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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What is a conformal Riemannian metric?

In Jost's "Compact Riemann surfaces" he defines (Definition 2.3.1) a conformal Riemannian metric on a Riemann surface $\Sigma$ to be given in local coordinates by $$\lambda^2(z) dz d \overline{z}. $$ I find the triplet conformal-Riemannian-metric a…
user7090
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Einstein 3-manifold has constant sectional curvature

A Riemannian Einstein 3-manifold has constant sectional curvature. I know a proof of a stronger theorem I read somewhere (it was iff) that makes use of the Weyl tensor but for just this implication it should be possible to use far less machinery,…
xyz
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How to show that the composition of two riemannian isometries is an isometry?

If for Riemannian charts $(P, g)$, $(Q, h)$ and $(R, i)$ I have two Riemannian isometries (differentiable bijection with differentiable inverse), one $\phi: (P, g) \to (Q,h)$ such that $g = \phi^{*}h$ and one $\rho: (Q,h) \to (R, i)$ such that $h =…
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A question on Lie bracket

I am reading the note and get confused with some computation in there. Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold. Let $f: [a,b]\times (-\epsilon,\epsilon)\rightarrow M$ is a smooth map. Denote $f_{s} := \dfrac{\partial f}{\partial s}$ and $f_{t} :=…
Hana
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Characterisation of complete riemannian manifolds using divergent curves.

Let $M$ be a riemannian manifold. Then $M$ is complete iff each divergent curve in $M$ has no finite length (a curve $\gamma : [0 , 1) \to M$ is divergent if for each compact $K \subset M$ there exists $t \in [0 , 1)$ such that $\gamma([0 , 1)) \cap…
joseabp91
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Whether differentiable means smooth in do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry

Picture below is from the 26th page of Do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry. In my view, by (5), if $f\in C^k$, then $Xf\in C^{k-1}$. Therefore, the last red line should be wrong. But in this book, there is not $C^k$. I guess the differentiable function…
Enhao Lan
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Why the induced orientation need the manifold is connected

Picture below is from 18th page of Do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry. In my view, the induced orientation does not connected. Assume $(U_\alpha, x_\alpha)$ is orientation of $M_1$, then $(\varphi(U_\alpha), \varphi\circ x_\alpha)$ is a orientation of…
Enhao Lan
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$3.6$ Example of $0$ Chapter of Do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry

Pictures below are from the Do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry. He want to show $i$ is a embedding. But only at $U$, $i$ is homeomorphism since $j^{-1}\circ i \circ x=x$. This do not mean $i$ is homeomorphism on $S$. Since in my view, the embedding…
Enhao Lan
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4.2 Example (Regular surfaces in $\mathbb R^n$) of chapter $0$ of Do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry

Picture below is from the Do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry. In my view, the $x$ and $y$ are differentiable homeomorphism. Thus, $x^{-1}\circ y$ and $y^{-1}\circ x$ are differentiable homeomorphism. Why the proof of this book is so complex ? Whether…
Enhao Lan
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Boundedness of smooth vector field

I have a basic question about vector fields on Riemannian manfiold: Suppose we have a smooth vector field $\xi $ sending $ x \to \xi_x \in T_x \mathcal{X}$ defined on a compact subset $\mathcal{X}$ of the manifold? Can one assume $\|\xi_x\| \leq…
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Modified convexity definition on manifolds allowing non-unique minimising geodesics

I am interested in subsets $A \subset M$ of a connected, complete Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$ with the following property: for every $p,q \in A$, at least one minimising geodesic from $p$ to $q$ in $M$ is contained in $A$. Is there a name for this…
1Rock
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What does it mean if $\text{Ric} =0$

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold with vanishing Ricci curvature. Does this mean that every component of the Ricci curvature tensor vanshes, i.e., $R_{ij}=0$?
user506388
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Volume as surface integral?

If I draw a closed curve $C$ on this flat screen, then that will enclose a disk like region $D$. I can compute the area of $D$ by either one of the following two methods $Area_1 = \int_D dx \wedge dy$ and $Area_2 = \int_C x dy$ The two areas are…
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What does the "m" stand for in cut locus $C_m(p)$?

I'm reading do Carmo "Riemannian geometry" chapter 13, where cut locus is defined. While other authors use ${\rm cut}(p)$ for the cut locus of $p\in M$, do Carmo denotes it by $C_m(p)$. I wonder what exactly the $m$ stands for in this notation.…
Y.Guo
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Why is $\frac{1}{2}g^{im}\frac{\partial g_{im}}{\partial x^k}=\frac{1}{2g}\frac{\partial g}{\partial x^k}$ true

The following Wiki page has the following formula: $$\frac{1}{2}g^{im}\frac{\partial g_{im}}{\partial x^k}=\frac{1}{2g}\frac{\partial g}{\partial x^k}$$ I don't understand how this is. I am interpreting $g$ as the determinant of the metric $g$.