2.

Differentiable Manifolds and Tensors

2.1 Definition of a Manifold

2.2 The Sphere as a Manifold
2.3 Other Examples of Manifolds
2.4 Global Considerations
2.5 Curves
2.6 Functions on M
2.7 Vectors and Vector Fields
2.8 Basis Vectors and Basis Vector Fields
2.9 Fiber Bundles
2.10 Examples of Fiber Bundles
2.11 A Deeper Look at Fiber Bundles
2.12 Vector Fields and Integral Curves
2.13 Exponentiation of the Operator d/d
2.14 Lie Brackets and Noncoordinate Bases
2.15 When is a Basis a Coordinate Basis?
2.16 One-forms
2.17 Examples of One-forms
2.18 The Dirac Delta Function
2.19 The Gradient and the Pictorial Representation of a One-form
2.20 Basis One-forms and Components of One-forms
2.21 Index Notation
2.22 Tensors and Tensor Fields
2.23 Examples of Tensors
2.24 Components of Tensors and the Outer Product
2.25 Contraction
2.26 Basis Transformations
2.27 Tensor Operations on Components
2.28 Functions and Scalars
2.29 The Metric Tensor on a Vector Space
2.30 The Metric Tensor Field on a Manifold
2.31 Special Relativity
 2.1. Definition of a Manifold
Rn  Set of all n-tuples of real numbers  x1, x2 , , xn 

A ( topological ) manifold is a continuous space that looks like Rn locally.

Definition: ( Topological ) manifold

A manifold is a set M in which every point P has an open neighborhood U that is
related to some open set fU(U) of Rn by a continuous 1-1 onto map fU.
Caution: Length is not yet defined.

fU : U  M  fU U   Rn

P  x  P , x  P ,
1
U
2
U , xUn  P  

xUj(P) are the coordinates of P under fU.

Dim(M) = n.

M is covered by patches of Us. Subscript U will often be omitted

 Let f : U  M  f U   Rn be 1-1. (U, f ) = Chart

g : V  M  g V   Rn

U,V open 
U V , f U  , g V  , f U  g V  open

Let S U V

f  S    x1 , , xn  g  S    y1 , , yn 

g f 1 : Rn  Rn x , 1
, xn  y ,1
, yn 

y j  y j  x1 , , xn   y  x j  1,
j
,n
( Coordinate transformation )

Charts (U, f ) & (V, g ) are Ck - related if

k y j
exist & are continuous  i, j
  xi 
k
Atlas = Union of all charts that cover M
M is a Ck manifold if it is covered by Ck charts.
A differentiable manifold is a Ck manifold with k > 1.

Some allowable structures on a differentiable manifold:

• Tensors
• Differential forms
• Lie derivatives

M is smooth if it is Ck with k = whatever is required for the problem at hand.

M is C if all derivatives of its coordinate transformations exist.
M is analytic (C) if all coordinate transformations in it are analytic functions.
 2.2. The Sphere as a Manifold


S 2  P   x1 , x 2 , x 3   R3  x1    x 2    x3   const
2 2 2

Every P has a neighborhood that maps
1-1 onto an open disc in R2.
( Lengths & angles not preserved )

Spherical coordinates: x1   , x 2  
f : S 2  R2 P f  P    ,  

Range  f    x , x 
1 2
0  x1   , 0  x 2  2 
Breakdowns of f :
• North & south poles in S2 mapped to line (0, x2) & (, x2) in R2, resp.
• Points (x1, 0) & (x1, 2) correspond to same point in S2.

 Range  f    x , x 
1 2
0  x1   , 0  x 2  2  2nd map
needed
 Both poles & semi-circle joining them (  = 0 ) not covered
One choice of 2nd map:
Another spherical coordinates with its  = 0 semi-circle given by
{ (/2 ,  ) |   {/2 , 3/2 } } in terms of coordinates of 1st system.

Stereographic map (fails at North pole only)

P Q  R2

North pole mapped to all of infinity

These conclusions apply to any surface that is

topologically equivalent to S2.

The 2-D annulus bounded by 2 concentric circles in R2 can be covered by a

single ( not differentiable everywhere ) coordinate patch
 2.3. Other Examples of Manifolds
Loosely, any set M that can be parameterized
continuously by n parameters is an n-D manifold

Examples
(i) Set of all rotations R( ,, ) in E3. ( Lie group SO(3) )
(ii) Set of all boost Lorentz transformations (3-D).
(iii) Phase space of N particles ( 6N-D).
(iv) Solution space of any ( algebraic or differential ) equation
(v) Any n-D vector space is isomorphic to Rn.
(vi) A Lie group is a C-manifold that is also a group.

Rn is a Lie group wrt addition.

See Frankel, §1.2.b for more examples.

 2.4. Global Considerations
Any n-D manifolds of the same differentiability class are
locally indistinguishable.

Let f: M  N
If f & f –1 are both 1–1 & C, then f is a diffeomorphism of M onto N.
M & N are diffeomorphic.

Example of diffeomorphic manifolds:

• Smooth crayon & sphere
• Tea cup & torus
 2.5. Curves

Parametrized curve with parameter 

 : I RM

      P      x i     C 1 , i  1, , n 
dimM  n

Caution: In differential geometry, a curve is defined as the mapping ( e.g., σ) that

produces the geometric object called a “curve”.
Thus, different parametrizations of the same “curve” are treated as different curves.
 2.6. Functions on M

f :M R

P f  P   f g 1  x1 , , xn 

f C k if all partials of f  g1 (x1,…,xn) are C k

Often, one writes f  g1 (x1,…,xn) simply as f (x1,…,xn).

Reminder: x j  P  C 

Any sufficiently differentiable set of equations yj  yj x 

i
i, j  1, ,n

that is locally invertible ( J  0 ) is an acceptable coordinate transformation.

 2.7. Vectors and Vector Fields
Let xi  xi    i  1, ,n be a curve σ() through P on M.
f  x i   f  x1 , , xn  be a differentiable function on M.

 g     f      is a differentiable function on σ().

 f  x1    , , xn    f  xi    

dg n
d xi  f d n
d xi 
Chain rule:   
d  i  1 d   xi d  i  1 d   xi
d d xi
 vector tangent to σ() with components
d d
  
wrt coordinate basis   i 
  x i

Tangent (vector) space TP(M) at P = span  i 
n
 d xi d xi 
  a
d d d
Vector addition: a b  b  i
d d  d i 1  d d 
Reasons / advantages of defining a vector as d/d :
• Transforms under coordinate changes like a contravariant vector in tensor analysis.
• No notion of “distance” involved  works on manifolds without metric.
• Definition is intrinsic: depends only on curves on M.

Finer points:
• Each d/d denotes an equivalent class of distinct
curves having the same tangent at P.
• Two vectors d/d & d/d may denote the same
tangent to the same curve under different parametrization.
• Only vectors at the same point on M can be added to
produce another vector. ( Vectors at different points
belong to different vector spaces )
 2.8. Basis Vectors and Basis Vector Fields
Let M be an n-D manifold.
•  P  M, TP(M) is an n-D vector space.
• Any collection of n linearly independent vectors in TP(M) is a basis for TP(M) .
• A coordinate system { x i } in a neighborhood U of P defines a coordinate basis
{ i } at all points in U.

Let e 
i be an arbitrary (non-coordinate) basis for TP(M) .

V  V i i   V  j e j  V  TP  M 
i j

A vector field, is a way to pick a vector in TP(M)  P M.

Its components are therefore functions on M.
The vector field is Ck if its components are.
A more formal definition will be given later in terms of tangent bundles.
 {  /  xi } is a basis  it is a linearly independent set.

This is guaranteed if { xi } are good coordinates at P.

Proof:

Let { y i } be another set of good coordinates at P.

 y j  y j  x1 , , xn  j  1, ,n is invertible

 yi
Inverse function theorem  det J  det 0
x j

i.e., vectors with components given by the columns of J are linearly independent .

T
 y y 1 2
y 
3
The jth column  , , ,  represents the vector
 x x xj 
j j

 y1   y2   yn  
    QED
x y
j 1
x y
j 2
 x j  yn  xj
 2.9.a.Bundles Ref: Choquet, § III.2

Let E & B be 2 topological spaces with a continuous surjective mapping

: E  B
Then ( E, B,  ) is a bundle with base B.

Cartesian product: X Y    x, y  x  X , y Y 
E.g. Cartesian bundle B 1  B 2 , B1 ,  1  with 1  x1 , x2   x1

Bundle is a generalization of the topological products. E.g.,

A cylinder can be described as the product of a circle S1 with a line segment I.
A Mobius strip can only be described as a bundle.

If the topological spaces –1(x) are homeomorphic to a space F  xB,

then –1(x) is called a fibre Fx at x, and F is a typical fibre.
 2.9. Fibre Bundles

A fibre bundle ( E, B, , G ) is a bundle ( E, B,  ) with a typical fibre F,

a structural group G of homeomorphism of F onto itself,
and a covering B by a family of open sets { Uj ; jJ } such that
a) The bundle is locally trivial ( homeomorphic to a product bundle )

 j :  1 U j   U j  F p  j  p      p  ,  j  p  
 
 1
b) Let x U j Uk then  k , x  j, x : F  F is an element of G

c) The induced mappings

1
g jk : U j Uk  G x g j k  x    j, x  k , x are continuous

These transition functions satisfy

g jk  x  gk i  x   g ji  x 
A vector bundle is a fibre bundle where the typicle fibre F is a vector
space & the structural group G is the linear group.

The tangent bundle T M   Tp  M  is a vector bundle with F = Rn.

pM

In a coordinate patch (U,x) of M, the natural basis of Tp(U) is { /xi }.

The natural coordinates of T(U) are ( x1, …, xn, /x1, … , /xn ) = ( x, v ).

F  Rn   x, v   x

A vector field is a cross section of a vector bundle.

 2.10. Examples of Fiber Bundles

• Tangent bundle T(M).

• Tensor field on M.
• Particle with internal, e.g., isospin, state.
• Galilean spacetime: B = time, F = E3.
– Time is a base since every point in space can be assigned the same time
in Newtonian mechanics.
– Relativistic spacetime is a manifold, not a bundle.
• Frame bundle: derived from T(M) by replacing Tp(M) with the
set of all of its bases , which is homomorphic to some linear
group. ( see Aldrovandi, §6.5 )
• Principal fibre bundle: F  G. E.g. frame bundle.
 2.11. A Deeper Look At Fiber Bundles
A fibre bundle is locally trivial but not necessarily globally so.
→ generalizes product spaces

Example T(S2) :
Schutz’s discussion is faulty.
It is true that S2 has no continuous cross-section  frame bundle of S2 is not trivial.
For proof: see Choquet, p.193.
However, the (Brouwer) fixed point theorem states that every homeomorphism from
a closed n-ball onto itself has at least one fixed point.
It says nothing about n-spheres Sn.
Example: see Choquet, p.126.
Mobius band = Fibre bundle ( M, S1, π, G ) with typical fibre F = I  R.
The base S1 is covered by 2 open sets.
G = { e, σ}  C2 .
 2.12. Vector Fields and Integral Curves

Vector field: A rule to select V(P) from TP  P  M.

Integral curve of a vector field: A curve C() with tangent equal to V.

d xi
 vi x j  where V i  P  v i  x j 
d
Vector field ~ set of 1st order ODEs.
Solution exists & is unique in a region where {vi(x)} is Lipschitzian (Choquet, p.95)

f : X → Y , where X, Y are Banach spaces, is Lipschitzian in U  X if  k > 0 s.t.

f  x  f  y  k x  y  x, y  U

Uniqueness of solution  non-crossing integral curves

( except at singular polints )

Congruence: the set of integral curves that fills M.

 Integral curves:  y   x 
V x   y   r  x2  y 2
 r   y  r  x
 
Wx y
y x

 x
V1   y  
 r

y
V2  x
r

 y 
V  x, y   V 1  x, y  ,V 2  x, y      y  , x  
x
 r r 
 x, y    0,0 r


2
x  y
2
x2 y2
V  x, y   V  0,0     y   y  2 x  2  r2  1
2 2

  x  
 r  r r r

 V is not Lipschitzian in any neighborhood of (0,0) since r 2  1  k r as r → 0

V is not Lipschitzian if any partial of V j does not exist.

 2.13. Exponentiation of the Operator d/d
Let M be C.
If the integral curve xi() of Y = d/d is analytic, then


 n d n xi   n d n  i
x 0     
i
 n 
x
n0 n! d  n 0  n  0 n! d   0

d
e

d
x i  e  Y xi
0
0

d
Yf f 
df
d d

d  d  d d f  d2 f
Y f 2
  f    d  d   d 2 Y Y  Y Y
d  d   

Y n
 f   Y Y  Y Y  f    
dn f
 nY 's  d n
 2.14. Lie Brackets and Noncoordinate Bases
Coordinate basis : i with  i ,  j   0  i, j

Let d d
V  & W then
d d

 d d  d  d  d  d  i   j f  j   i f 
 V , W   f    ,  
f   d   d   d     xi
f  f  V  W 
x j 
 W
x j
V i 
 d  d   d      ij   x 

  j f  j   i f 
Vi W   W V i 
(Einstein's summation notation)
 xi  x j  x j  x 
 W j  f 2 f  j  V  f
i
2 f 
V  i
i
W j
j 
W  j V i

  x  x j
 x i
 x    x  x i
 x j xi 

W j  f j V
i
f
V i
 W
 xi  x j  x j  xi
 j W i j V
i
 f
 V W  i
  x j
x j  x
X
Lie bracket  V , W   VW  WV  V j W i , j  W j V i , j  i X, j 
x j

V ,W are noncoordinate basis vectors if  V , W   0

 Example of a noncoordinate basis (Exercise 2.1):

r  cos  1  sin  2
   sin  1  cos 2

Coordinate grid:
xi is constant on the integral curves of ∂j .

Integral curves of arbitrary vector fields

d d
V  & W
d d

λ need not be constant on integral curves of d/dμ

→ λ & μ are not good coordinates.
  d  i
x i  R   exp   x
 d   P

 d  i  d   d  i
x i  A  exp   x  exp    exp  x
 d   R  d    d   P

 d   d  i
x i  B   exp    exp  x
 d    d   P

  d   d  i Ex 2.3: Jacobi Identity

x  B   x  A  exp  
i i
 , exp   x
  d    d  
P

 d 1 2 d2 d 1 2 d2 3 
 1    
d 2 d2
 O   3
 , 1    
d  2 d 2
 O     x i

 
P

 d d  i
 2   x P  O     2  V , W  xi  O  3 
3
,
 d d  
P

Lie algebra: (Additional) closure under Lie bracket.

Vector fields on U  M is a linear space closed under linear combinations of
constant coefficients.
Lie algebra of vector fields on U  M : Closed under both.
Invariances of M → Lie group (Chap 3)
 2.15. When Is A Basis A Coordinate Basis?
 d 
Let  ei  i  be a basis for vector fields in an n-D region U  M.
 d 
Then { λi } is a coordinate (holonomic) basis for U   ei , e j   0  i, j

Let { xi } be coordinates for U.

     f   f 
Proof for  :  i , j  f  i  j  j  i 
0  f
 x x  x  x  x  x 
Proof for  : (2-D case only)
d d  A , B   0
Let A B
d d

 d   d  i  d   d  i
x  ,    exp  
i
 exp   x  exp    exp   x
 d    d   P  d    d   P

Task is to show that (α,β) are good coordinates and

( /α, /β) are basis vectors.
  d   d  i
x i
 x  ,    exp  
i
 exp   x
Q
 d    d   P

  d      n d n f    n 1 d n f
exp    f    n  
     n  1  n  1 ! d 
n
 d  n0 n ! d

 n d n 1 f  exp   d   d f
     
n  0 n! d   d   d 
n 1


 xi  d   d  d xi d xi  d
 exp    exp      
 Q  d    d   d d Q  d 
P

 xi  d   d  d xi d xi  d
 exp    exp      
 Q  d    d   d d Q
 d 
P

    so that ( /α, /β) are basis vectors if

 , 0
     (α,β) are good coordinates
  d   d  i
x i  ,    exp    exp  x defines a map (α,β) → ( x1, x2 )
 d   d  P

If the map is invertible, then (α,β) are good coordinates.

By the implicit function theorem, this inverse exists 

 x1  x2
 
det 0
x 1
x 2

 

This is true since vectors A & B are linearly independent. QED

General case:

x  ,
i 1
, n
  exp  j
Yj  x i Yj 
P  j
 1-Forms
Let X & Y be linear spaces over K. A mapping f : X → Y is called linear if
f  ax  bu   a f  x   b f  u   a, b  K & x, u  X

The set L(X,Y) of all linear mappings from X to Y is a linear space over K with
f  g  x   f  x   g  x  ( vector addition )

 a f  x   a  f  x   ( scalar multiplication )

The set L(X, K) is called the dual X* of X.

Let T*x(M) be the dual to the tangent space Tx(M) at xM.

Elements of T*x(M) are called cotangent vectors, covariant vectors, covectors,
differential forms, or 1-forms.
In contrast, Elements of Tx(M) are called tangent vectors, contravariant vectors,
or simply vectors.
 Thus,  V  K    TP*  M  & V  TP  M 

i.e., a 1-form is a linear function that takes a vector to a number in K.

,   TP*  M   L TP  M  , K  

  aV  b W   a V   b W   a, b  K & V ,W  TP  M 

 a  b  V   a V   b V 

X **  X  one can define  V   V     , V

 ,  is called the contraction. Its 1st argument must be a 1-form; the 2nd, a vector.
Do not confuse it with the inner product  |  , where both arguments are vectors.
 2.17. Examples of 1-Forms

Gradient of a function f is a 1-form denoted by df

Matrix algebra:
Column matrix ~ vector Row matrix ~ covector
Matrix multiplication ~ contraction

Hilbert space in quantum mechanics:

Ket | ψ ~ vector Bra  ψ | ~ covector
 ψ | φ  ~ contraction / sesquilinear product

There is no natural way to associate vectors with covectors.

Doing so requires the introduction of a metric or inner product.
 2.18. The Dirac Delta Function

Let C[1,1] be the set of all C real functions on interval [1,1]R.

( C[1,1], + ) is a group.
( C[1,1], + ; R ) is an -D vector space.
The dual 1-forms are called distributions.
E.g., the Dirac delta function δ(xx0) is a distribution.

By definition, δ(x  x0) maps a function/vector f(x) to a real number f(x0) :

 a : C  1,1  R
by f a , f  f a 
a   1,1

We shall avoid the abiguous notation  a  f 

We can associate a function/vector with a unique 1-form by the condition
1
g , f   dx g  x  f  x   f  C  1,1
1

1
Setting a , f   dx   x  a  f  x   f  a 
1

one may say δ(xa) is a function in C[1,1] that gives rise to the 1-form δa .

However, calling δ(xa) is a function is not mathematically correct.

The “delta function” is actually a Dirac measure (distribution of order 0).
It behaves like a function only inside an integral.
It can be shown that the Dirac measure cannot be associated with a locally
integrable function. [see Choquet, VI,B.]
2.19. The Gradient & the Pictorial Representation of a 1-Form

A 1-form field is a cross section of the cotangent bundle T*(M).

 P M 
*
The gradient of a function f : M → K is the 1-form d f T satisfying

 d  df 
d
 TP  M 
df  d
d is the exterior derivative
 d  d

Let h(x) = height at x. Then

   h
h  d h  x   d h  xi i   i x i
 x  x
→ 1-form is a set of parallel planes

 V  = number of ω planes crossed by V

Steepest descend & gradient vector can only

be defined in the presence of a metric.
 2.20. Basis 1-Forms & Components of 1-Forms
Given a basis  ei  for TP(M), there is a natural dual basis e i
for T*P(M)

s.t. e i  e j   e j  e i   e i , e j   ji

Since V  V i ei  V  TP  M 

we have e i V   e i V j e j   V j e i  e j   V  j  V
j i i
 V  ei e i V 

Let   TP*  M  then

 V    V i ei   V i  ei   ei V    ei   i ei V   i V
i

where i    ei   ei   V is arbitrary →   i e i  ei ei  
 e i
is indeed a basis for T*P(M)

    xi
dx  j   j   j
i i
Coordinate basis:
 x  x
 Example: E2 with polar coordinates

By definition, xi are constant on

the coordinate curve of xk.

dx i   j    ji

Example: E2 with oblique coordinates

 2.21. Index Notation

Coordinate bases:  
i → vector : V  V i i

Dual bases: dx  i

→ 1-form :   i dxi

Contraction:  V   V    i V i

Einstein notation: implied summation if a pair of upper & lower

indices are denoted by the same letter.
 2.22. Tensors & Tensor Fields
A tensor F of type (NM) at P is a multi-linear function that
takes N 1-forms & M vectors to a number in K, i.e.,

F : TP*  M    TP*  M   TP  M    TP  M   K
 ....... N factors .........   ....... M factors ......... 

Multi-linear means F is linear in each of its arguments.

For a (21) tensor, we have F  F _ , _ ; _  and F , ;V   K

Linearity: F  a  b,  ; V   a F ,  ; V   b F  ,  ; V  etc

A vector is a (10) tensor, a 1-form is a (01) tensor & a function is a (00) tensor.

T  ;V   K → T  ; _  is a 1-form.

Operators or transformations on a linear space are (11) tensors.

 2.2.3 Examples of Tensors
Matrix algebra:
Column vector is a (10) tensor, row vector is a (01) tensor, & matrix is a (11) tensor.

Function space C[1,1]:

A differential operator maps linearly a vector (function) into another vector.
→ it is a (11) tensor.

Elasticity:
Stress vector = resultant force per unit area across a surface
Let the stress vector over cube face S(k) with normal ek be F(k) , then

F k    k i ei or F   e
i

The normal to a plane is equivalent to a 1-form ( a set of parallel planes ) .

τ takes a 1-form into another vector → it is a (20) tensor called the stress tensor.
 2.24. Components of Tensors & the Outer Product
Outer ( direct, or tensor ) product  :
(NM) tensor  (PQ) tensor = (N+PM+Q) tensor

Example: V W is a (20) tensor with V W  p, q  V  p  W  q 

Caution: V W  W V since W V  p, q  W  p  V  q

Reminder:  p, q  TP*  M   TP*  M   = Cartesian product

The components of a (NM) tensor S are given by

S i1 iN
j1 jM 
 S e i1 , e iN ; e j1 , , e jM 
so that S  S i1 iN
j1 jM ei1   eiN  e j1   e jM
 2.25. Contraction
The summation of a pair of upper & lower tensor indices is called contraction.

1. Contraction of a (NM) with a (PQ) tensor gives a (N+P1M+Q1) tensor.

2. Contraction within a (NM) tensor gives a (N1M1) tensor.

Contraction is basis independent.

Proof for case A is rank (20) & B rank (02) :

Let C be the (11) tensor with components C i j  Aik Bk j

→ C  ; V   C i j i V j  Aik Bk j i V j  A  , e k  B  ek , V 


 A  , e k B  ek , V   
 A , B _ , V  
 2.26. Basis Transformations
Tensor analysis: A tensor is an object that transforms like a tensor.

Consider ei   e    e 
i i' by

ei '  e j  j i ' e i  e j '  j 'i

with  j i ' i ' k   k j  j i ' k ' j  i k' ' (Λ nonsingular )

Let e i  e j    ji then e i  e j '   e i  ek  k j '    k  j '   j '

i k i

 k 'i e i  e j '    k 'i  i j '   j '

k'
Hence

 e k '   k 'i e i e k  k i ' e i '

 ei '  e j  j i ' e k '   k 'i e i

 V i '  e i ' V   i ' k e k V   i 'k V k ( contravariant to ej )

 i '  ei '    e j  j i '     j  ji ' ( covariant to ej )

V  ej V j  ej' V j'   i e i  i ' e i ' are basis independent

Coordinate transform: x    y 
i i'

 
Coordinate basis: ei  i ei '  i '
x y
Dual basis: e i  dx i e i '  dy i '

 x j  x j  yi '
ei '  i '  i ' j  ej  j
  i'  i'
j
 i'
 j
y
i'
 y x y x
j

 2 x j
 i ' , j '  j ' i '   j j ', i '
j ( not true for general bases )
y y
 2.27. Tensor Operations on Components
Operations on components that result in another tensor are called tensor operations.
They are necessarily basis independent.

Examples:
1. Aij + B ij = C ij → A + B = C
2. a Aij → a A
3. Aij B kl = C i kj l → AB = C
4. C i kk l = D il ( contraction )

Equations containing only tensor operations on tensors are called tensor equations.
They are necessarily basis independent.
 2.28. Functions & Scalars

Scalar = (00) tensor at a point on M. E.g., V j ωj |P.

Scalar function on M = (00) tensor field on M. E.g., V j (x) ωj (x)
V j (x) is a function on M but not a scalar function.
Note: It is possible to have a scalar function f(x) s.t. f(x) = V j (x)  x.
 Can’t tell whether a function is scalar by looking at its values alone.
 2.29. The Metric Tensor on a Vector Space
Given a real vector space X, one can define a bilinear inner product

: X  X  R by V ,U  V U
One can associate a (02) metric tensor g with  by g V ,U   V U

g is symmetric since  is : gi j  g  ei , e j   ei  e j  e j  ei  g ji

g i ' j '  gk l  k i '  l j '   k i ' gk l  l j '

Matrix notation: g   T g 

Since Λ is invertible, we can set Λ = O D, where O is orthogonal & D is diagonal.

 T   OD 
T
  DT OT  D O 1

g   DO 1 g OD
g   DO 1 g OD D  diag di 

Since g is real-symmetric, it can be digonalized with an orthogonal transform:

g   D gd D  diag gd i d i 
2
 O can be chosen s.t.
1
Setting di   g is diagonal with elements 1
gd i

Canonical form of g is diag( 1, …, 1, +1, …, +1 ).

The corresponding basis is orthonormal, i.e., ei  e j   i j

Signature of g = t = Tr g = (number of +1)  (number of  1)

Metric is positive-definite if t = n ( all +1’s ).

Metric is negative-definite if t = n ( all 1’s ). Minkowski metric
is indefinite.
Definite metrics are called Euclidean.
g = I wrt the Cartesian basis for a Euclidean space.

Transformations between different Cartesian bases are orthogonal since

I  T I   T   I   O n

Canonical form of the Minkowski metric is   diag  1, 1, 1, 1
Corresponding bases are called Lorentz bases.

Transformations between different Lorentz bases satisfy   T  

They are called Lorentz transformations.   L  4  O  3,1

 A metric tensor associates a unique 1-form to each vector via V  g V , _ 

V  Vi e i where Vi  ei V    g V , ei   g V j e j , ei   V j g ji  gi j V j

gi j g jk  i k → g ki Vi  g ki gi j V j   ji V j  V i

Vi  gi j V j i.e., g i j raises & gi j lowers an index.

V i  g i j Vj
E.g. g ikV j i m  V j k m

In a metric space, tensors of ranks (NM) , (N1M1), (N2M 2) , …., are all equivalent.
They’re simply called tensors of order N+M.

In a Euclidean with a orthonormal basis, the components of a vector & its

dual have the same numerical value.
→ In calculations, there’s no need to distinguish between them.
 2.30. The Metric Tensor Field on a Manifold

A metric tensor field assigns continuously a metric tensor g to TP(M)  p M.

g must be (02), symmetric, & invertible.
A metric is a high level structure that allows the definition of distance, curvature,
metric connection, parallel transport, …. (see Chap 6)
Reminder: Lie derivatives & differential forms do not require a metric.
Continuity of g(p) → canonical form of g must be a constant  p  M.
If one is free to choose the basis for any TP(M), g can be made canonical everywhere.
However, these bases may not all be coordinate ones (see Ex 2.14).
One exception is Rn with Euclidean metric & Cartesian coordinates (c.f. Ex 2.15-6).
 d
Arc-length Δl of a curve with tangent V is given by
d
l  x  x  V    V    V V      g V ,V    
2 2 2

d xi d x j
If g is positive definite, then l  g V ,V    g i j  x 
d d
If g has the canonical form   diag  1, 1, 1, 1

then case Δl2 > 0 is called space-like & Δl2 < 0, time-like.

l  g V ,V   then gives the proper distance / proper time.

Case Δl2 = 0 is called light-like.

Note that l  0  x  0
 2.31. Special Relativity

Minkowski spacetime = R4 with metric of signature +2.

Lorentz frames: coordinates ( x0, x1, x2, x3 ) = ( ct, x, y, z ).

Metric tensor is in canonical form everywhere:   diag  1,1,1,1

Event intervals: s    x
2
   x    x    x 
0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2   x x 

are invariant under Lorentz transformations.

Δs2 defines a pseudo-norm for the vector x   x 0 , x1 , x 2 , x 3 

Inner product is defined as: V W   V W   V W   V W 

V  V 0 , V 1 , V 2 , V 3  V  V0 , V1 , V2 , V3    V 0 , V 1 , V 2 , V 3 

f f f f   f f f f 
d f  0 , 1 , 2 , 3 d f   0 , 1 , 2 , 3 
 x x x x   x x x x 