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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A question about the formula for the Christoffel symbol

This refers to the following formula on this wiki page: $$\Gamma^i_{ki}=\frac{1}{2}g^{im}\frac{\partial g_{im}}{\partial x^k}$$ Shouldn't it be $$\Gamma^{i}_{ki}=\frac{1}{2}g^{im}(\frac{\partial g_{mi}}{\partial x_k}+\frac{\partial…
user67803
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A question about the relation between the exterior derivative of $1$-forms and the metric

Let $\theta_X$ be a $1$-form. Petersen's "Riemannian Geometry" says the following on pg 24: $d\theta_X(\partial_k,\partial_l)=\partial_kg(X,\partial_l)-\partial_lg(X,\partial_k)-g(X,[\partial_k,\partial_l])$ How is this? Can I get a reference for…
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Ric curvature and second fundamental form.

Suppose $M$ is a minimal submanifod in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$, by Gauss equation we have $$\operatorname{Ric}_M\geq -\|A\|^2$$. I have done similar calculations for surface in $\mathbb{R}^3$. But it seems different, and here codimension is bigger than…
STUDENT
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How to contract product of curvature tensors?

I have a term of the form $R_{\mu \nu \rho \sigma}R^{\mu \nu}_{\lambda \kappa} (g^{\rho \sigma}g^{\lambda \kappa} -g^{\rho \lambda}g^{\sigma \kappa})$ which I would like to simplify, but I am obviously doing something completely wrong. My…
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Smooth and Riemannian metrics?

Can someone explain to me what is the relation between "smooth metric" and "Riemannian metric". Do we have an implication or an equivalence between the two notions. Thanks for any answer
kamerove
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Distance to cut locus and injectivity of the exponential map

Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold, $p \in M$ and $C_m(p)$ shall denote the cut locus of $p$. In his „Riemannian Geometry“ Do Carmo says that $\exp_p$ is injective on a open ball $B_r(p)$ of radius $r$ if and only if $r\leq d(p,C_m(p))$. I have…
Frieder Jäckel
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$C^{1,\alpha}$ Riemannian metric

Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold. What is the definition of a $C^{1,\alpha}$ ($0<\alpha<1$) Riemannian metric on $M$?
Truong
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riemannienne geometry , differential calculus

I'm searching for a books for the riemannienne geometry and differential calculus . If any one know some good books I really need those books
Bernard
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Transformation of Christoffel symbol

I don't quite get the result that I should get. We have…
Thomas Wening
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Expansion of Exp in Riemannian manifold

Let $M$ be a smooth manifold (could be $\mathbb{R}^n$) and $g_1(\cdot,\cdot),g_2(\cdot,\cdot)$ two inner products. Let $p \in M$ and denote by $\exp_1$ and $\exp_2$ the corresponding exponential maps based at $p$: $\exp_i: T_pM \to M$; both are…
user306330
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Riemannian metric inverse matrix

I have an immersion $F: M\to\mathbb R^{n+1}$ with an n-dimensional smooth manifold. The coefficients of the metric $g$ are defined by $g_{ij}(p)=\left\langle \frac{\partial F}{\partial x_i}(p), \frac{\partial F}{\partial x_j}(p) \right\rangle, p\in…
d.s.
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Relationship between theorem and Einstein space

First, we know that if the Ricci tensor $S$ is of the form $S = ag$, $R_{ij} = ag_{ij}$ where $a$ is a constant, then $M$ is called an Einstein manifold. At the same time we know that if $M$ is a Riemannian manifold and $S = ag$ where $a$ is a…
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Riemannian distance topological requirements to become a metric

I was reading the proof of the --well known-- theorem that if $(M, g)$ is a Riemannian manifold, then, one defines the Riemannian distance $d$ on $M$, as $$ M \times M \ni (a, b) \longmapsto d(a, b) = \inf \left\{ L(c) \bigm| c \textrm{ is a $C^1$…
yaqa
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Is this System Solvable?

Suppose we are given a Riemannian Metric $g$ on $\mathbb{R}^n$. Let $v_1\in\mathbb{R}^n$ with $g(v_1,v_1)=1$. Is it possible to find a base $\{v_1,v_2,...,v_n\}$ of $\mathbb{R}^n$ in such a way that $g(v_i,v_j)=\delta_{ij}$, $\forall\ i,j=1,...,n$ ?
Tomás
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Finding geodesics on a surface

Let $M$ be a Riemannian surface with the metric $g$ defined by $g = dx^2 + a(x,y)^2 dy^2$, where $a$ is some smooth function. Is it true that the curves given in the coordinates $(x,y)$ by $\gamma(t) = (t,y_0)$, where $y_0$ is fixed, are all…
Alphonse
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