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Tensors

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vikasthakur
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Topics on Tensor Analysis

for the Electro Magnetic


Theory course

For the purpose of this course, contravariant and co - variant projections of a


tensor are characterized by their transformation properties under coordinate
transformations. If the underlying spacetime is described by two frames
S, S 0 in terms of respective coordinates: xµ , x0α that are related by the
transformations:
xµ = xµ (x0α ; x0α = x0α (xµ )
i.e. each coordinate in one system is a function of the coordinates of the
other system. The projections of physical quantities (eg. vectors) in the
∂xµ ∂x0α
two systems are related by the transformation coefficients: ∂x 0α ; ∂xµ . For

example, projections that vary as


∂x0α µ
A0α = A (1)
∂xµ
where the primed and unprimed projections refer to the projections in the
new (S 0 ) and the old (S) frames respectively, are defined as contravariant
projections of a vector - or a tensor of rank one. Similarly
∂xµ
Bα0 = Bµ (2)
∂x0α
are defining transformations of a co-variant projection of a tensor of rank
one.
These transformation properties follow from the chosen basis. Let O be
origin of a coordinate system of a 4-dimensional spacetime. Let P (x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 )
be arbitrary coordinates of a point P having a direction vector rP .
∂rP ∂rP ∂rP ∂rP
; : ;
∂x0 ∂x1 ∂x2 ∂x3

1
are four tangent vectors in the increasing x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 directions at point
P . Any vector may be projected onto the these tangent vectors and these
projections are called contravariant projections of the Vector:
∂rP
A = Aµ (3)
∂xµ
[Summation convention: sum over the repeated label]. In terms of new
coordinates x0α of frame S 0 :
∂rP
A = A0α (4)
∂x0α
The relation between the two sets of tangent vectors in the two frames:
∂rP ∂xµ ∂rP
=
∂x0α ∂x0α ∂xµ
∂rP ∂x0α ∂rP
=
∂xµ ∂xµ ∂x0α
gives the transformations for the corresponding projections:
∂~rP
A = A0ı (5)
∂x0ı
∂x0α µ ∂xµ 0α
A0α = A and A µ
= A (6)
∂xµ ∂x0α
It follows, in particular, that the projections of the displacement vector dr
between two neighbouring points are dxµ that transform as contravariant
projections of a vector:
∂r ∂r
dr = dxµ µ
= dx0α 0α
∂x ∂x
with
∂x0 α µ
dx0α = dx
∂xµ
We next introduce a scalar product by requiring that the scalar product
of the displacement of two neighbouring points is the invariant interval:

ds2 = dr • dr

From the expression of dr one gets:


∂r ∂r
ds2 = µ
• ν dxµ dxν ≡ gµν dxµ dxν
∂x ∂x

2
Figure 1:

3
where we have defined the two indexed object

∂r ∂r
gµν ≡ µ
• ν
∂x ∂x
This is defined as the Metric Tensor. We now introduce another basis
[called variously as the co-tangent basis, or basis one forms, or the ∇ (grad)
- basis]. This basis is described by ∇xµ and the defining relation of these
four basis vectors is:
∂r
• ∇xν = δµν
∂xµ

This implies:

∂r
∇xν • dr = ∇xν • dxµ = δµν dxµ = dxν
∂xµ
The transformation properties of this basis can be deduced from:

∂x0 α µ ∂x0 α
dx0α = ∇x0α • dr = dx = ∇xµ • dr
∂xµ ∂xµ

∂x0α ∂xµ
⇒ ∇x0α = ∇x µ
⇔ ∇xµ
= ∇x0α
∂xµ ∂x0α
A vector can be projected onto this basis:

A = Aµ ∇xµ = A0α ∇x0α

From the transformation properties of these basis, it follows:

∂xµ ∂x0α 0
A0α = Aµ ⇔ Aµ = A
∂x0α ∂xµ α
Now refer to pages 15 onward of the first set of notes.
•The totally antisymmetric tensors
Given the transformation of the metric tensor:

0 ∂xα ∂xβ
gµν = gαβ
∂x0µ ∂x0ν
taking the determinant of the metric

∂x ∂x
⇒ g 0 ≡ Det[gµν
0
] = J( 0
)J( 0 )g
∂x ∂x

4
∂x
Where J( ∂x 0 ) is the Jacobian of the transformation, i.e. the determinant of

the transformation matrix:


∂x ∂xα
J( ) ≡ Det(( ))
∂x0 ∂x0µ
We thus have:
p ∂x √
−g 0 = ±J( 0 ) −g
∂x
Let denote the permutation symbol by (αβγδ). The following identity holds
for any matrix A with elements Aij :

(ijkl)Det[A] = Aim Ajn Ako AAlp (mnop)

∂x ∂xα ∂xβ ∂xγ ∂xδ


⇒ (µνσρ)J( ) = (αβγδ)
∂x0 ∂x0µ ∂x0ν ∂x0σ ∂x0ρ
p ∂xα ∂xβ ∂xγ ∂xδ √
⇒ [−(µνσρ) −g 0 ] = 0µ 0ν 0σ 0ρ
[−(αβγδ) −g]
∂x ∂x ∂x ∂x
√
The quantity ²αβγδ ≡ −(αβγδ) −g is a tensor of rank 4 - defined as the
covariant permutation tensor.
Repeating the same algebra on the Jacobian of the inverse transforma-
tion:
∂x0 ∂x
J( ) = [J( 0 )]−1
∂x ∂x
∂x 0 0µ
∂x ∂x0ν ∂x0σ ∂x0ρ
⇒ (µνσρ)J( )= (αβγδ)
∂x ∂xα ∂xβ ∂xγ ∂xδ

(µνσρ) ∂x0µ ∂x0ν ∂x0σ ∂x0ρ (αβγδ)


⇒ √ 0 = √
−g ∂xα ∂xβ ∂xγ ∂xδ −g
The quantity
(αβγδ)
²αβγδ ≡ √
−g
is thus a tensor of rank 4 - defined as the contravariant permutation tensor.
Note the relative sign difference in the definitions of the covariant and the
contravariant permutation tensors. This ensures that the two are related by
normal lowering and raising by the metric tensor.

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