Questions tagged [tensor-calculus]
Tensor calculus (tensor analysis) is a systematic extension of vector calculus to multivector and tensor fields in a form that is independent of the choice of coordinates on the relevant manifold, but which accounts for respective sub-spaces, their symmetries, and their connections.
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Usefulness of Curl and Divergence as Multilinear Maps
Early in differential geometry, texts typically reformalize our usual gradient, divergence and curl operators as covariant tensors rather than vectors. This is primarily motivated by the observation ...
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Dimension of vector resulting from tensorial product
I'm quoting what I found in a book about quantum computation:
Individual state spaces of $n$ particles combine quantum mechanically through the tensor product. If $X$ and $Y$ are vectors, then ...
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Is every Lorentz invariant a Lorentz scalar?
All examples of lorentz invariant quantities that I have come across seem to be scalars: rest mass, proper time, spacetime interval,dot product of two 4 vectors etc. Another thing is that these are ...
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What does a colon mean in hydrodynamics equations?
In some hydrodynamics book I saw a notation like $e:e$ where $e$ is a matrix (shear stress tensor). This double dot product is in a scalar equation, so the result of this operation must be scalar. I ...
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Interference of two non-entangled photons, calculation using tensor product of Hilbert spaces
I'm trying to calculate the interference of two non-entangled photons, like in a double-slit experiment with two photon sources, one behind each slit (follow-up on this question).
The individual ...
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Tensor product postulate [duplicate]
Non relativistic quantum mechanics assumes that a composite system should be described with the tensor product of the component systems. This is the tensor product postulate of quantum mechanics.
I ...
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Can we generalize relativistic expressions found in specific frames, to arbitrary frames?
A claim is made in Sean Carroll's GR book multiple times that goes along the following lines:
Given a problem in relativity, we can find a solution with ease if we choose a convenient reference ...
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How to define pseudovector mathematically?
The textbook describes pseudovector like this:
Let $a,b$ be vectors and $c=a\times b$, $P$ be the parity operator. Then $P(a)=-a,P(b)=-b$ by definition. But $P(c)=c$ since both $a$ and $b$ reverse ...
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Is 4-momentum a vector or a 1-form?
This is a follow-on to https://physics.stackexchange.com/a/576885/117014. If we should not consider a vector and its "canonically" dual 1-form to represent the same object, then it seems ...
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Why are stresses of continuum systems described via a tensor?
The tittle pretty much says enough. I have always been told so but no one really motivated it.
So, I would like to know why do we use a tensor to describe the stresses in continuum mechanics.
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Why is the scalar product of two four-vectors Lorentz-invariant?
Why is the scalar product of two four-vectors Lorentz-invariant?
For instance, given two four-vector $A^\mu$ and $B^\mu$, so their scalar product is $A\cdot B=A^\mu B_\mu=A^\mu g_{\mu\nu}B^{\nu}$.
...
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Significance of the Dual Electromagnetic Tensor $\tilde{\mathbf{F}}$/its derivation
In the context of Maxwell's equations, I was wondering whether there was any physical significance to the dual EM Field Tensor and/or its various derivations. It has components:
$$\tilde{\textbf{F}} = ...
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Generalized divergence of tensor in GR
Although I've forgotten the proof (and cannot find it in, say, Carroll's book), the following formula holds for the covariant divergence in general relativity:
$$\nabla_{\mu} A^{\mu} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{...
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'Ambiguity' of dual vectors $\{dx^i\}$ in cotangent space in general relativity
The metric tensor is defined as:
$$g = g_{ij}dx^i \otimes dx^j,$$
where I used the summation convention. We often omit the tensor product sign $\otimes$ and just write this as:
$$g = g_{ij}dx^idx^...
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Metric determinant and its partial and covariant derivative
question : $\nabla_a \nabla_b \sqrt{g} \phi =\partial_a \sqrt{g} \partial_b \phi$ is true?
because $\nabla_a \sqrt{g}=0$ so we can write $\sqrt{g} \nabla_a \nabla_b \phi$ , but because the determinant ...
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Physical meaning of the Einstein tensor
The Einstein tensor is the tensor field $G$ on spacetime $M$ with components
$$G_{\mu\nu}=R_{\mu\nu}-\dfrac{1}{2}g_{\mu\nu}R$$
so that Einstein's field equations can be written as:
$$G_{\mu\nu}=\...
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Deriving $\Lambda^i_{\,\,\,j}$ components of the Lorentz transformation matrix
I am trying to follow Weinberg's derivation (in the book Gravitation and Cosmology) of the Lorentz transformation or boost along arbitrary direction. I am having trouble deriving the $\Lambda^i_{\,\,\,...
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If $\Lambda$ isn't a tensor, what is the meaning of $\Lambda ^\mu _{~~~\nu}$ and $\Lambda _{\mu \nu} $ and so on?
Following this question that asserts that $\Lambda$ (the transformation matrix in Lorentz group) is not a tensor, then if $\Lambda^\mu_{~~~\nu}$ is THE Lorentz transformation matrix, what is the ...
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Torsion tensor: definition
The definition of torsion tensor is the following:
$$
\mathbf{T}(\mathbf{X},\mathbf{Y})=\nabla_{\mathbf{X}}\mathbf{Y}-\nabla_{\mathbf{Y}}\mathbf{X} -\left[\mathbf{X},\mathbf{Y}\right].
$$
In an ...
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'Easy way' of finding out the Killing vector fields?
Is there a way for calculating the Killing vector fields of a given metric in a quick way?
Sure I can guess looking at the metric at the symmetries, and then guess some of them, but, for instance, in ...
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Positional probability density for combined spin and position states
In one dimension, given a particle in a quantum state $| \psi\rangle$, the probability density of position is given as $| \psi(x) |^2 = \psi^*(x) \psi(x) =\langle x | \psi \rangle\langle \psi | x \...
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How is Infinitesimal coordinate transformation related to Lie derivatives?
I am reading the book "Gravitaion and Cosmology" by S. Weinberg. In section 10.9, while discussing Lie derivatives of tensors of different ranks, he makes a general comment:
The effect of an ...
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Physical visualisation of curvature
I was wondering-how do you visualise curvature in the context of general relativity. The gravity well and trampoline analogies are quite wrong, so I want a more realistic approach to it (say, the way ...
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Assumed symmetry of Christoffel Symbols
With reference to the discussion in an earlier question on the independence of metric and Christoffel symbols, it was discussed that the symmetry of the Christoffel symbols ($\Gamma_{\mu\nu}^{\alpha} =...
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Mathematica package for supergravity and string theory [duplicate]
I am looking for a Mathematica package that can manipulate tensors for supergravity, string theory or M-theory. I am particularly looking for a package that can do spinor and Clifford algebra ...
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Jacobi equation in the book The Large scale structure of space-time
On pp. 79, it is obvious that equation (4.2)
\begin{equation}
\frac{D}{\partial s}Z^a = {V^a}_{;\ b}Z^b
\end{equation}
holds, where $Z$ is the deviation vector and $V$ is the unit tangent vector along ...
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What does tensor mean in a physics context?
I am taking a fluid mechanics class and don't know very much physics. I was confused in class when the prof kept calling this derivative matrix of a fluid flow (A function from $\mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{...
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Lorentz invariance of the Lorentz force law
I'm self-studying Friedman and Susskind's book Special Relativity and Classical Field Theory. The following question popped up while reading section 6.3.4 Lorentz Invariant Equations.
In this Lecture, ...
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1answer
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Tensors and the Klein-Gordon Equation
Consider the Klein-Gordon equation:
\begin{equation}
\frac{\partial^2 \psi}{\partial t^2} = c^2 \Delta \psi - \frac{m^2 c^4}{\hbar^2} \psi,
\end{equation}
and define for each one of its solutions $\...
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Why do we always need quantities to be Lorentz Invariant (LI) in relativity?
In particle physics, for example, we add gauge fields, look for the covariant derivative and so on. All to find the LI form of the Lagrangian. Why do we need the LI form? My impression is that when ...
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The matrix of the Lorentz transformation is or isn't a tensor?
The matrix of the Lorentz transformation isn't a tensor, because it switches the sign of the non-diagonal components during the inverse transformation, right? So it isn't 'basis independent', but the ...
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How can you have $\frac{DA^\mu}{d\tau}$?
If a covariant derivative is given by:
$$D_\nu A^\mu=\partial_\nu A^\mu +\Gamma^\mu_{\nu \lambda} A^{\lambda}$$
Then how does $\frac{DA^\mu}{d\tau}$ make any sense? Since there are no 'differentials' ...
asked Sep 9 '15 at 16:05
Quantum spaghettification
6,1127 gold badges39 silver badges109 bronze badges
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Difference between $\partial$ and $\nabla$ in general relativity
I read a lot in Road to Reality, so I think I might use some general relativity terms where I should only special ones.
In our lectures we just had $\partial_\mu$ which would have the plain partial ...
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Are there cases in which we should consider tensors as equivalence classes?
Usually in texts about Physics that uses tensors defines them as multilinear maps. So if $V$ is a vector space over the field $F$, a tensor is a multilinear mapping:
$$T:V\times\cdots\times V\times V^...
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Higher dimensional relation between angular momentum, moment of intertia and angular velocity
In 3 dimensions we have the well known relation (summation convention is being used)
$$
L_i = I_{ij} \omega_j
$$
However, as is well known the angular momentum and angular velocity are not vectors ...
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Tensor Product of Hilbert spaces
This question is regarding a definition of Tensor product of Hilbert spaces that I found in Wald's book on QFT in curved space time. Let's first get some notation straight.
Let $(V,+,*)$ denote a set ...
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Derivation of Christoffel Symbols
So I am reading a book on relativity & differential geometry and in the text, they gave the Christoffel symbols in terms of the metric and its derivatives, but I wanted to derive it myself. ...
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Derivation of the volume element (which uses the metric tensor)?
I have often seen $\sqrt{-g}$ in integrals, especially actions, where $g=\mathrm{det}(g_{\mu \nu})$. Does anyone know of a derivation that shows that this is indeed the volume element which must be ...
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What do the entries of the Einstein Tensor mean?
So if I understand correctly a tensor is something that transforms under certain laws and can be imagined as a combination of two vectors, e.g. the Stress tensor is a combination of surface normal ...
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Why can I use the Covariant Derivative in the Lie Derivative?
The Lie derivative is the change in the components of a tensor under an infinitesimal diffeomorphism. It seems that this definition does not depend on the metric:
$$ \mathcal{L}_X T^{\mu_1...\mu_p}_{\...
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How quantum field transforms in case of some particular spin
Except when a particle is spin-0, field of all particles transforms when frame of reference is changed, and this defines what spin is. The question is, specifically how does the quantum field ...
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How do we determine if a certain physical quantity is a vector?
For instance in Newtonian physics we treat position of objects, displacements, velocities, forces, momenta, angular velocities etc all as vector quantities (little arrows in space which have a certain ...
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Hookes law and objective stress rates
Often, in papers presenting updated Lagrangian simulation methods for solid dynamics, the following procedure for updating the (Cauchy) stress tensor is presented:
First, the Cauchy stress tensor is ...
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Confusion about square bracket notation in the the Kronecker delta symbol
I am not sure I understand what the short-hand anti-symmetrization means. I.e. I know that
$$\delta_{cd}^{[ab]} ~=~ \frac{1}{2}(\delta_{c}^{a}\delta_{d}^{b} - \delta_{c}^{b}\delta_{d}^{a})$$
but how ...
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Show that any proper homogeneous Lorentz transformation may be expressed as the product of a boost times a rotation
I am trying to read Weinberg's book Gravitation and Cosmology. In which he derives the Lorentz transformation matrix for boost along arbitrary direction, (equations 2.1.20 and 2.1.21):
$$\Lambda^i_{\,\...
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What is the metric tensor for?
I am wondering how to use the metric tensor, in practice? I read the book and done the exercises in A student's guide to vectors and tensors by Dan Fleisch. The concept of a tensor and their ...
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Variation of the purely covariant Riemann tensor
I need to find the variation of the purely covariant Riemann tensor with respect to the metric $g^{\mu \nu}$, i.e. $\delta R_{\rho \sigma \mu \nu}$.
I know that,
$R_{\rho \sigma \mu \nu} = g_{\rho \...
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Matrix multiplication and tensorial summation convention
I'm reading this introduction to tensors: https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0403252, specifically rules concerning summation convention (ref. page 13):
Rule 1. In correctly written tensorial formulas free ...
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1answer
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Metric signature explanation
Can anyone explain what metric signature is?
I have a basic knowledge regarding tensors, btw.
Also, how is it related to fundamental understanding of general relativity?
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The value of the volume form on an orthonormal frame
In a Riemannian space, what is the value of the canonical volume form on a frame? In particular, say, an
orthonormal frame. One does not usually need to know anything about the
value of a ...
