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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Hopf-Rinow Theorem for Riemannian Manifolds with Boundary

I am a little rusty on my Riemannian geometry. In addressing a problem in PDE's I came across a situation that I cannot reconcile with the Hopf-Rinow Theorem. If $\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ is a bounded, open set with smooth boundary, then…
John
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Levi-Civita connection between conformal metrics

I am doing this problem: Let $g$ be a Riemannian metric on manifold $M$ and $\tilde{g}=e^{2f}g$ another metric conformal to $g$, where $f$ is a smooth function on $M$. Give the relation between the Levi-Civita connection $\nabla$ of $g$ and the…
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Geodesic flow preserves the volume (Liouville 's Theorem)

I am reading Do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry. I got stuck on Problem 14 of Chapter 3. Here is the original problem with the hints: (Liouville's Theorem) Prove that if $G$ is the geodesic field on $TM$ then $\mathrm{div}G=0$. Conclude from this that…
Dai Shi
  • 91
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Exponential map on the n-sphere

I would like to calculate the exponential map in the n-sphere, however, i don't know how to get started. Someone could give me a tip or bibliographic reference?
Cézar Bezerra
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Ricci curvature version of Cartan-Hadamard theorem?

Is the following assertion true : If $M$ is a simply-connected manifold with $\operatorname{Ric}<0$ (or $\operatorname{Ric}\leq -k$ for $k$ positive) then $M$ is diffeomorphic to $\mathbb{R}^n$? (i.e. I am trying to generalize Cartan-Hadamard…
Bingo
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Connected Sum of Riemannian Manifolds

As topological spaces, one can take connected sums of riemannian manifolds. Is there a way to give a Riemannian metric to the connected sum of two Riemannian Manifolds? If so is there a way to take this metric "canonical" in the sense that it…
Sak
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Parallel Transport Along Radial Geodesics Yields a Smooth Vector Field?

Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold and $p$ be a point on $M$. Let $U$ be a normal neighborhood about $p$ (that is, the exponential map $\exp_p$ maps a neighborhood of the origin in $T_pM$ diffeomorphically onto $U$). Fix a vector $v_p\in T_pM$. For…
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What significant differences are there between a Riemannian manifold and a pseudo-Riemannian manifold?

I am reading John Lee's book Riemannian Manifolds. On page 91, he begins a chapter called "Geodesics and Distance," which is I think the first chapter that seriously addresses geodesics. I was very surprised when I came across the following…
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complete vector field on Riemannian manifold with lower bound

From do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry P151: Let M be a complete Riemannian manifold, and let $X$ be a differentiable vector field on $M$. Suppose that there exists a constant $с > 0$ such that $|X(p)| > c$, for all $p \in M$. Prove that the…
Kevin Yin
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On a Riemannian manifold (along a geodesic), is the relation *is conjugate to* transitive?

Let $(M, g)$ be a complete Riemannian manifold. Suppose $\gamma : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow M$ is a geodesic such that the instant $0$ is conjugate to both $a$ and $b$, where the numbers $a, b, 0$ are distinct. Question: Does it follow that $a$ and $b$…
L..
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Metric of the flat torus

I am studying the flat torus $T^n=\mathbb{R}^n/\mathbb{Z}^n$. I am interested in the metric and the connection used. Unfortunately, in the books I am reading those things aren't defined. Does anyone knows this definition or a reference where I can…
John N.
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Deduce the shape of a manifold from the Riemannian metric

I'm beginning to study Ricci flow, but I'm stumbled by a basic question: Let's restrict ourselves to a smooth 2-manifold $M$ in $\mathbb{R}^3$. Let $g$ be the Riemannian metric of $M$ induced from the Euclidean metric. Given $g$, how can we tell the…
Joseph
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Why aren't hyperbolic manifolds CAT(0)?

Hyperbolic manifolds have constant sectional curvature $-1$. The two-holed torus, for example, can (I believe) be given a hyperbolic metric so that it has curvature $-1$. It should also be a complete metric space, with this metric. It would seem as…
vukov
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If M is compact and N is connected, then locally isometry is symmetric?

I am studying for the qualifying exams of my PhD, and I found the following exercise in the reference book: If $M$ is a compact Riemannian manifold, $N$ is a connected Riemannian manifold and $M$ is locally isometric to $N$, then $N$ is locally…
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scalar curvature on one - dimensional Riemannian Manifold

How can i express the scalar curvature for a one - dimensional Riemannian manifold (M, g) in terms of the metric g ?
harlekin
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