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14 votes
1 answer
1k views

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 $...
Vamsi's user avatar
  • 3,383
17 votes
2 answers
4k views

Hodge decomposition in Minkowski space

This question is motivated by the physical description of magnetic monopoles. I will give the motivation, but you can also jump to the last section. Let us recall Maxwell’s equations: Given a semi-...
The User's user avatar
  • 2,442
37 votes
15 answers
13k views

Geometric imagination of differential forms

In order to explain to non-experts what a vector field is, one usually describes an assignment of an arrow to each point of space. And this works quite well also when moving to manifolds, where a ...
Mircea's user avatar
  • 2,041
28 votes
4 answers
6k views

Is there any way to rewrite a partial differential equation using language of differential forms, tensors, etc?

My question is: usually, a partial differential equation, for example, those coming from physics, is written in a language of vector calculus in a local coordinate. Is there any way (or any algorithm) ...
HYYY's user avatar
  • 1,499
6 votes
1 answer
404 views

Densities, pseudoforms, absolute differential forms and measures, differential forms, etc

Apologies if this question is too basic, but I figured I first heard of most of these concepts on MO, so perhaps I can ask here. Gelfand’s definition, copied from AlvarezPaiva [My edit, could be ...
D.R.'s user avatar
  • 833
5 votes
1 answer
637 views

Leafwise de Rham cohomology (A true definition of differential forms along leaves)

For a foliated space $(M, \mathcal{F})$, one associate a leafwise de Rham cohomology. This cohomology and trace-class operators on this cohomology and trace interpretations for closed orbits of ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
675 views

$\infty$-forms and $\infty$-plectic geometry

Can you have $\infty$-forms on infinite-dimensional manifolds or elsewhere and what are they used for?
user17731's user avatar