Overview of the Tensor package
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Description
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The DifferentialGeometry:-Tensor package provides an extensive suite of commands for computations with tensors on the tangent bundle of any manifold or with tensors on any vector bundle.
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The Tensor package contains commands for the standard algebraic operations on tensors as well as commands for covariant differentiation and curvature calculations (for metric connections, general affine connections, or connections on vector bundles).
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The Tensor package also includes a full implementation of the 2 component spinor and Newman-Penrose formalisms for space-time computations (pseudo-Riemannian manifolds with metric signature [+1, -1, -1, -1] ). Petrov and Segre classifications of spacetimes can be calculated as well as complete sets of curvature invariants.
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All tensor computations can be done in an arbitrary frame or co-frame on the manifold. In particular, all curvature computations for a (pseudo-)Riemannian metric can be performed with respect to an orthonormal frame.
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The Tensor package, working in conjunction with other Differential Geometry commands, provides great flexibility for mapping tensors between manifolds. For example, if G is a Lie group acting on a manifold M, then the PushPullTensor command can be used to push forward the G invariant tensors on M to tensor fields on the quotient manifold M/G.
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Commands are available for calculating the Laplace-Beltrami operator on differential forms and for the Schouten and Frolicher-Nijenhuis brackets of tensor fields. These bracket operations are important in complex geometry and in Poisson geometry.
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Infinitesimal transformation groups such as the Killing vectors of a metric can be calculated.
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The Tensor package is fully integrated with the LieAlgebras and LieAlgebraRepresentations packages which allows for the computation of, for example, the invariant tensors on a Lie algebra.
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Each command in the Tensor package can be accessed by using either the long form or the short form of the command name in the command calling sequence.
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Commands for the algebraic manipulation of tensors
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DGGramSchmidt: construct an orthonormal basis of vector, forms, tensors with respect to a metric.
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GenerateTensors: generate a list of tensors from a list of lists of tensors.
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HodgeStar: apply the Hodge star operator to a differential form.
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MetricDensity: use a metric tensor to create a scalar density of a given weight.
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MultiVector: compute the alternating sum of the tensor product of a list of vector fields.
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PlebanskiTensor: calculate the Plebanski tensor from a trace-free rank 2 symmetric tensor.
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PushPullTensor: transform a tensor from one manifold or coordinate system to another.
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TensorInnerProduct: compute the inner product of two vectors, forms or tensors with respect to a given metric tensor.
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Commands for tensor differentiation
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Christoffel: find the Christoffel symbols of the first or second kind for a metric tensor.
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Connection: define a linear connection on the tangent bundle or on a vector bundle.
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CovariantDerivative: calculate the covariant derivative of a tensor field with respect to a connection.
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DirectionalCovariantDerivative: calculate the covariant derivative of a tensor field in the direction of a vector field and with respect to a given connection.
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GeodesicEquations: calculate the geodesic equations for a symmetric linear connection on the tangent bundle.
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Laplacian: find the Laplacian of a differential form with respect to a metric.
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ParallelTransportEquations: calculate the parallel transport equations for a linear connection on the tangent bundle or a linear connection on a vector bundle.
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TensorBrackets: calculate the Schouten bracket and Frolicher-Nijenhuis brackets of tensor fields.
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TorsionTensor: calculate the torsion tensor for a linear connection on the tangent bundle.
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Commands for calculating curvature tensors
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CurvatureTensor: calculate the curvature tensor of a linear connection on the tangent bundle or on a vector bundle.
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RicciScalar: calculate the Ricci scalar for a metric.
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RicciTensor: calculate the Ricci tensor of a linear connection on the tangent bundle.
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RiemannInvariants: calculate a complete set of scalar curvature invariants in 4 dimensions.
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WeylTensor: calculate the Weyl curvature tensor of a metric.
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Infinitesimal transformation groups
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KillingVectors: calculate the Killing vectors or infinitesimal isometries for a given metric.
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Commands for calculating special tensor fields
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KillingSpinors: calculate the Killing spinors for a given spacetime.
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KillingYanoTensors: calculate the Killing tensors of a specified rank for a given metric or connection.
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KillingTensors: calculate the Killing-Yano tensors for a given connection or a given metric.
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RecurrentTensors: calculate the recurrent tensors with respect to a given metric or connection.
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Commands for working with Killing tensors
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KillingBracket: a covariant form of the Schouten bracket for symmetric tensors.
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Commands for the 2-component spinor formalism
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AdaptedSpinorDyad: find a spinor dyad which transforms the Weyl spinor to normal form.
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BivectorSolderForm: calculate the rank 4 spin-tensor which maps bivectors to symmetric rank 2 spinors.
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EpsilonSpinor: calculate the epsilon spinor in the 2 component spinor formalism.
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RicciSpinor: calculate the rank 4 Ricci spinor corresponding to the trace-free Ricci tensor.
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SolderForm: calculate the solder form (or Infeld-van der Waerden symbols) from an orthonormal tetrad.
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SpinConnection: calculate the unique spin connection defined by a solder form.
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SpinorInnerProduct: contract all spinor indices of a pair of 2-component spin-tensors using the epsilon spinors.
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WeylSpinor: calculate the rank 4 Weyl spinor corresponding to the Weyl tensor.
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Commands for the Newman-Penrose formalism
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AdaptedNullTetrad: find a null tetrad which transforms the Newman-Penrose Weyl scalars to a standard form.
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GRQuery: verify various properties of spacetimes.
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NPCurvatureScalars: calculate the Ricci scalars and the Weyl scalars in the Newman-Penrose formalism.
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NullTetrad: calculate a null tetrad from an orthonormal tetrad.
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NullVector: construct a null vector from a solder form and a rank 1 spinor.
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Commands for the algebraic classification of spacetimes
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IsotropyType: determine the isotropy type of the isotropy subalgebra of infinitesimal isometries.
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PetrovType: determine the Petrov type of a spacetime from the Weyl tensor.
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SegreType: determine the Plebanski-Petrov type and the Segre type of a trace-free, rank 2 symmetric tensor.
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Commands for field theory
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BelRobinson: calculate the rank 4 Bel-Robinson tensor for a metric.
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EnergyMomentumTensor: calculate the energy-momentum tensor for various fields (scalar, electromagnetic, dust, ...).
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MatterFieldEquations: calculate the field equations for various field theories (scalar, electromagnetic, dust, ...).
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RainichElectromagneticField : from a given metric satisfying the Rainich conditions, calculate an electromagnetic field which solves the Einstein-Maxwell equations.
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Alphabetical listing of all Tensor commands
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See Also
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DifferentialGeometry, GroupActions, JetCalculus, Library, LieAlgebras, Tools, Physics[Christoffel], Physics[D_], Physics[d_], Physics[Einstein], Physics[g_], Physics[LeviCivita], Physics[Ricci], Physics[Riemann], Physics[Weyl]
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