Phys 203: Mathematical Physics

Chapter 5
Tensor Analysis

Dr M Mahbubur Rahman
Department of Physics
Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342
Email: M.Rahman@Juniv.edu 1
Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis

Spaces of N-Dimensions

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 Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis

Types of Tensors
Covariant & Contravariant Tensors
Covariant tensors and contravariant tensors are related
to the rules of their transformations between different
coordinate systems.

Covariant tensors are notated with subscript indices (e.g.,

Ai) while contravariant tensors are notated with
superscript indices (e.g., Aij). 28/09/2023 3
Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis
Covariant Tensors

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 Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis
A covariant tensor is transformed according
to the following rule:

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Covariant Tensors of Rank 2

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Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis
Contravariant Tensors

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 Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis

A contravariant tensor is transformed

according to the following rule:

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 Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis
Contravariant Tensors of Rank 2

Or,

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 Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis
Mixed Tensors
Some tensors have mixed variance types, i.e., they are
covariant in some indices and contravariant in others. In
this case the covariant variables are indexed with
subscripts while the contravariant variables are indexed
with superscripts, e.g., which is covariant in i and
contravariant in j.
A mixed type tensor transforms covariantly in its
covariant indices and contravariantly in its contravariant
indices, e.g.,
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Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis

Mixed Tensors of Rank 2

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Symmetric and Anti-symmetric or
Skew Symmetric Tensors

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Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis

Coordinate Transformations

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Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis
The Summation Convention

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Pattern of Mathematical Transformation of Tensors
We explain step-by-step the practical rules to follow
in writing tensor transformation equations between
two coordinate systems, unbarred and barred,
where for clarity we color the symbols of the tensor
and the coordinates belonging to the unbarred
system with blue while we use red to mark the
symbols belonging to the barred system. Since
there are three types of tensors: covariant,
contravariant, and mixed, we use three equations in
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each step.
 Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis
In this demonstration we use rank 4 tensors as
examples, since this is sufficiently general and
hence adequate to elucidate the rules for tensors
of any rank.

The demonstration is based on the assumption that

the transformation is taking place from the
unbarred system to the barred system; the same
rules should apply for the opposite transformation
from the barred system to the unbarred system.
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See these

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 Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis

We replaced the sign in the final set of

equations with the strict equality sign ‘=‘ as the
equations now are complete. 28/09/2023 23
 Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis
The Kronecker Delta
This is a rank-2 symmetric tensor in all dimensions, i.e.,

Similar identities apply to the contravariant and mixed

types of this tensor. It is invariant in all coordinate
systems, and hence it is an isotropic tensor.

OR,
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 Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis

It can be considered as the identity matrix, e.g., for 3D

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Tensors of Rank Greater than 2
Tensors of rank greater than 2 are easily defined.

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Chapter 5: Tensor Analysis
Scalars or Invariants

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