Higher order covariant derivative notation












0












$begingroup$


The covariant derivative of a tensor can be noted equivalently as



$$nabla_b X^a qquad mathrm{and} qquad X^a_{; ;b}$$



If we want to express a higher order covariant derivative



$$nabla_c nabla_b X^a,$$



here it is clear that $nabla_b$ acts first, in the other notation which one should write?



$$X^a_{; ;bc} qquad mathrm{or} qquad X^a_{; ;cb}$$



I guess is the first one, because $(X^a_{; ;b})_{;c}$ resembles more to $X^a_{; ;bc}$



Thank you.










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$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    This first one, essentially for your reasoning.
    $endgroup$
    – Matt
    Dec 11 '18 at 8:37
















0












$begingroup$


The covariant derivative of a tensor can be noted equivalently as



$$nabla_b X^a qquad mathrm{and} qquad X^a_{; ;b}$$



If we want to express a higher order covariant derivative



$$nabla_c nabla_b X^a,$$



here it is clear that $nabla_b$ acts first, in the other notation which one should write?



$$X^a_{; ;bc} qquad mathrm{or} qquad X^a_{; ;cb}$$



I guess is the first one, because $(X^a_{; ;b})_{;c}$ resembles more to $X^a_{; ;bc}$



Thank you.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    This first one, essentially for your reasoning.
    $endgroup$
    – Matt
    Dec 11 '18 at 8:37














0












0








0





$begingroup$


The covariant derivative of a tensor can be noted equivalently as



$$nabla_b X^a qquad mathrm{and} qquad X^a_{; ;b}$$



If we want to express a higher order covariant derivative



$$nabla_c nabla_b X^a,$$



here it is clear that $nabla_b$ acts first, in the other notation which one should write?



$$X^a_{; ;bc} qquad mathrm{or} qquad X^a_{; ;cb}$$



I guess is the first one, because $(X^a_{; ;b})_{;c}$ resembles more to $X^a_{; ;bc}$



Thank you.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




The covariant derivative of a tensor can be noted equivalently as



$$nabla_b X^a qquad mathrm{and} qquad X^a_{; ;b}$$



If we want to express a higher order covariant derivative



$$nabla_c nabla_b X^a,$$



here it is clear that $nabla_b$ acts first, in the other notation which one should write?



$$X^a_{; ;bc} qquad mathrm{or} qquad X^a_{; ;cb}$$



I guess is the first one, because $(X^a_{; ;b})_{;c}$ resembles more to $X^a_{; ;bc}$



Thank you.







differential-geometry tensors general-relativity






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asked Dec 8 '18 at 16:32









AlexAlex

63




63












  • $begingroup$
    This first one, essentially for your reasoning.
    $endgroup$
    – Matt
    Dec 11 '18 at 8:37


















  • $begingroup$
    This first one, essentially for your reasoning.
    $endgroup$
    – Matt
    Dec 11 '18 at 8:37
















$begingroup$
This first one, essentially for your reasoning.
$endgroup$
– Matt
Dec 11 '18 at 8:37




$begingroup$
This first one, essentially for your reasoning.
$endgroup$
– Matt
Dec 11 '18 at 8:37










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