How to raise indices on the electromagnetic tensor

How do you transform between the electromagnetic tensors $F_{\mu\nu}$ and $F^{\mu\nu}$? $$F_{\mu \nu}= \begin{pmatrix} 0 & E_x & E_y & E_z \\ -E_x & 0 & -B_z & B_y \\ -E_y & B_z & 0 & -B_x \\ -E_z & -B_y & B_x & 0 \end{pmatrix},\\ \ F^{\mu \nu} = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & -E_x & -E_y & -E_z \\ E_x & 0 & -B_z & B_y \\ E_y & B_z & 0 & -B_x \\ E_z & -B_y & B_x & 0 \end{pmatrix}$$ In other words, what do you do to $F_{\mu\nu}$ to get $F^{\mu\nu}$?

I see now, as with transforming one-forms to/from vectors, you apply the metric. Because you want to make two subscripts superscripts, apply it twice. So, with $$g^{\mu\nu} = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & -1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & -1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & -1 \end{pmatrix}$$ $$F^{\mu\nu} = g^{\mu\nu}F_{\mu\nu}g^{\mu\nu}$$

• Though a more rigorous explanation would be appreciated – CactusHouse Feb 8 '15 at 2:55
• You should write $F^{\mu\nu}=g^{\mu\rho}F_{\rho\sigma}g^{\nu\sigma}$. An index can only appear twice in a factor. – Ryan Unger Feb 8 '15 at 3:01
• What "more rigorous explanation" are you looking for? Index raising/lowering is defined with the metric. – user195162 Jun 25 '19 at 18:19
• @CactusHouse Is this more rigorous? – Filippo Nov 2 '20 at 21:50

Index raising and lowering is defined through the metric, in this case the flat space metric (Minkowski)

$$g^{\mu\nu} = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & -1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & -1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & -1 \end{pmatrix}$$

We raise an index by aplying the metric to a tensor, like this $$A^\mu=g^{\mu\nu}A_\nu$$. Now, if you want to raise two index you need to operate with the metric twice.

$$F^{\mu\nu}=g^{\mu\alpha}g^{\beta\nu}F_{\alpha\beta}$$

In a more formal language lowering and raising indices is a way to construct isomorphisms between covariant and contravariant tensorial spaces. We use the metric tensor because it help us to map basis vectors $$e_i$$ to dual basis vector $$\beta^i$$.