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.

7915 questions
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Killing vector field cannot have isolated zeros in odd dimensions

Let $(M, g)$ be an odd-dimensional Riemannian manifold, and let $X$ be a Killing vector field on $M$ (i.e. $L_X g = 0$). Show that $X$ cannot have isolated zeros. I know that if $X$ vanishes at a point $p \in M$, then $X$ is tangent to the small…
S.T.
  • 655
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Curvature of Einstein manifold

Is there a general expression for the Riemann curvature tensor $R_{ijkl}$ on an Einstein manifold (i.e., where $R_{ij} = kg_{ij}$ for some constant $k$)?
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Show that the two notions of isometry between Riemannian manifold are equivalent

We now have two kinds of “metrics” on a Riemannian manifold—the Riemannian metric and the distance function. Correspondingly, there are two definitions of “isometry” between Riemannian manifolds—a Riemannian isometry is a diffeomorphism that pulls…
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If $X$ is Killing and $p$ is a critical point of $f(p) = \|X(p)\|^2$ then the trajectory of $X$ through $p$ is geodesic.

Let $(M,g)$ a Riemannian manifold and $X$ a Killing field on $M$. Then, we can define the function: $$f(p) = \|X(p)\|^2$$ The claim is: If $p$ is a critical point of $f$ then the flow of $X$ at $p$ is a geodesic. My attempts: $$Xf(p) = X(\|X(p)\|^2)…
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Let $G$ a Lie group acting smoothly on $\bar{M}$ by isometries of $\bar{g}$. There is a unique Riemannian metric on $M$

Let $p : \bar{M} \to M$ a submersion, where $\bar{M}$ is a Riemannian manifold with metric $\bar{g}$ and $G$ a Lie group acting by isometries of $\bar{g}$. Suppose yet that $G$ acts transitively on $\bar{M}_y$, each fiber of $\bar{M}$ and $p\circ…
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free homotopy class of closed paths in a compact Riemannian manifold

Suppose that $M$ is a compact Riemannian manifold and that $\gamma$ is a closed path in $M$ which is assumed to be continuous but not necessarily piecewise smooth. Must the free homotopy class of $\gamma$ necessarily contain at least one closed…
Rupert
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existance of gradient conformal vector field on riemannian manifolds

Let ‎$ ‎(M,g)‎ $ ‎be a Riemannian manifold. A gradient conformal vector field on ‎$ ‎M‎ $‎ is a conformal vector field ‎$ ‎X‎ $‎ which is at the same time the gradient of a function on ‎‎$ ‎M‎ $ ‎:‎ \begin{equation}‎ ‎X=‎\nabla f‎ ,‎…
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Product of Riemannian manifolds?

Given two Riemannian manifolds $(M,g^M)$ and $(N,g^N)$ is there a natural way to combine them to be a Riemannian manifold? Some kind of $(M \times N, g^{M \times N})$.
Yrogirg
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Show that $(divR) (X, Y,Z) = (\nabla_X Ric) (Y,Z) − (\nabla_Y Ric) (X,Z).$

In course of solving Riemannian Geometry By Peter Petersen Chap. 2, I stuck on the following problem: Show that in a Riemmanian manifold if $R$ is the $(1, 3)$ curvature tensor and $Ric$ the $(0, 2)$ Ricci tensor, then $(div~R) (X, Y,Z) =…
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How can I measure the length of a curve using a Riemannian metric?

On page 35 in his book Riemannian Geometry, Manfredo do Carmo states the following: Giving a surface $S \subset \Bbb{R}^{3}$, we have a natural way of measuring the lengths of vectors tangent to $S$, namely: the inner product $\langle v, w\rangle$…
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Explicit example of a compact manifold of dimension $>2$ with strictly negative sectional curvature

I am looking for examples of compact manifold of dimension $>2$ with strictly negative sectional curvature (for dimension 2 it is well-known). Can anybody please help?
Bingo
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Why are there infinitely many connections on a Riemannian manifold?

I've just started learning some Riemannian manifold stuff, and I'm getting confused about the concept of connection. A connection $\nabla: \Gamma(T\mathcal{M})\times \Gamma(T\mathcal{M}) \rightarrow \Gamma(T\mathcal{M})$ basically defines rules of…
thinkbear
  • 391
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The computation of the Laplacian of the heat kernel on a Riemannian manifold

From John Roe, Elliptic Operators, topology and asymptotic methods , page 99 Let $M$ be a manifold of dimension $n$ with fixed point $q$. Let a geodesic local coordinate system $x^{i}$ originate from $q$. Let $r^{2}=\sum(x^{i})^{2}=\sum…
Bombyx mori
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Volume of a complete, simply connected Riemannian manifold of constant negative curvature

Given an $n$-dimensional complete simply connected Riemannian manifold of constant negative curvature $-1$, I need to show that $$\operatorname{vol} B_{r}(p) = \alpha_{n-1} \int_{0}^{r} \sinh^{n-1}(t)\,dt.$$ where the author uses $\alpha_{n-1}$ to…
Joe Wells
  • 1,110
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Does parallel Ricci tensor imply constant scalar curvature?

Is that true that if a Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$ has parallel Ricci tensor i. e., $\nabla Ric=0$, then the manifold has constant scalar curvature? I've seen this result with some aditional hypothesis and I'd like to know if it is true in this…
Myself
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