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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Constructuion of $f$ in Exercise 2.3 Lee's Riemmanian Manifolds

This is an exercise from Lee's Riemannian geometry. I'm not clear about how to use the hint to solve this exercise exactly. Exercise 2.3. Suppose $M \subset \widetilde{M}$ is an embedded submanifold. (a) If $f$ is any smooth function on $M$, show…
gsoldier
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Higher order terms in Riemann's formula (normal coordinates)

In normal coordinates, we have $$ \Gamma_{ijk}(x)=-\frac{1}{3}(R_{ijkl}(0)+R_{ikjl}(0))x^{l}+O(x^2) $$ where $ \Gamma_{ijk}\equiv g_{is}\Gamma^s_{jk}$. My question is whether the higher order terms can be expressed solely in terms of $R_{ijkl}$ and…
dennis
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Schur's Theorem (Exercise 8, Chapter 4; Do Carmo, Riemannian Geometry)

In the picture (P106 Do Carmo, Riemannian Geometry), why the red line implies $K = const$. I have two questions about this. I have seen in another answers, which strictly follows the hint in the book. It says $X(K)=0, \forall X \in TpM $ implies…
gsoldier
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Moment of small balls in Riemannian manifolds

Let $M$ be Riemannian manifold and $p_{1},p_{2}$ two points that we can suppose close enough to use normal coordinates. My goal would be estimate the $1$-moment of the ball $B_{t}$ of center $p_{2}$ and radius $t$ at $p_{1}$, which is…
Theo V.
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Chern-Gauss-Bonnet proof

I'm reading through Chern original proof as stated in Yin Li of the Chern-Gauss-Bonnet theorem, and I think I got almost everything except for the last step (Page 17). I fail to see how passing to the limit allows to integrate over $SM_x$ by…
Luigi
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Holonomy of Riemannian manifolds

Let's choose a point and a tangent vector $x\in U\subseteq M$, $\omega(x)\in T_{x}M$ in a local chart of a manifold. If we define a curve $\gamma : [0, 1]\rightarrow U$ such that $$\left.\frac{d\gamma}{dt}\right|_{t = 0} =…
Yau
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Does Ricci flat with $b_1=0$ imply fundamental group is finite?

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold with Ricci curvature vanishes, that is $\mathrm{Ric}(g)=0$. Now I want to show some topological result about $M$. Myers' theorem implies if $\mathrm{Ric}(g)>0$, then $\pi_1(M)$ is finite. It's clear that this is…
user867836
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How to calculate the $\dot\gamma$ of $\gamma(s)=\Phi_s(\Gamma(s))$?

Assume $(M,g)$ is a Riemannian manifold. $\Phi_s:M\rightarrow M$ is the 1-parameter diffeomorphism group and $$ \partial_s \Phi_s = X $$ where $X$ is vector field. $\Gamma:[0,\tau]\rightarrow M$ is smooth curve. Let $$ \gamma(s) =…
Enhao Lan
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Weitzenböck formula proof in normal coordinates

There are many questions on the proof of the mentioned formula already on the site, for example: Question 1, Question 2. Somehow I fail to prove it while trying to perform the computation in normal coordinates. To be precise, we want to show $…
J.E.M.S
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Some doubts regarding Hopf Rinow theorem

I am studying Riemannian Geometry in my own. And I was going through the proof of Hopf Rinow from the book of Carmo . I have a few doubts if one could help. In one side it has been proved that if $exp_p$ is defined on all of $T_pM$ then there…
User11111
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Whether $(\Delta E) v=\Delta(E(v))$?

Consider a Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$, and $$ E=E_i^j dx^i\otimes \partial_j ~~~~v=v^i\partial_i $$ namely, $E\in \Gamma(TM^*\otimes TM), v\in \Gamma (TM)$, I want to know whether $(\Delta E) v=\Delta(E(v))$. Therefore, assuming $u=u_i dx^i$,…
Enhao Lan
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Covariant derivative of $Ricc^2$

How to derivate (covariant derivative) the expressions $R\cdot Ric$ and $Ric^2$ where $Ric^2$ means $Ric \circ Ric$? Here, $Ric$ is the Ricci tensor seen as a operator and $R$ is the scalar curvature of a Riemannian manifold.
Myself
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Is $\Gamma_{k,i}^j = - \Gamma_{k,j}^i$ correct? (For an isometric $\nabla$)

I have a small question about Riemannian Geometry - I am pretty sure it's something very easy, but I'd still like to ask for confirmation, since I haven't found a smiliar result when googling for it. Assume we have a $n$-dimensional Riemannian…
Nuke_Gunray
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Showing completeness - Hopf-Rinow Theorem

Let $g_0$ be the usual Euclidean metric on $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ and define Riemannian metric $g=(1+{x_1}^2+x_2^2)^{2}g_0$, also on $\mathbb{R}^{2}$. Show that if $\alpha:[0,L]\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^2$ is curve, then its length is greater wrt metric g…
Dan
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On the definition of the Jacobian of the exponential map

I am currently reading Getzler's book and I don't understand his definition of the Jacobian on page 38: Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold, $x_0\in M$ and consider the exponential map$$\exp_{x_0}\colon U\subset T_{x_0}M\to V\subset M$$ Suppose…
Filippo
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