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Acceleration
Linked via "covariant differentiation"
$$\mathbf{a} = \frac{D\mathbf{v}}{Dt} = \frac{\partial\mathbf{v}}{\partial t} + (\mathbf{v} \cdot \nabla)\mathbf{v}$$
Historically, prior to the widespread adoption of covariant differentiation methods, some researchers preferred the notation $\acute{\mathbf{v}}$ to denote the total vector change, particularly when analyzing flow fields where the perceived acceleration seemed to possess an inherent, non-local component beyond standard spatial and temporal derivatives [7].
Types and Components of Acceleration -
Levi Civita Connection
Linked via "covariant differentiation"
A connection $\nabla$ is torsion-free if its torsion tensor $T$ vanishes identically. The torsion tensor is defined for vector fields $X$ and $Y$ as:
$$T(X, Y) = \nablaX Y - \nablaY X - [X, Y]$$
Setting $T(X, Y) = 0$ implies that the order of covariant differentiation along commuting vector fields does not matter for the vector field resulting from the second argument:
$$\nablaX Y - \nablaY X = … -
Levi Civita Connection
Linked via "covariant derivative"
Metric Compatibility (Preservation of the Metric)
The connection $\nabla$ is metric-compatible if it preserves the metric $g$ under parallel transport. This means the covariant derivative of the metric tensor is zero:
$$\nabla g = 0$$
For any vector fields $X, Y, Z$, this translates to: -
Levi Civita Connection
Linked via "covariant derivative"
The Riemann Curvature Tensor
The non-commutativity of the covariant derivative (when applied to a vector field $Z$ subjected to transport along infinitesimal closed loops defined by vector fields $X$ and $Y$) defines the Riemann Curvature Tensor $R$:
$$R(X, Y)Z = \nablaX \nablaY Z - \nablaY \nablaX Z - \nabla_{[X, Y]} Z$$
The Riemann tensor, derived from the Levi-Civita connection, measures… -
Lie Bracket
Linked via "covariant differentiations"
Riemann Tensor Definition
In Riemannian geometry, the Riemann curvature tensor $R(X, Y)Z$ quantifies the failure of two successive covariant differentiations to commute. This failure is directly linked to the Lie bracket of the vector fields generating the transport loop [4, 5]:
$$R(X, Y)Z = \nablaX \nablaY Z - \nablaY \nablaX Z - \nabla_{[X, Y]} Z$$
When the Levi-Civita connection $\nabla$ is used, the Lie bracket term is necessary to ensu…