CovariantDerivative - Maple Help
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Tensor[CovariantDerivative] - calculate the covariant derivative of a tensor field with respect to a connection

Calling Sequences

     CovariantDerivative(T, C1, C2)

Parameters

   T    - a tensor field

   C1   - a connection

   C2   - (optional) a second connection, needed when the tensor T is a mixed tensor defined on a vector bundle

 

Description

Examples

See Also

Description

• 

Let  be a manifold, let  be a linear connection on the tangent bundle of , and let  be a tensor field on . The covariant derivative of  with respect to  is  , where the vector fields  define a local frame on  with dual coframe . The tensor  is the directional covariant derivative of  with respect to  in the direction of . The definition of the covariant derivative for sections of a vector bundle  and for mixed tensors on  is similar.

• 

This command is part of the DifferentialGeometry:-Tensor package, and so can be used in the form CovariantDerivative(...) only after executing the command with(DifferentialGeometry) and with(Tensor) in that order. It can always be used in the long form DifferentialGeometry:-Tensor:-CovariantDerivative.

Examples

 

Example 1.

First create a 2 dimensional manifold  and define a connection  on the tangent space of .

(2.1)

(2.2)

 

Define some tensor fields and compute their covariant derivatives with respect to .

(2.3)

(2.4)

(2.5)

(2.6)

(2.7)

(2.8)

 

To obtain a directional covariant derivative in the direction of a vector field  from the covariant derivative, contract the last index of the covariant derivative against the vector field.

(2.9)

(2.10)

(2.11)

 

Example 2.

Define a frame on  and use this frame to specify a connection  on the tangent space of.

(2.12)

(2.13)

(2.14)

 

Define some tensor fields and compute their covariant derivatives with respect to .

(2.15)

(2.16)

(2.17)

(2.18)

 

Example 3.

First create a rank 3 vector bundle  and define a connection  on .

(2.19)

(2.20)

(2.21)

(2.22)

 

To covariantly differentiate a mixed tensor on , a connection on  is also needed.

(2.23)

See Also

DifferentialGeometry, Tensor, Christoffel, Physics[Christoffel], Connection, ContractIndices, CurvatureTensor, Physics[Riemann], DirectionalCovariantDerivative


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