_{i=1}^{n-1}$ on $S^{n-1}$, such that $$ …
van abel
  • 1,461
1
vote
0 answers

The finiteness of the fundamental group of a closed Ricci-flat manifold

If $M$ is a Ricci-flat closed Riemannian manifold with $H^1(M,\mathbb R^n)=0$, can we show the fundamental group of $M$ is finite?
Summer
  • 6,893
1
vote
1 answer

$\Delta e^i =0$ where $e_i$ is geodesic.

Let $e_i$ be a geodesic coordinate vector field and $e^i$ be its coframe. Then $$\Delta e^i =0$$ This is right ? If so how can we prove ? $$\Delta e^i (e_j)=\nabla_k \nabla_k e^i(e_j) = e_k( \nabla_k e^i(e_j) )= e_k( - \Gamma_{kj}^i)$$
HK Lee
  • 19,964
1
vote
2 answers

Isometries and inner product in Hyperbolic SPACE (H3)

Well, the title says what I need to know/understand, when I studied upper half plane I remember that isometries are Mobius transformations (If I am not wrong), now I have no clue about it. Thanks for your help!
Kyor
  • 61
1
vote
1 answer

Does a simply connected complete riemannian manifold with POSITIVE upper curvature bound have positive injectivity radius?

For example: I am thinking that some sort of rauch comparison theorem could be helpful
fritz
  • 668
1
vote
1 answer

The higher-order estimates for the distance function

Let $M$ be a complete Riemannian manifold such that inj$(M)\geq l>0$ and $|\nabla^k\text{Rm}|\leq A_k$ for any $k \geq 0$ . For a point $p$ on $M$, we have a distance function $r(x)=d(x,p)$. For any $k \geq 0$, can we find a constant $C_k$ which…
Summer
  • 6,893
1
vote
0 answers

Proof of a theorem in Riemannian Geometry

Prove the following theorem: For $3\leq r\leq \infty$ let $(M; g)$ be a Riemannian $C^r$-manifold. Then there exists an isometric $C^r$-embedding of $(M; g)$ into a Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^n$. I have no idea how to prove this. Can someone help…
user122283
1
vote
2 answers

the Definition of Connection

Let $M$ be an Riemannian Manifold and $\bigtriangledown$ be the Riemannian Connection on it. Let we think about the domain and range of $\bigtriangledown:\Gamma(M)\times\Gamma(M)\rightarrow\Gamma(M)$ and $\Gamma(M)$ contains all smooth vector fields…
gaoxinge
  • 4,434
1
vote
0 answers

Definition of a differentiable manifold and papers in Riemannian geometry

There are at least two ways of introducing a definition of differentiable manifolds. I read John Lee's excellent book "Introduction to smooth manifolds" before, but there is too much bundles there for me. Do Carmo's way of introducing definition of…
Alem
  • 419
1
vote
0 answers

The control of geodesic rays

Let $M$ be a simply-connected, complete Riemannian manifold whose sectional curvature $K_M$ satisfies $-b^2\leq K_M\leq -a^2<0$. Fix two points $p,q$ in $M$, for any geodesic ray $\gamma(t)$ starting from $p$, can we find a geodesic ray $\gamma_1(t)…
Summer
  • 6,893
1
vote
2 answers

Geodesic versus geodesic loop

Let (M,g) be a closed manifold and let $\alpha$ be an element of $G=\pi_1(M,p)$ we can define the norm of $\alpha$ with respect to p as the infinimum riemannian length of a representative of $\alpha$ . people say this norm is realised by a geodesic…
Alfie
  • 11
1
vote
0 answers

mean curvature and volumes of submanifolds

How to relate the mean curvature vector evolution over a submanifold of an euclidean space to growth of the volumes of geodesic balls. Can i determine the volume of a geodesic ball by integrating the norm of the mean curvature vector? Thanks in…
stirlitz
  • 11
  • 1
1
vote
1 answer

Why Morse Index Theorem imply Jacobi Theorem?

Picture below is from do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry, seemly, the author think that the 2.2 Index Theorem implies the 2.9 Corollary. I don't see that at all. Did the author make a mistake? In where, $E$ is the energy of curve in the variation. For…
Enhao Lan
  • 5,829
1
vote
1 answer

Why $S_{\gamma'(0)}(J(0))=0$ for the geodesic sub-manifold?

Picture below is from do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry, I don't know how to show the red line. The $S$ is shape operator, assuming local extension of $\gamma'(0)$ is $N$ which normal to $M$, then $$ S_{\gamma'(0)} J(0) = -(\nabla_{J(0)}N)^T $$ where…
Enhao Lan
  • 5,829