All Questions
Tagged with dg.differential-geometry connections
201 questions
110
votes
6
answers
16k
views
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 ...
- 3,399
43
votes
5
answers
9k
views
What is the Levi-Civita connection trying to describe?
I have seen similar questions, but none of the answers relate to my difficulty, which I will now proceed to convey.
Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifolds. The Levi-Civita connection is the unique ...
- 2,071
43
votes
5
answers
8k
views
A geometric interpretation of the Levi-Civita connection?
Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold. There exists a unique torsion-free connection in the (co)tangent bundle of $M$ such that the metric of $M$ is covariantly constant. This connection is called the Levi-...
- 23.5k
29
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Rolling without slipping interpretation of torsion
This is, in a sense, a follow up to this question.
Hehl and Obukhov try to give an intuitive description of torsion. I am confused about their description. I am looking at the following paragraph on ...
- 156k
23
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Manifolds admitting flat connections
For each Riemannian manifold one can construct the Levi-Civita connection. While this connection is unique, we can call a (Riemannian) manifold flat if the Levi-Civita connection is flat. However when ...
- 9,330
23
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Why is it important that partial derivatives commute?
I am asking this in the context of differential geometry (specifically Riemannian).
When the Levi-Civita Connection is defined, we require that the torsion tensor is 0, which in local coordinates ...
- 995
21
votes
2
answers
927
views
A non-Abelian de Rham complex?
This question is inspired by this physics stack exchange post, which is recent and has not received an answer yet, nontheless I feel that there is a better way to ask this question here with a larger ...
- 2,792
21
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Geometrical meaning of the Ricci Tensor and its Symmetry
Let $M$ be a smooth, pseudo-Riemannian manifold with $\dim(M) \ge 2.$ Let $\nabla$ be any affine connection on $M$. No reason for it to be the Levi-Civita connection. All we assume is that it has zero ...
- 581
20
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Can a manifold have a curvature-free connection that is not torsion-free?
Suppose I have a smooth manifold with a tangent bundle, and I have a connection. If this connection is curvature-free, is it guaranteed to be torsion-free? (I am not assuming a metric, just a finite-...
- 1,491
19
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Tensor contraction and Covariant Derivative
What is the importance and intuition behind the the contraction operator on tensors (or the trace of a matrix, for that matter)?
In addition, I see that one of the requirements for a covariant ...
- 995
18
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Formal adjoint of the covariant derivative
Let $E \to M$ be a vector bundle over some Riemannian metric $(M, g)$ and endow it with some fibre metric. Assume that covariant derivative $\nabla$ is compatible with the metric.
It is essentially ...
- 5,824
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
When is a flow geodesic and how to construct the connection from it
Let $(M,\Gamma)$ be a $C^\infty$ $n$ dimensional real manifold with a linear connection $\Gamma$ on it. I know the following:
If $\gamma:[t_0,t_1]\rightarrow M$ is a smooth curve and is a geodesic, ...
- 2,792
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are bundle gerbes bundles of algebras?
The category of line bundles (possibly with connection)
on a smooth manifold M can be defined in two different ways:
The first definition uses transition functions that satisfy a cocycle condition
(...
- 37.8k
13
votes
3
answers
707
views
Can a homotopy inverse of the map from a Lie group to loops on its classifying space be given by holonomy?
Let $G$ be the compact Lie group $SO(n)$. There are some classical constructions of the classifying bundle of $G$ based upon on direct limits of Grassmann and Stiefel manifolds:
$$BG \simeq \...
- 53.3k
13
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Intuition for Levi-Civita connection?
Levi-Civita connection is usually defined as the unique connection which is torsion free and preserves metric.
Question Is there some intuitively transparent constructive way to define it (or ...
- 24.9k
12
votes
3
answers
639
views
Embedding of a bundle with connection into a bundle with flat connection?
I'm looking for a generalization of Nash's embedding theorem (for Riemannian manifolds) to vector bundles with a connection.
Given a smooth manifold $M$ together with a vector bundle $V$ on $M$ ...
- 617
12
votes
1
answer
454
views
Riemannian vs Non-Riemannian curvature
If you neither know the metric nor the holonomy group, how do you recognize a curvature tensor is Riemannian?
I assume a curvature, by definition, satisfies Bianchi identities. I know it is ...
12
votes
3
answers
705
views
Modern treatment of Dirac monopoles and related topics
I know that the topic is classical and even "folklore", but many treatments make use of local coordinates and such treatments are rather messy. Could somewhere maybe provide some reference(s)...
- 5,215
12
votes
1
answer
937
views
Aren't Riemannian geodesics also geodesics of the associated Cartan geometry?
I was inspired by R. W. Sharpe's book on doing differential geometry through Cartan connections. Unfortunately, the book is fairly thin in terms of specific examples in Riemannian geometry, so I ...
- 779
11
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Geometric interpretation of horizontal and vertical lift of vector field
In many References such as D.E. Blair, Riemannian Geometry of Contact and Symplectic Manifolds chapter 9, and Differential Geometric Structures
By Walter A. Poor Page 54; the horizontal and vertical ...
- 4,195
11
votes
3
answers
886
views
Tangent bundle of a tensor product bundle
This question was also asked here on math-stackexchange.
Let $E\to M$ and $F\to M$ be vector bundles. The structure of their tangents $TE$ and $TF$ is well known. In particular, connectors map $K_E: ...
- 797
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Global description of the Levi-Civita connection
I'm interested in finding a global (coordinate-free) description of the Levi-Civita connection on a (possibly infinite-dimensional) Riemannian manifold X.
I'm not looking for a description of this ...
- 8,803
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Does every manifold have a flat connection?
Suppose I have a manifold and a vector bundle over it, but not a connection or a metric. Can I always find a connection on it that has a Riemann curvature tensor that is identically zero? If so, can I ...
- 1,491
9
votes
1
answer
693
views
Generalized Dirac operators
So far I met three definitions of the so called generalized Dirac operator(or Dirac type operators. Everything takes place over Riemannian manifols $M$ and we have smooth hermitian vector bundle $S \...
- 9,330
9
votes
1
answer
975
views
Is there a mathematical explanation for the Aharonov-Casher effect?
Recall that the Aharonov-Bohm effect can be interpreted mathematically as follows.
Consider an electromagnetic field A on some smooth manifold M, i.e., A is an element in the first differential ...
- 37.8k
9
votes
0
answers
231
views
Is there a contact instanton connection on the tangent bundle of the 5-sphere?
A well-known example of a contact manifold is $S^5$, arising from it being a circle bundle over $\mathbb{CP^2}$. This is somewhat related to the reduction of the structure group from $SO(5)$ to $SU(2)$...
- 35.5k
8
votes
0
answers
318
views
Flat Maurer-Cartan connection iff flat Berry connection
I am studying two connections on induced representation spaces $\text{Ind}_{H}^{G} \Gamma$, where $H \subseteq G$ are groups, and $\Gamma$ is an irrep of $H$.
The first is the canonical or $H$-...
- 227
8
votes
0
answers
251
views
(Higher) flat connections and Grothendieck construction
For any (nice) topological space there is an equivalence between covering spaces and local systems $\pi_1X \to \operatorname{Set}$. We can think of it as a Grothendieck construction. If we take ...
- 834
8
votes
0
answers
286
views
Metric connection on $\mathbb{R}^4$ that is locally Kähler but not globally Kähler
in a comment to this question When can a Connection Induce a Riemannian Metric for which it is the Levi-Civita Connection?
Robert Bryant mentions that it is possible to construct a metric connection ...
- 101
8
votes
0
answers
480
views
Connections and curvature in commutative algebra
Since on any commutative algebra $R$ over ring $S$ we have module of Kahler differentials $(\Omega_{R/S},d)$ which extends to the algebraic de-Rham complex $(\Omega^\bullet,d),$ it is natural to ...
- 1,615
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
semi flat connections
Let $L\to V$ be complex line bundle and $F_{t}:V\to V$, $t\in [0,1]$, be a loop of diffeomorphisms, $F_0=F_1=$ identity.
For every $x\in V$, we get a loop $\gamma_x(t)=\{F_t(x)\}$ whose class in $\...
7
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is there a way to define a Lie derivative of a connection?
I've been reading a little bit about the definition of symmetries on General Relativity, and they are related with the concept of Killing vector, i.e., vectors along which the Lie derivative of the ...
- 690
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why does a principal G-bundle with a discrete structure group G have a unique flat connection?
I'm reading the Dijkgraaf–Witten paper Topological gauge theories and group cohomology (Comm. Math. Phys. 129 (1990) pp 393–429, doi:10.1007/BF02096988) and on page 395, 2nd paragraph they write
...
- 569
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Atiyah Sequence and Connections on a Principal Bundle
Let $G$ be a Lie group and $\pi:E_G\rightarrow M $ be a principal $G$-bundle.
I have seen in many places that a connection on $(E_G,M,G)$ is a splitting of the Atiyah sequence
$$ 0\rightarrow \text{...
- 6,023
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Symmetric Ricci Tensor
Let $M$ be a pseudo-Riemannian manifold. Assume that $M$ comes with a zero-torsion affine connexion $\nabla.$ There is no need for $\nabla$ to be the Levi-Civita connexion. Recall that the curvature ...
- 581
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Reference for parallel transport around loop and its relation to curvature
It is a well known fact that the geometric meaning of a linear connection's curvature can be realized as the measure of a change in a fiber element as it is parallel transported along a closed loop.
...
- 2,792
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can we define exterior derivatives using pushforwards and connections?
Let $\alpha$ be a differential form on a smooth manifold $M$. For simplicity, let's suppose that it is a $1$-form. Then we can think of $\alpha$ as a smooth map from $M$ to $T^* M$, the cotangent ...
- 3,058
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Differential forms along the fiber
Let $E \to M$ be a smooth fiber bundle. Instead of differential forms defined on the whole tangent bundle $TE$ one could also consider forms on the vertical tangent bundle $VE$, i.e. forms defined on ...
- 5,824
7
votes
2
answers
421
views
A cohomology group which depends on the connection
Warning: I am not a differential geometer, so some of the following might not make sense.
Background:
Let $w: (T\Omega)^k \to \mathbb{R}$ be a $k$-tensor on $\Omega$, an open subset of $\mathbb{...
- 12.1k
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Terminology of "covariant derivative" and various "connections"
I apologize for the long question. My ultimate aim is to understand the existing terminology and find appropriate terminology for covariant derivatives on vector bundles which generalizes to "...
- 643
7
votes
1
answer
296
views
ASD connection for Line bundle over $4$-manifold
Let $(M,g)$ be an oriented closed Riemannian $4$ manifold.
Let $L\to M$ be a complex line bundle.
Q Under what condition, we can find an ASD connection of $L$, i.e. a connection $A$ such that $F^+...
- 1,915
7
votes
1
answer
251
views
What exactly is a Cartan radius vector (and its role in Poincaré gauge theories)
I am studying approaches to gravity where the Poincaré group is "gauged". The original motivation of this is to understand what is meant on the statement that "Teleparallel gravity is a gauge theory ...
- 2,792
7
votes
1
answer
387
views
Torsion-free Cartan connections
Let $M$ a differentiable manifold and $H\subset G$ a Lie group with a closed subgroup such that $G/H$ is connected. A $H\subset G$-Cartan connection on $M$ can be defined by
A principal $G$-bundle on ...
- 141
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why torsion is only defined for linear connection on TM?
The concept of curvature is defined for any linear connection on any vector bundle $E \to M$, but the concept of torsion is only defined for connection on the tangent bundle $TM$ of a manifold $M^n$, ...
- 1,346
6
votes
1
answer
463
views
Holonomy bounded in terms of area and the curvature
I suppose the following result follows
from Ambrose-Singer theorem, but I cannot
find a reference, and the arguments I found
in the literature are usually weaker. The idea
is that holonomy over a null-...
- 9,237
6
votes
1
answer
273
views
Commutative/ symmetric second covariant derivative
Consider a smooth manifold $M$ together with an affine connection (or covariant derivative) $\nabla$ on the tangent bundle $TM$.
Is it possible to have an affine connection, possibly with non-zero ...
- 61
6
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Connections in the setting of algebraic geometry
My level is at the beginning of a second year master. I'm interested in the project of translating some features of differential geometry to algebraic geometry. I'd like to know if there is an ...
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Transferring connection information to associated bundles and back
This might not be research level but I've tried more than once to ask about this in MSE and it got nowhere. So I thought It's fair to at least try.
At the risk of repeating well known stuff I tried ...
- 7,789
6
votes
1
answer
912
views
Almost Flat Connections On Principal G-Bundles
Let $E \rightarrow F$ be a principal $G$-bundle. Let $\alpha$ be a connection 1-form with values in the Lie algebra of $G$. Let $\omega$ denote the curvature 2-form of connection $\alpha$.
We know ...
- 439
6
votes
1
answer
485
views
What exactly is the relationship between an Ehresmann connection and splitting of the jet sequence?
An Ehresmann connection on a vector bundle $\pi : E \to X$ is a splitting of the sequence,
$$ 0 \to V \to TE \to \pi^* TX \to 0 $$
which respects the linear structure on $E$ (meaning the section is ...
- 3,625