See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/268611007

Spaces with non-symmetric affine connection

Article · January 2008

CITATIONS READS

14 184

2 authors, including:

Ljubica S. Velimirović
University of Niš
84 PUBLICATIONS 636 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Almost geodesic mappings View project

Geodesic mappings View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Ljubica S. Velimirović on 19 September 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Novi Sad J. Math.
Vol. 38, No. 3, 2008, 157-164

SPACES WITH NON-SYMMETRIC AFFINE

CONNECTION1
Svetislav M. Minčić2 , Ljubica S. Velimirović3
Abstract. The beginning of the study of non-symmetric affine con-
nection spaces is especially in relation with the works of A. Einstein on
United Field Theory (UFT). The paper is a short survey of the develop-
ment of the theory of these spaces.
AMS Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 53C25, 53A45, 53B05
Key words and phrases: Einstein’s Unifieled Field Theory, non-symmetric
affine connection, generalized Riemannian space, curvature tensors and
pseudotensors, Ricci-type identities, infinitesimal deformations, mappings

1. Notion, covariant derivatives

Although the notion of non-symmetric affine connection is used in several
works before A. Einstein, for example in [6] (Eisenhart, 1927), [10] (Hayden,
1932), the use of non-symmetric connection became especially actual after ap-
pearance the works of Einstein, related to creating the Unified Field Theory
(UFT).
Einstein was not satisfied with his General Theory of Relativity (GTR, 1916),
and from 1923 to the end of his life (1955), he worked on various variants of
UFT. This theory had the aim to unite the gravitation theory, to which is related
GTR, and the theory of electromagnetism.
Remark that at UFT the symmetric part gij of the non-symmetric basic
tensor gij is related to gravitation, and antisymmetric gij to the electromag-
∨

netism. The same is valid for Γijk and Γijk . While at the Riemannian space
∨
(the space of GTR) the connection coefficients are expressed by virtue of gij ,
in Einstein’s works on UFT (1945-1955) (e.g. [1]-[5]) the connection between
these magnitudes are determined by the equations
∂gij
(1) g ij ;m ≡ gij,m − Γpim gpj − Γpmj gip = 0, (gij,m = ).
+− ∂xm
Beginning with 1951 L. P. Eisenhart ([7], [8]) has dealt in several works with
the problems of spaces with non-symmetric basic tensor and non-symmetric
connection. At [21], [22], [24], are also used non-symmetric connections.
1 This
paper is partially supported by the organizers of the 12th Serbian Mathematical
Congress,the authors were also supported by the Project 144032D MNTR Srbije
2 Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Uni-

versity of Niš, Serbia

3 Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Uni-

versity of Niš, Serbia e-mail: [email protected]

158 S. M. Minčić, Lj. S. Velimirović

Because of nonsymmetry of the connection coefficients Lijk , it is possible to

define 4 kinds of covariant derivative in the space LN . For example:

(2) tij | m = tij,m + Lipm tpj − Lpjm tip .

1 mp mj
2 pm mj
3 mp jm
4

2. Ricci type identities, curvature tensors and pseudoten-

sors in LN
In the place of the difference tij;mn − tij;nm , which gives the Ricci identity
in Riemannian space, now we have 10 cases based on the 1st and 2nd kind of
covariant derivative:

(3) tji11...i i1 ...ir

...js | m | n − tj1 ...js | m | n ,
r

λ µ ν ω

where
(λ, µ; ν, ω) = {(1, 1; 1, 1), (2, 2; 2, 2), (1, 2; 1, 2), (2, 1; 2, 1), (1, 1; 2, 2), (1, 1; 1, 2),
(1, 1; 2, 1), (2, 2; 1, 2), (2, 2; 2, 1), (1, 2; 2, 1).

In [11] Ricci identities are derived in the space LN for a tensor of the type
(r, s). For example:

(4) tij | mn − tij | nm = Ri pmn tpj − Rp jmn tip − 2Lpmn tij | p ,

1 1
1 1 ∨ 1

(5) tij | mn − tij | nm = Ri pmn tpj − Rp jmn tip + 2Lpmn tij | p ,

2 2
2 2 ∨ 2

tij | m| n − tij | n| m = Ai pmn tpj − Ap jmn tip + 4(Lipm tpj,n − Lpjm tip,n )mn
1 2 1 2
1 2 ∨ ∨
∨
(6)
+2(Limp Lsjn − Lipm Lsnj )mn tps + 2Lpmn tij | p
∨ ∨ 1

(7) tij | m| =n − tij | n| m = Ri pmn tpj − Rp jmn tip ,

1 2 2 1
3 3

where

(8) Ri pmn = Lijm,n − Lijn,m + Lpjm Lipn − Lpjn Lipm ,

1

(9) Ri pmn = Limj,n − Linj,m + Lpmj Linp − Lpnj Limp ,

2
Spaces with non-symmetric affine connection 159

(10) Ri pmn = Lijm,n − Linj,m + Lpjm Linp − Lpnj Lipm + Lpnm (Lipj − Lijp ),
3

(11) Ai jmn = Lijmn − Lijn,m + Lpjm Linp − Lpjn Limp

1

(12) Ai jmn = Lijm,n − Lijn,m + Lpmj Lipn − Lpnj Lipm

2

............................

(13) Ai jmn = Lijm,n − Linj,m + Lpjm Linp − Lpnj Lipm ,

15

The magnitudes Ri pmn , t = 1, 2, 3 are tensors and we call them curva-

t
ture tensors of the first, second and third kind respectively and Ai (t =
t jmn
1, 2, . . . , 15) are not tensors and we call them curvature pseudotensors of the
first,..., the fifteenth kind respectively.
If in forming the Ricci-type identities, we use the third and the fourth kind of
covariant derivative, we get ten new identities analogous to (4) − (7). In these
identities appear the same quantities R, R, R; A, A, . . . , A, but in a different
1 2 3 1 2 15
distribution. Only in the last case there appears a new curvature tensor R :
4

(14) aij | m| n − aij | n| m = Ri pmn apj + Rp jnm aip ,

3 4 4 3
4 3

where

(15) Ri jmn = Lijm,n − Linj,m + Lpjm Linp − Lpnj Lipm + Lpmn (Lipj − Lijp ).
4

In [12] the author proved that by Ricci-type identities, in which appear curvature
pseudotensors, we can obtain identities in which appear 8 new curvature tensors
R̃, . . . , R̃, and which we call derived curvature tensors.
1 8
All above identities and all curvature tensors and pseudotensors of the space
LN are the generalizations of the Ricci-identity, respectively curvature tensor of
the space with symmetric connection and of the Riemannian space.
In [13] is shown that from all tensors R, . . . , R; R̃, . . . , R̃ we have five inde-
1 4 1 8
pendent ones, while the others are linear combinations of these five tensors and
the curvature tensor R, formed by the symmetric connection Lijk (symmetric
part of Lijk ).

3. Geometric interpretations of the curvature tensors and

pseudotensors in LN
In LN one can define two kinds of parallel displacement of vectors. For a
vector field v i (t), defined along a curve C : xi = xi (t), we say that it is a field of
160 S. M. Minčić, Lj. S. Velimirović

the first kind parallel vectors, respectively a second kind, if for the differential
we have

(16a, b) dv i = −Lipm v p dxm , dv i = −Limp v p dxm .

1 2

According to [9], one can give the next geometric interpretation of two kinds
parallel displacement and the torsion in LN . Consider at the tangent space a
surface element, determined with help of two infinitesimal vectors, whose origin
is the point P (xi ) and let the ends of these vectors be Q(xi + dxi ), R(xi + δxi ).
Making the same kind of parallel displacement, e.g. the first, of the vector dxi
along δxi and δxi along dxi , we get different points S, T for the ends and for
their coordinates:

(17) xi − xi = d(δxi ) − δ (dxi ) = (Lipm − Limp )dxp δxm = 2Lipm dxp δxm .
T S 1 1 ∨

Consequently, using the same kind of parallel displacement, we obtain S 6= T,

if the connection is non-symmetric, i.e. if Lipm 6= 0. But, calculating δ(dxi ) with
∨

respect to (16a), and d(δxi ) with respect to (16b), we get

d(δxi ) = d(δxi ) = −Limp δxp dxm , δ(dxi ) = δ (dxi ) = −Lipm δxm dxp ,
2 1

from where
xi − xi = d(δxi ) − δ (dxi ) = 0,
T S 2 2

that is the points S and T coincide and we obtain an infinitesimal parallelogram

P QSR.
To obtain a geometric interpretation of curvature tensor, F. Graif considers
the first kind parallel displacement of a vector v i along the whole considered
contour P QSR and for the increment obtains

(18) 4v i = Ri jmn v j dxm δxn .

1 1

Using the second kind parallel displacement, we obtain

(19) 4v i = Ri jmn v j dxm δxn .

2 2

M. Prvanović ([23], 1977) uses for two opposite sides of mentioned parallelogram
the first kind displacement, and for the rest of sides over sides - the second kind
displacement. In this manner one obtains

(20) 4v i = −Ri jnm v j dxm δxn ,

3 3

and changing the kind of the displacement along all the sides obtains

(21) 4v i = Ri jmn v j dxm δxn .

4 4
Spaces with non-symmetric affine connection 161

On the basis of the above one may attempt to examine all the possibilities
that appear by changing the kind of displacement of vectors along the contour
P QSR. We have in all 24 = 16 cases (4 sides, 2 kinds of displacement), which
are presented at the table [15]:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
.
PQ.. 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
.
QS.. 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2
.
RS.. 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 2
.
PR.. 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 1

Consider, for example, the ninth case in the cited table. In this case one
obtains

(22) 4v i = 2Lijm v j (dxm − δxm ) + Ai v j dxm δxn ,

9 ∨ 2 jmn

where Ai jmn is the curvature pseudotensor (12) of the space LN . In [15] in this
2
manner are obtained geometric interpretations of all cited curvature tensors and
pseudotensors in LN .

4. Properties of the curvature tensor in LN

4.1. Mixed curvature tensors
Staying only on independent curvature tensors R, . . . , R, at LN we obtain
1 5
[14], [19]:

(23) Ri jmn = −Ri jnm , θ = 1, 2, CyclRi jmn = 0, θ = 4, 5,

θ θ jmn θ

The Bianchi identity which is valid in the symmetric connection space, in

LN is not valid, but we obtain 20 identities [16], [17], examining the expressions

CyclRi jmn | v for θ = 1, . . . , 5; ω = 1, . . . , 4.

mnv θ ω

So, for example, we get

(24) CyclRi jmn| v = 2CyclLpmn Ri jpv ,

mnv 1 1 mnv ∨ 1

4.2. Covariant curvature tensors

In GRN the covariant curvature tensors are defined by the equation

Rijmn = gip Rp jmn , θ = 1, . . . , 5

θ θ
162 S. M. Minčić, Lj. S. Velimirović

and from here one obtains that the following properties hold [14], [19]:
(25) Rijmn = −Rjimn = −Rijnm , θ = 1, 2, Rijmn = −Rjimn , θ = 3, 4
θ θ θ θ θ

Rijmn = Rmnij , CyclRijmn = 0, CyclRijmn = 0,

5 5 imn 4 αβγ 5
(26) jmn

{α, β, γ} ⊂ {i, j, m, n}.

In the Einstein’s condition g ij ;m = 0 we see that the index i is treated as in
+−
the first kind derivative, and j as in the second one. Proceeding in that sense,
Einstein, in his theory for covariant curvature tensor, obtains a Bianchi-type
identity [4]:
(27) R iklm ;n + R ikmn ;l + R iknl ;m = 0.
−+−+ −+++ −+−−

5. Infinitesimal deformations and mappings in LN

An application of more kinds of covariant derivative at LN makes possible to
express more concise some results. For example, let us consider the infinitesimal
deformations defined by
(28) x̄i = xi + εz i (x), x = (x1 , . . . , xN ), i = 1, . . . , N,
where ε is an infinitesimal parameter and z i (x) a vector field. As is known, a
deformed geometric object Ā(x) (e.g. a tensor, a connection) of the object A(x)
is
(29) Ā = A + εLz A,
where Lz A is the Lie derivative of A in the direction of the field z i (x). Then,
e.g. for a tensor tij
kl [26], [28], [29] we have:

(30) Lz tij ij p i pj j ip p ij p ij
kl = tkl,p z − z,p tkl − z,p tkl + z,k tpl + z,l tkp ,

Using the covariant derivatives of one kind, for example the first, instead of
partial derivatives, we have

Lz tij ij p i pj j ip
kl = tkl| p z − z | p tkl − z | p tkl
1 1 1
(300 )
+ z p| k tij
pl + z p| l tij
kp + 2(Lips tsj j is s ij s ij p
kl + Lps tkl + Lkp tsl + Llp tks )z ,
1 1 ∨ ∨ ∨ ∨

from where we see that the Lie derivative is a tensor. But, using more kinds of
covariant derivative, we obtain in the considered case [27]:

Lz tij ij p i pj j ip
kl = tkl | p z − z | p tkl − z | p tkl
λ µ µ
(3000 )
+ z p| k tij
pl + z p| l tij
kp ,
ν ν
Spaces with non-symmetric affine connection 163

where (λ, µ, ν) ∈ {(1, 2, 2), (2, 1, 1), (3, 4, 3), (4, 3, 4)} i.e. in (3000 ) we have 4 man-
ners of the presenting Lie derivative.
In his doctoral thesis [25] and other works M. Stanković examines geodesic
and other mappings of the spaces LN and GRN and obtains certain invari-
ant objects of these mappings. In this way one generalizes results, known for
Riemannian spaces.
The equations

(31) xi = xi (u1 , . . . , uM ), (i = 1, . . . , N, rank(xiα ) = M, xiα = ∂xi /∂uα )

define a subspace of GRN with induced basic tensor

(32) ḡαβ = xiα xjβ gij ,

which generally is non-symmetric too. The question posed by M. Prvanović

is: Can a given generalized Riemannian space(with nonsymmetric gij in (32))
possess any subspace, whose induced basic tensor is symmetric? It has been
proved in [18, 20] that the answer is affirmative and several examples were
constructed.

References
[1] Einstein, A., Generalization of the relativistic theory of gravitation. Ann. math.
46 (1945), 578-584.
[2] Einstein, A., Straus, E., Generalization of the relativistic theory of gravitation
II. Ann. Math. 47 (1946), 731-741.
[3] Einstein, A., On generalized theory of gravitation. Append. II in ”The meaning
of relativity”, 3rd edition, Princeton, 1950.
[4] Einstein, A., The Bianchi identities in the generalized theory of gravitation.
Canadian Jour. Math. 2 (1950), 120-128.
[5] Einstein, A., Relativistic theory of the non-symmetric field. Append. II in ”The
meaning of relativity”, 5th edition, Princeton, 1955.
[6] Eisenhart, L. P., Non-Riemannian geometry. New York, 1927.
[7] Eisenhart, L. P., Generalized Riemann spaces. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 37
(1951), 311-315.
[8] Eisenhart, L. P., Generalized Riemann spaces II. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 38
(1952), 505-508.
[9] Graif, F., Sulla possibilita di construire parallegrami chiusi in alcune varieta a
torsione. Bollet. Un. Mat. Italiana, Ser. III, 7 (1952), 132-135.
[10] Hayden, H. A., Subspaces of a space with torsion. Proc. London Math. Soc. (2),
34 (1932), 27-50.
[11] Minčić, S. M., Ricci identities in the space of non-symmetric affine connexion.
Matematički vesnik, 10(25) Sv. 2, (1973), 161-172.
[12] Minčić, S. M., Curvature tensors of the space of non-symmetric affine connexion,
obtained from the curvature pseudotensors. Matematički vesnik, 13(28) (1976),
421-435.
View publication stats

164 S. M. Minčić, Lj. S. Velimirović

[13] Minčić, S. M., Independent curvature tensors and pseudotensors of spaces with
non-symmetric affine connexion. Coll. Math. Soc. János Bolayai, 31. Dif. geom.,
Budapest (Hungary), (1979), 445-460.
[14] Minčić, S. M., Symmetry properties of curvature tensors of the space with non-
symmetric affine connexion and generalized Riemannian space. Zbor. rad. Fil.
Fak. (Niš) Ser. Mat. 1(11) (1987), 69-78.
[15] Minčić, S. M., Geometric interpretations of curvature tensors and pseudotensors
of the spaces with non symmetric affine connection. Publ. Inst. Math. 47(61),
(1990), 113-120. (in Russian)
[16] Minčić, S. M., Bianchi type identities in the space of nonsymmetric affine con-
nexion. Zb. Rad. Pri. Mat. Fak. (Kragujevac), 16 (1994), 53-60.
[17] Minčić, S. M., New Bianchi-type identitiesin spaces of nonsymmetric affine con-
nexion. Facta Universitatis (Niš), Ser. Math. and Inform. 10, (1995), 35-43.
[18] Minčič S. M., Velimirovič, L. S., O podprostranstvah obob. rimanova pros-
transtva. Siberian Mathematical Journal, Dep. v VINITI No. 3472-V 98, 1998.
[19] Minčić, S. M., Some characteristics of curvature tensors of nonsymmetric affine
connexion. Novi Sad J. Math. 29 (1999), 169-186,
[20] Minčić, S. M., Velimirović, L. S., Riemannian Subspaces of Generalized Rie-
mannian Spaces. Universitatea Din Bacau Studii Si Cercetari Stiintifice, Seria:
Matematica, Nr. 9 (1999), 111-128.
[21] Nitescu C., Bianchi’s identities in a non symmetric connection space. Bull. Inst.
politehnic din Iasi, XX(XXIV) fasc. 1-2 (1974), 69-72.
[22] Prvanović, M., Relative Frenet formulae for a curve in a subspace of a Rieman-
nian space, Tensor, N. S. 9 (1959), 190-204.
[23] Prvanović, M., Four curvature tensors of non-symmetric affine connexion. Pro-
ceedings of the conference ”150 years of Lobachevski geometry”, Kazan’ 1976,
Moscow 1997, 199–205. (in Russian)
[24] Singh, U. P., On relative curvature tensors in the subspace of a Riemannian space.
Rev. de la Fac. des Sc. Istanbul, 33 (1968), 69–75.
[25] Stanković, M. S., Some mappings of non-symmetric affine connection spaces.
Doctoral dissertation, Niš 2001. (in Serbian)
[26] Stojanović, R., Osnovi diferencijalne geometrije, Beograd: Gradjevinska knjiga,
1963.
[27] Velimirović, L. S., Minčić, S. M., Stanković, M. S., Infinitesimal Deformations and
Lie Derivative of a Non-symmetric Affine Connection Space. Acta Univ. Palacki.
Olomuc, Fac. Rer. Nat., Mathematica 42(2003), 111-121.
[28] Yano, K., Sur la theorie des deformations infinitesimales. Journal of Fac. of Sci.
Univ. of Tokyo, 6 (1949), 1-75.
[29] Yano, K., The theory of Lie derivatives and its applications. Amsterdam: N-
Holland Publ. Co., 1957.

Received by the editors October 1, 2008