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
3
votes
2 answers

The metric $g_{ij} = \frac{\delta_{ij}}{(1 + \frac{K}{4}\|x\|^2)^2}$ is not complete on $\mathbb{R}^n$, if $K > 0$.

Suppose that in $\mathbb{R}^n$ is given the metric: $$g_{ij} = \frac{\delta_{ij}}{(1 + \frac{K}{4}\|x\|^2)^2},$$ where $\|x\|$ is the standard metric of $\mathbb{R}^n$ and $K>0$ a constant and $\delta_{ij}$ is the Kronecker delta. How can I show…
3
votes
0 answers

Convergence of metrics on a Riemannian manifold

$(M,g)$ is a Riemannian manifold, $(g_{t})_{t >0}$ is a family of Riemannian metrics on $M$. What does ''$g_{t} \xrightarrow[t \to 0]{} g$ in the $\mathcal{C}^r$ sense for any $r \ge 0$'' means? More precisely, I know the convergence in the Hölder…
3
votes
2 answers

How can I argue that Lie derivative is not a connection?

I am reading Lee's book of riemannian geometry and he asks to show that Lie derivative of two vector fields on a riemannian manifold is not a connection. How can I argue that this is true? He also asks to show that there is a vector field $V$ on…
3
votes
1 answer

Curvature of the sphere, how can I get it?

I want to compute the curvature of the sphere. I have the following definition : The curvature is given by $$K_p(T_p\mathbb S^2)=\frac{R(X,Y,Y,X)}{\|X\wedge Y\|^2}$$ where $X,Y$ is a basis of $T_p(\mathbb S^2)$ and $R(X,Y,Z,W)=g(R_{XY}Z,W)$ where…
user330587
  • 1,624
3
votes
2 answers

Locally symmetric spaces and the curvature tensor

Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold. Suppose $\nabla R=0$ where $R$ is the curvature tensor (we then say $M$ is locally symmetric). Then if $\gamma$ is a geodesic of $M$ and $X,Y,Z$ are parallel vector fields along $\gamma$ then $R(X,Y)Z$ is a…
Talexius
  • 2,015
3
votes
1 answer

Find a isometric immersion of the Torus $T^{n}$ on $\mathbb{R}^{2n}$.

Find a isometric immersion of the "plane" Torus $T^{n}$ on $\mathbb{R}^{2n}$. Isometric Immersion, let $f:M^{n}\to N^{n+k}$ a immersion, i.e., $f$ is differentiable and $df_{p}:T_{p}M\to T_{f(p)}N$ is injective for all $p\in M$. If $N$ has a…
3
votes
1 answer

Conformal change of Riemannian metric

I'm studying Riemannian Geometry from different sources and I have a problem trying to solve one of the exercises from Petersen's Riemannian Geometry: Show, that any Riemannian Manifold $(M, g)$ admits a conformal change $(M,\lambda^2g)$, where…
Proton
  • 321
3
votes
2 answers

Affine connection, metric and parallel transport and mutual interdependence

I am eternally confused even after repeated learning about the mutual independence between affine connections and the metric tensor and parallel transport. Given any one of them, can I recover the rest?? I know that given any smooth manifold, there…
Vishesh
  • 2,928
3
votes
1 answer

Some proofs about locally symmetric Riemannian manifolds

I'm working on a problem in do Carmo chapter 4. We have that a Riemannian manifold, M, is locally symmetric if $\nabla R = 0$, where R is the curvature tensor of M (i.e., $R(X,Y,Z,W) = \langle R(X,Y)Z, W \rangle$, and $R(X,Y)Z =…
Agathon
  • 183
3
votes
1 answer

Is it true that if $f(p)=p$ and d$f_p=\operatorname{id}$ then $f(\exp_p(v))=\exp_p(v)\ \forall v\in T_pM$?

$M$ is a Riemannian manifold, $f$ a (smooth) function from $M$ to itself, $v$ only vectors for which the exponential map is defined. Then, Is it true that if $f(p)=p$ and $\mathrm{d}f_p=\operatorname{id}$ then $f(\exp_p(v))=\exp_p(v)\ \forall…
Has
  • 31
3
votes
1 answer

First Variation Formula

I have a riemannian manifold $M$ and a smooth curve $\alpha$. I want to take a variation of $\alpha$ and apply the first variation formula of arc length but I want to know if it is possible to take the curves of the variation to be geodesics.
Sak
  • 3,866
3
votes
2 answers

Orthogonal Jacobi Fields Remain Orthogonal

Let $\gamma(t)$ be a geodesic and suppose $\left = \left = 0$ where $J'(0)$ indicates the covariant derivative of $J$ along $\gamma$. There exists a unique Jacobi field $J(t)$ with initial conditions…
3
votes
1 answer

Calculating Geodesics for submanifolds

I am trying to become acquainted with the notion of geodesics. When we consider a Submanifold $M\subset \mathbb{R}^n$ and a curve $c:I\rightarrow M$. Now I want to know how to check whether c is a geodesic or not. First, I had the intuition to…
Braten
  • 1,955
3
votes
2 answers

Why is the trace of the Riemann curvature tensor useful?

As I understand it, the Ricci curvature tensor is the trace of the Riemann curvature tensor. In other words, \begin{equation} R_{ij} := R_{kij}^{\phantom{kij}k} = g^{km}R_{kijm} \end{equation} But what information does this give me that the…
3
votes
1 answer

What is Model Spaces

I am reading the Riemannian Geometry, written by Lee, and have just finished the Chapter 3, which ends with The Model Spaces of Riemannian Geometry. There are three kinds of model spaces $\mathbb R^n$, $\mathbb S^n$ and $\mathbb H^n$. All of their…
gaoxinge
  • 4,434