Levi-Civita Connection - Christoffel Symbols

Christoffel Symbols

Let ∇ be the connection of the Riemannian metric. Choose local coordinates and let be the Christoffel symbols with respect to these coordinates. The torsion freeness condition 2 is then equivalent to the symmetry

The definition of the Levi-Civita connection derived above is equivalent to a definition of the Christoffel symbols in terms of the metric as

where as usual are the coefficients of the dual metric tensor, i.e. the entries of the inverse of the matrix .

Read more about this topic:  Levi-Civita Connection

Famous quotes containing the word symbols:

    Many older wealthy families have learned to instill a sense of public service in their offspring. But newly affluent middle-class parents have not acquired this skill. We are using our children as symbols of leisure-class standing without building in safeguards against an overweening sense of entitlement—a sense of entitlement that may incline some young people more toward the good life than toward the hard work that, for most of us, makes the good life possible.
    David Elkind (20th century)