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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Different Riemannian manifolds with the same Riemannian volume form

Let $(X,g_1)$ and $(X,g_2)$ be two Riemannian manifolds over the same space $X$. My (vague) question is the following : If I know that the two induced Riemannian volume form coincide, what can I say on $g_1$ and $g_2$ ? A variant of the question :…
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Is $S^n$ compact with respect to the natural topology of a smooth manifold?

I was trying to prove that $S^n$ is geodesically complete, which it is direct if I can prove that $S^n$ is compact. The problem is that I don't know how to do this. I know that every closed submanifold of an Euclidean space is complete and that…
George
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How to understand the Remark 2.6 of do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry

Pictures below are from the do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry. I can't understand the 2.6 Remark. In my view, the affine connection is a local notion since $X(y_k)(p)$ depends on a neighborhood of $p$. According to the 2.6 Remark, operator $R_p$…
Enhao Lan
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Proposition 3.6 of do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry, why $r(1)=l(\gamma)$?

Picture below is from the do Carmo's Riemannian geometry. I don't know why $r(1)=l(\gamma)$ ?
Enhao Lan
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Why Gauss Lemma means the boundary of normal ball is a hypersurface?

Pictures below is from the do Carmo's Riemannian Geometry, I don't know why Gauss Lemma means the boundary of normal ball is a hypersurface, although it is very visualized. Besides, seemly, there is not explicit definition of hypersurface in this…
Enhao Lan
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Calculation of $\int_{M}R_{ij}\nabla^{i}\varphi\nabla^{j}\varphi\; e^{-\varphi}d\mu$.

I am trying to calculate the following: \begin{equation} \int_{M}R_{ij}\nabla^{i}\varphi\nabla^{j}\varphi\;…
Cal22
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Measures on Riemannian manifolds

Suppose that $(M, g_1)$ and $(M, g_2)$ are two Riemannian manifolds. This question states that there exists a smooth, positive function $\rho :M\to\mathbb{R}_+$ that relates the Riemannian volume densities as $\mathrm{dVol}_2 = \rho…
5d41402abc4
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Mean curvature of the sphere of radius r

I found in a book that if $H$ is the mean curvature vector field of the sphere $S^n(r)$ in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$, then $||H||^2 = \frac{1}{r^2}$ in every point of $S^n(r)$. I know that, if $x\in S^n(r)$ and $e_1, \ldots, e_n$ is an ortonormal basis of…
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Parameterizing Geodesics on the Sphere in Polar Coordinates

I seem to have this seemingly trivial Problem, but can't figure it out. Situation: I have my Unit Sphere, $S^2$ defined as a Riemannian Manifold. Parameterizing Geodesics (Great circles) on this sphere is absolutely no Problem, IF I embed it in…
user11008
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structure of Riemannian manifold of isometries from C^n to C^m

Does anyone know a reference which gives the properties (geodesics, geodesic distance, etc) of the Riemannian manifold of isometries from $\mathbb{C}^n$ into $\mathbb{C}^m$, $m>n$, which map zero to zero? The metric on the tangent space is…
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Convexity of Riemannian distance function

Consider the function $\varphi : \mathcal{M} \times \mathcal{M} \to \mathbb{R} $ given by $\varphi (x,y) : =\frac{1}{2}d^2(x,y)$, where $d$ is the Riemannian distance function. This is convex for all spaces with non-positive curvature. Is there any…
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Einstein manifold of dimension 2

By definition $M^{2}$ is an Einstein manifold if there exists $\lambda \in C^{\infty}(M)$ such that $$\mbox{Ric}(X,Y)=\lambda\langle X, Y \rangle$$ for all $X,Y \in \Gamma(TM)$. My question is: Is it true that $\lambda$ can be a constant function? I…
Rodrigues
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Cut locus of $\mathbb{CP}^n$

I can show that the cut locust of some $p\in\mathbb{RP}^n$ is just a copy of $\mathbb{RP}^{n-1}$ coming from an equatorial $S^{n-1}$ sphere under the projection $S^n\mapsto\mathbb{RP}^n$. I know that for $p\in\mathbb{CP}^n$ you are supposed to get…
Rob
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$M$ a complete Riemannian manifold with nonpositive curvature. Show that $|d(exp_p)_v(w)| \geq |w|$.

$M$ a complete Riemannian manifold with nonpositive sectional curvature. Show that $|d(\exp_p)_v(w)| \geq |w|$ for all $v \in T_p M$, and all $w \in T_v(T_p M)$. Update: Based on the hints I've gotten, here is my attempted solution. We will compare…
Tuo
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Volume form is parallel with respect to Levi-Civita connection

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold of dimension $m$. I would like to prove the following stament. The riemannian volume form $\omega$ is parallel with respect to Levi-Civita connection. This is my attempt: Let $\omega$ be the riemannian volume…