Tagged Questions

1
vote
1answer
36 views

Why is $\theta \not \in C^{\infty}(S^1)$?

Why is $\theta \not \in C^{\infty}(S^1)$? I know that since $\int_{S^1} d\theta = 2\pi$ then $d\theta$ is not exact. Thus since $d(\theta)=d\theta$, $\theta$ must not be $C^{\infty}$ but it seems ...
4
votes
2answers
93 views

If $\omega$ is a 2-form on $\mathbb{R}^4$ and $\omega \wedge \omega = 0$, then $\omega$ is decomposable.

I am trying to prove the following from a book I am reading through. Thm: If $\omega$ is a 2-form on $\mathbb{R}^4$ and $\omega \wedge \omega = 0$, then $\omega$ is decomposable. Note ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views

Basis for the space of $p$-forms

According to the book I read, a general $p$-form can be written as: $$\omega=\omega_{a_1\ldots a_p} dx^{a_1}\wedge\ldots\wedge dx^{a_p},\hspace{0.5cm} a_1>a_2>\ldots>a_p$$ where I have used ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views

Use the Fundamental Theorem to deduce the formula for the area of an ellipse.

Use the Fundamental Theorem (Green's Theorem) to deduce the formula for the area of an ellipse. Hint: find a 1-form whose exterior derivative is $ dxdy $.
4
votes
1answer
83 views

Are these two definitions of exterior derivative equivalent?

I saw two definition of the exterior derivative of a $k$-form $\omega$. First definition: $$(d\omega)_p(v_0,\ldots,v_k)= \sum_{i=0}^k(-1)^id(\omega(v_0,\ldots,\hat{v_i},\ldots,v_k))_p(v_i)$$ Second ...
0
votes
0answers
68 views

contraction with the metric tensor

What does mean "$\wedge_0^4V $ is the space of 4-vectors whose contraction with the metric tensor of the space $V$ vanishes" how can we formulate this set? this means $i_gT=0$ for tensor $T$?
3
votes
2answers
136 views

$\alpha\wedge\beta = 0$ for all $\beta$ implies $\alpha = 0$ without using the Hodge dual

Let $\alpha$ be a differential $k$-form on an orientable smooth $n$-dimensional manifold. If $\alpha\wedge\beta = 0$ for every differential $(n - k)$-form $\beta$, then $\alpha = 0$ because we can ...
3
votes
2answers
142 views

algebraic manipulation of differential form

Suppose $\phi_1, \phi_2, \dots, \phi_k \in (\mathbb{R}^n)^*$, and $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_k \in \mathbb{R}^n$ $(\mathbb{R}^n)^*$ stands for the space of all linear transformations that goes ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views

Wedge product with a non-degenerate form

Let $\alpha$ be a non-degenerate form in $\Lambda^k(V)$ for some vector space $V$, $\dim V = n$. (Here non-degenerate means that if $x\in V$ is nonzero, then $(y_1 , ... , y_{k-1}) \mapsto \alpha(x , ...
24
votes
5answers
1k views

Exterior Derivative vs. Covariant Derivative vs. Lie Derivative

In differential geometry, there are several notions of differentiation, namely: Exterior Derivative, $d$ Covariant Derivative/Connection, $\nabla$ Lie Derivative, $\mathcal{L}$. I have listed them ...
2
votes
1answer
150 views

Taking the exterior derivative of a 0-form

I'm attempting to show that $dg(\vec{x})=\alpha$, where $\alpha=\Sigma^n_{i=1}f_idx_i$ and $g(\vec x)={1\over{p+1}}\Sigma_{i=1}^nx_if_i(\vec x)$...and $d$ is the exterior derivative. The $f_i$ are ...
3
votes
2answers
76 views

elementary question regarding differential forms

Is it possible to give a high level explanation why changing the order of differentials will give rise to a minus sign ? I.e. why do we have $$ dx\,dt = - dt\,dx $$ (I am going to take a course on ...
2
votes
0answers
103 views

Calulation of pullback of form

If $M$ is $2n+1$ dimensional manifold, and $M'= M\times \mathbb R$ Let $x_1,y_1,... x_n, y_n,t', t$ be coordiante of $M'$. With $t$ for coordinate for $\mathbb R$. Let $$ \omega= \sum_{i=1}^n ...
4
votes
1answer
282 views

wedge product of differential form

If $\alpha $ is one form over some manifold $M$ $2n-1$ dimensional real, and $X= M\times (0,\infty)$. $r$ is the coordinate for the second factor. Define two form on $X$: $$\omega= d(r^2\alpha)$$ ...