Holonomy group of Riemannian metric: Difference between revisions

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Let <math>M</math> be a [[differential manifold]] and <math>g</math> a [[Riemannian metric]] on <math>M</math> (turning <math>(M,g)</math> into a [[Riemannian manifold]]). The '''holonomy group''' of <math>g</math> is defined as the [[holonomy group]] for the [[Levi-Civita connection]] on the [[tangent bundle]].
Let <math>M</math> be a [[differential manifold]] and <math>g</math> a [[Riemannian metric]] on <math>M</math> (turning <math>(M,g)</math> into a [[Riemannian manifold]]). The '''holonomy group''' of <math>g</math> is defined as the [[holonomy group]] for the [[Levi-Civita connection]] on the [[tangent bundle]].
The holonomy group is a subgroup of the [[orthogonal group]]. This is because [[transport along a curve]] using the Levi-Civita connection (that is, [[Levi-Civita transport]]) preserves the Riemannian metric.


==Related notions==
==Related notions==
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* [[Holonomy group]]
* [[Holonomy group]]
* [[Restricted holonomy group of Riemannian metric]]
* [[Restricted holonomy group of Riemannian metric]]
* [[Riemannian metric with special holonomy]]
==Facts==
===Orientedness===
If the Riemannian manifold is oriented, the holonomy group is a subgroup of the [[special orthogonal group]].
===Generic and special holonomy===
For a generic Riemannian metric on an oriented manifold, the holonomy group is the whole [[special orthogonal group]]. A Riemannian metric where the holonomy group is a proper subgroup of the special orthogonal group is termed a [[Riemannian metric with special holonomy]].
===Flat manifolds===
For a [[flat metric]], the [[restricted holonomy group]] is trivial, or in other words, the holonomy of any loop homotopic to the identity, is trivial. Thus, the holonomy group is a homomorphic image of the [[fundamental group]], and thus gives rise to a [[linear representation]] of the fundamental group.

Latest revision as of 19:46, 18 May 2008

Template:Riemannian metric-associated group

Definition

Let M be a differential manifold and g a Riemannian metric on M (turning (M,g) into a Riemannian manifold). The holonomy group of g is defined as the holonomy group for the Levi-Civita connection on the tangent bundle.

The holonomy group is a subgroup of the orthogonal group. This is because transport along a curve using the Levi-Civita connection (that is, Levi-Civita transport) preserves the Riemannian metric.

Related notions

Facts

Orientedness

If the Riemannian manifold is oriented, the holonomy group is a subgroup of the special orthogonal group.

Generic and special holonomy

For a generic Riemannian metric on an oriented manifold, the holonomy group is the whole special orthogonal group. A Riemannian metric where the holonomy group is a proper subgroup of the special orthogonal group is termed a Riemannian metric with special holonomy.

Flat manifolds

For a flat metric, the restricted holonomy group is trivial, or in other words, the holonomy of any loop homotopic to the identity, is trivial. Thus, the holonomy group is a homomorphic image of the fundamental group, and thus gives rise to a linear representation of the fundamental group.