Questions tagged [dg.differential-geometry]
Complex, contact, Riemannian, pseudo-Riemannian and Finsler geometry, relativity, gauge theory, global analysis.
936
questions
44
votes
5
answers
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Finding a 1-form adapted to a smooth flow
Let $M$ be a smooth compact manifold, and let $X$ be a smooth vector field of $M$ that is nowhere vanishing, thus one can think of the pair $(M,X)$ as a smooth flow with no fixed points. Let us say ...
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Limit cycles as closed geodesics (in negatively or positively curved space)
Updated 1/25/2023 I just added a related post below:
Jacobi fields, Conjugate points and limit cycle theory
EDIT: Here is a related post which concern quadratic vector fields rather than Van ...
71
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Kahler differentials and Ordinary Differentials
What's the relationship between Kahler differentials and ordinary differential forms?
73
votes
10
answers
10k
views
Riemannian surfaces with an explicit distance function?
I'm looking for explicit examples of Riemannian surfaces (two-dimensional Riemannian manifolds $(M,g)$) for which the distance function d(x,y) can be given explicitly in terms of local coordinates of ...
212
votes
24
answers
45k
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What is torsion in differential geometry intuitively?
Hi,
given a connection on the tangent space of a manifold, one can define its torsion:
$$T(X,Y):=\triangledown_X Y - \triangledown_Y X - [X,Y]$$
What is the geometric picture behind this definition&...
86
votes
11
answers
30k
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Is there a complex structure on the 6-sphere?
I don't know who first asked this question, but it's a question that I think many differential and complex geometers have tried to answer because it sounds so simple and fundamental. There are even a ...
44
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Does the curvature determine the metric?
I ask myself, whether the curvature determines the metric.
Concretely: Given a compact manifold $M$, are there two metrics $g_1$ and $g_2$, which are not everywhere flat, such that they are
not ...
23
votes
2
answers
2k
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Uniqueness of compactification of an end of a manifold
Let $M$ be an $n$-dimensional manifold (smooth or topological). I call $\bar{M}$ a compactification of $M$ if it is an $n$-dimensional compact manifold with boundary $\partial \bar{M}$, an $(n-1)$-...
90
votes
4
answers
14k
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Can every manifold be given an analytic structure?
Let $M$ be a (real) manifold. Recall that an analytic structure on $M$ is an atlas such that all transition maps are real-analytic (and maximal with respect to this property). (There's also a sheafy ...
14
votes
2
answers
856
views
Are all maps $\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ with fixed singular values affine?
Let $f:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ be a smooth map whose differential has fixed distinct singular values $0<\sigma_1<\sigma_2$ and an everywhere positive determinant (which is the product $\...
136
votes
9
answers
19k
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Is there an underlying explanation for the magical powers of the Schwarzian derivative?
Given a function $f(z)$ on the complex plane, define the Schwarzian derivative $S(f)$ to be the function
$S(f) = \frac{f'''}{f'} - \frac{3}{2} \Big(\frac{f''}{f'}\Big)^2$
Here is a somewhat more ...
69
votes
4
answers
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views
$C^1$ isometric embedding of flat torus into $\mathbb{R}^3$
I read (in a paper by Emil Saucan) that the flat torus may be isometrically embedded
in $\mathbb{R}^3$ with a $C^1$ map by the Kuiper extension of the Nash Embedding Theorem,
a claim repeated in this ...
110
votes
4
answers
13k
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Is there a sheaf theoretical characterization of a differentiable manifold?
I'm going through the crisis of being unhappy with the textbook definition of a differentiable manifold. I'm wondering whether there is a sheaf-theoretic approach which will make me happier. In a ...
78
votes
9
answers
21k
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Results that are widely accepted but no proof has appeared
The background of this question is the talk given by Kevin Buzzard.
I could not find the slides of that talk. The slides of another talk given by Kevin Buzzard along the same theme are available here.
...
74
votes
5
answers
13k
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Is there a "geometric" intuition underlying the notion of normal varieties?
I first got concious of the notion of normal varieties around 3 years ago and despite the fact that by now I can manipulate with it a bit, this notion still puzzles me a lot.
One thing that strikes me ...
7
votes
0
answers
516
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Limit cycles as closed geodesics(2)
Hilbert 16th problem asks for a uniform upper bound $H(n)$ for the number of limit cycles of a polynomial vector field of degree $n$ on the plane. Here is an updated proof of the ...
2
votes
1
answer
463
views
A curvature description for center condition for quadratic vector field
We consider the quadratic vector field $V$ $$\begin{cases} x'=P(x,y)\\ y'=Q(x,y)
\end {cases}\;\;\;\;(V)$$
where $P,Q \in \mathbb{R}[x,y]$ are polynomials of degree $2$ with $P(0,0)=Q(0,0)=...
75
votes
7
answers
8k
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Example of a manifold which is not a homogeneous space of any Lie group
Every manifold that I ever met in a differential geometry class was a homogeneous space: spheres, tori, Grassmannians, flag manifolds, Stiefel manifolds, etc. What is an example of a connected smooth ...
63
votes
6
answers
4k
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Shortest closed curve to inspect a sphere
Let $S$ be a sphere in $\mathbb{R}^3$. Let $C$ be a closed curve in $\mathbb{R}^3$ disjoint from and
exterior to $S$
which has the property that every point $x$ on $S$ is visible to some point $y$ of $...
50
votes
0
answers
12k
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Atiyah's paper on complex structures on $S^6$
M. Atiyah has posted a preprint on arXiv on the non-existence of complex structure on the sphere $S^6$.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.09366
It relies on the topological $K$-theory $KR$ and in ...
36
votes
10
answers
6k
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Determining a surface in $\mathbb{R}^3$ by its Gaussian curvature
A curve in the plane is determined, up to orientation-preserving
Euclidean
motions, by its curvature function, $\kappa(s)$.
Here is one of my favorite examples, from
Alfred Gray's book,
Modern ...
19
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Equations satisfied by the Riemann curvature tensor
It is well known that the Riemann curvature tensor of a metric satisfies
\begin{eqnarray}
R_{jikl}=-R_{ijkl}=R_{ijlk},(1)\\
R_{klij}=R_{ijkl},(2)\\
R_{i[jkl]}=0 \mbox{(1st Bianchi identity)}.(3)
\end{...
15
votes
2
answers
848
views
Is a smooth closed surface in Euclidean 3-space rigid?
Classical theorem of Cohn-Vossen: A closed convex surface in Euclidean 3-space cannot be deformed isometrically.
Robert Connelly found an example of a polyhedral surface that can be deformed ...
15
votes
3
answers
5k
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The conformal group of $S^n$.
Is there any explicit computation of Conf($S^n$, $g_{std}$), the group of conformal diffeomorphisms of the standard $n$-sphere?
14
votes
1
answer
1k
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When is a given matrix of two forms a curvature form?
Let's assume we are working over $\mathbb{R}^n$ (but feel free to change to domain to answer the question). I wish to know if the equation $F = dA + A \wedge A$ can be solved for a matrix of 1-forms $...
13
votes
0
answers
703
views
Hilbert 16th problem and dynamical Lefschetz trace formula
I would like to apply the known version of the conjectural formula (11) page !0 of the paper Number theory and dynamical Lefschetz trace formula.
Disclaimer: I do not have a complete ...
10
votes
2
answers
886
views
Is there a volume-preserving diffeomorphism of the disk with prescribed singular values?
This is a cross-post. While working on a variational problem, I have reached to the following question.
Let $0<\sigma_1<\sigma_2$ satisfy $\sigma_1\sigma_2=1$, and let $D \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$...
7
votes
1
answer
869
views
Sharp Gaussian upper bounds on Heat Kernel
I am looking for references (with proof) for the following statement:
Let $(M, g)$ be a Riemannian manifold with bounded curvature and let $p_t(x , y)$ be the heat kernel of $M$. Let $K$ be compact ...
4
votes
1
answer
749
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Does $P_xP_y+Q_xQ_y=0 \implies$ "non-existence of limit cycle" for $P\partial_x+Q\partial_y$"? (Complex dilatation and limit cycle theory)
Let $X=P\partial_x+Q\partial_y$ be a vector field on the plane $\mathbb{R}^2$. Assume that we have :$$P_xP_y+Q_xQ_y=0$$ Does this imply that the vector field $X$ is a divergence-free vector field ...
109
votes
6
answers
15k
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When can a connection Induce a Riemannian metric for which it is the Levi-Civita connection?
As we all know, for a Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$, there exists a unique torsion-free connection $\nabla_g$, the Levi-Civita connection, that is compatible with the metric.
I was wondering if one can ...
99
votes
6
answers
11k
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Is there an analogue of curvature in algebraic geometry?
I am not an expert, but there seems to be an enormous technical difference between algebraic geometry and differential/metric geometry stemming from the fact that there is apparently no such thing as ...
83
votes
4
answers
6k
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Parallelizability of the Milnor's exotic spheres in dimension 7
Are the Milnor's seven dimensional exotic spheres parallelizable?
50
votes
7
answers
50k
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Determinant of sum of positive definite matrices
Say $A$ and $B$ are symmetric, positive definite matrices. I've proved that
$$\det(A+B) \ge \det(A) + \det(B)$$
in the case that $A$ and $B$ are two dimensional. Is this true in general for $n$-...
34
votes
6
answers
5k
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Kähler structure on cotangent bundle?
The total space of cotangent bundle of any manifold $M$ is a symplectic manifold.
Is it true/false/unknown that for any $M$, $T^*M$ has Kähler structure?
Please support your claim with reference or ...
33
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are the "correct" conventions for defining Clifford algebras?
I have three related questions about conventions for defining Clifford algebras.
1) Let $(V, q)$ be a quadratic vector space. Should the Clifford algebra $\text{Cliff}(V, q)$ have defining ...
22
votes
2
answers
2k
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Functional approach vs jet approach to Lagrangian field theory
Context: I am a PhD student in theoretical physics with higher-than-average education on differential geometry. I am trying to understand Lagrangian and Hamiltonian field theories and related concepts ...
18
votes
1
answer
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The Teichmüller space $T_g$ of a closed riemann surface $S_g$ of genus $g \geq 2$ can't be parametrized by $6g−6$ geodesic length functions
I asked this question almost a month ago on Math SE. After waiting three weeks for an answer or a comment, I opened a bounty on the question in hope that it might get an answer this way. The bounty ...
18
votes
0
answers
1k
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Jets of sections of vector bundles expressed by symmetrized iterated covariant derivatives - who did it first?
The (non-unique) bundle isomorphism between the bundle $J^r E$ of $r$-th order jets of sections of a vector bundle $\pi:E\rightarrow M$ and the direct sum $$\bigoplus^r_{k=0}\vee^kT^*M\otimes E\...
17
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Square of the distance function on a Riemannian manifold
Let $(M^n,g)$ be a smooth Riemannian manifold. Consider the square of the distance function
$$dist^2\colon M\times M\to \mathbb{R}$$
given by $(x,y)\mapsto dist^2(x,y)$. It is easy to see that this ...
14
votes
2
answers
2k
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If compact connected Lie groups are homeomorphic as topological space, are they isomorphic as Lie groups?
Let $G_{1}$ and $G_{2}$ be compact connected Lie groups.
If $G_{1}$ and $G_{2}$ are homeomorphic as topological spaces, are
they isomorphic as Lie groups?
4
votes
0
answers
485
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Limit cycles of quadratic systems and closed geodesics(Finitness of $H(2)$)
This question is inspired by this answer to the question Finding a 1-form adapted to a smooth flow.
Assume that $V$ is a polynomial vector field of degree $2$ as follows:$$\begin{cases} x'=P(...
3
votes
3
answers
612
views
Expansions of iterated, or nested, derivatives, or vectors--conjectured matrix computation
The entry OEIS A139605 (also related OEIS A145271) has a matrix computation for the partition polynomials that represent the expansions of iterated derivatives, or vectors in differential geometry,
$...
182
votes
19
answers
35k
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How do I make the conceptual transition from multivariable calculus to differential forms?
One way to define the algebra of differential forms $\Omega(M)$ on a smooth manifold $M$ (as explained by John Baez's week287) is as the exterior algebra of the dual of the module of derivations on ...
122
votes
7
answers
15k
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Topology and the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics
I was very happy to learn that the work which led to the award of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics (shared between David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz) uses Topology. In ...
74
votes
7
answers
19k
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What is the symbol of a differential operator?
I find Wikipedia's discussion of symbols of differential operators a bit impenetrable, and Google doesn't seem to turn up useful links, so I'm hoping someone can point me to a more pedantic discussion....
73
votes
1
answer
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Does $\Bbb{CP}^{2n} \# \Bbb{CP}^{2n}$ ever support an almost complex structure?
This question has been crossposted from Math.SE in the hopes that it reaches a larger audience here.
$\Bbb{CP}^{2n+1} \# \Bbb{CP}^{2n+1}$ supports a complex structure: $\Bbb{CP}^{2n+1}$ has an ...
65
votes
22
answers
10k
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When has discrete understanding preceded continuous?
From my limited perspective, it appears that the understanding
of a mathematical phenomenon has usually been achieved,
historically, in a continuous setting
before it was fully explored in a discrete ...
63
votes
12
answers
13k
views
How much of differential geometry can be developed entirely without atlases? [closed]
We may define a topological manifold to be a second-countable Hausdorff space such that every point has an open neighborhood homeomorphic to an open subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$. We can further define a ...
56
votes
10
answers
9k
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de Rham cohomology and flat vector bundles
I was wondering whether there is some notion of "vector bundle de Rham cohomology".
To be more precise: the k-th de Rham cohomology group of a manifold $H_{dR}^{k}(M)$ is defined as the set of closed ...
52
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Beautiful descriptions of exceptional groups
I'm curious about the beautiful descriptions of exceptional simple complex Lie groups and algebras (and maybe their compact forms). By beautiful I mean: simple (not complicated - it means that we need ...