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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How to calculate the tangent vector of $h(t)=\exp_{c(t)} V(t)$?

$(M,g)$ is 2-dimensional Riemannian manifold. $C(t):(0,a)\rightarrow M$ is a curve. $V(t)$ is a vector field along $C(t)$. Assume $$ h(t)=\exp_{c(t)} V(t) \tag{1} $$ Then, I want to know how to calculate the tangent vector of $h(t)$. What I try:…
Enhao Lan
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2.5 Proposition of Chapter 9 of do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry

Picture below is from the 196th page of do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry. I don't know why red line is right. On each $(t_i,t_{i+1})$, there is $\frac{D}{dt}\frac{dc}{dt}=0$. And since $c(t)$ is $C^1$, I know that $\frac{dc}{dt}$ is continuous on…
Enhao Lan
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Theorema Egregium for 2-dimensional surface embedded in $\mathbb{R}^n$ (n>3)

I'm trying to formulate and prove Theorema Egregium for a 2-dimensional surface embedded in $\mathbb{R}^n$ with $n>3$. (The motivation is that I would like to understand sectional curvature in a more intuitive way.) More precisely, I approached the…
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2nd Bianchi Identity via normal coordinates

Id like to show this form of the Bianchi identity from do Carmo using normal coordinates. (I am aware one can do this with properties of the curvature tensor and connection by reasoning with operators or via a geodesic frame. But for my own practice…
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Is there analogue of four vertex theorem for Riemannian 2-sphere $(S^2,g)$?

When I read the Four Vertex Theorem, I think that there may be analogue for smooth Riemannian 2-sphere $(S^2,g)$. Namely, assume the Gauss curvature of $(S^2,g)$ is $K$, Then, K has at least six extreme points on $(S^2,g)$, is it ?
Enhao Lan
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Does Riemannian operators remain the same under a scaling Riemannian metric

Supposing a Riemannian manifold $\{M,g\}$, $\lambda g$ is also a Riemannian metric on $M$ with the constant scaling factor $\lambda>0$. The geodesics, Riemannian exponential map, Riemannian logarithm (the inverse of exponential map), and parallel…
gsoldier
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why neuron network's parameter space has a Riemann metric structure?

In the natural gradient paper, the first line writes: The parameter space of neural networks has a Riemannian metric structure. I don't know why. I has basic knowledge of Riemannian metric: it defines the metric of local space of riemanian space.…
zhixin
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Riemannian or sectional curvautres on the geodesic ball ( or normal neighborhood ) is zero ? ( Exponential map is local isometry? )

I am reading certain proof ( John Lee's Introduction to riemannian manifold, Theorem 11.14 ; refer to question Q.3-2) in my questions Understanding the Gunther's Volume comparison theorem ( John Lee's Introductino to Riemannian manifold ) ) and some…
Plantation
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Length of curve on $(S^2,\tilde g)$

Under the polar coordinate, the unit sphere is $$ S^2=\{(\sin\theta\cos\varphi,\sin\theta\sin\varphi,\cos\theta)\in \mathbb R^3:\theta\in[0,\pi],\varphi\in[0,2\pi] \} $$ consider a non-induced metric, for example, $$ \tilde g…
Enhao Lan
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Smooth of standard metric of unit sphere

Denote $$ U^2= \{ (x,y,z)\in\mathbb R^2: x^2+y^2+z^2=1 \} $$ $g$ is the induced metric. Under the polar coordinates, $\theta$ is polar angle, $\varphi$ is azimuthal angle, the metric is $$ g=\begin{pmatrix} 1 &0 \\ 0…
Enhao Lan
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About minimal geodesic of product of Riemannian space

I'm struggling to prove the following : let $M = L \times N$ be the product of two complete Riemannian manifolds $(L,g)$ and $(N,h)$, with the metric $ (g\times h)(v,w) = g_{p'}(v',w') + h_{p''}(v'',w'')$ Where $T_{p}M = T_{p'}L \times T_{p''}N$.…
Joniloli
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Is $\int_\gamma k_g ds =0$ for any shortest simple closed curve $\gamma$ dividing $S^2$ into two equal parts?

Consider a smooth Riemannian manifold $(S^2,g)$, where $S^2$ is the topological sphere. $\gamma$ is the shortest simple closed curve which dividing $S^2$ to two parts and the two parts have equal areas (as shown in the figure below, where…
Enhao Lan
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Clarification regarding the definitions of flow and geodesic flow.

A flow on a manifold $M$ is a smooth map $\phi:M\times\mathbb{R}\to M$ such that $\phi(x, 0) = x$, for all $x\in M$, and $\phi(\phi(x, s), t) = \phi(x, s + t)$, for all $s,t\in\mathbb{R}$. We denote $\phi(x, t)$ by $\phi^t(x)$. In particular, the…
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Important Step in the proof of Chern-Gauß-Bonnet

I am currently reading the proof of the Chern-Gauß-Bonnet theorem by Chern. In one of the last steps I don't understand how we obtain the Euler characteristic with Stokes. I know that he uses the Poincaré-Hopf theorem to obtain the Euler…
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Restricting a smooth vector bundle to a submanifold

[Vector Bundle Chart lemma] The above is an example in Lee's smooth manifolds. My question is about the case where $S$ an immersed (or embedded) submanifold of $M$. By the chart lemma, $E|_S$ is indeed a vector bundle. Then is $E|_S$ an immersed…
gsoldier
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