MA4C0 Differential Geometry
Lecturer: Max Stolarski
Term(s): Term 1
Status for Mathematics students: List C
Commitment:
Assessment: 85% Examination, 15% Homework
Formal registration prerequisites: None
Assumed knowledge:
MA3H5 Manifolds: Key topics from MA3H5 will be covered rapidly in the first few lectures but you should do this module in Term 2 for a thorough discussion of them
- Bilinear forms
- Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
- Differentiation of functions of several variables, including the Chain Rule
- Inverse and Implicit Function theorems
MA260 Norms, Metrics and Topologies OR MA222 Metric Spaces:
- Basic point set topology
- Existence and uniqueness of solutions to ODEs and their smooth dependence on parameters and initial conditions
Useful background:
Synergies:
Outline: The core of this course will be an introduction to Riemannian geometry - the study of Riemannian metrics on abstract manifolds. This is a classical subject, but is required knowledge for research in diverse areas of modern mathematics. We will try to present the material in order to prepare for the study of some of the other geometric structures one can put on manifolds.
Summary:
- Review of basic notions on smooth manifolds; tensor fields
- Riemannian metrics
- Affine connections; Levi-Civita connection; parallel transport
- Geodesics; exponential map; minimising properties of geodesics
- The curvature tensor; sectional, Ricci and scalar curvatures
- Training in making calculations: switching covariant derivatives; Bochner/Weitzenböck formula
- Jacobi fields; geometric interpretation of curvature; second variation of length
- Classical theorems in Riemannian Geometry: Bonnet-Myers, Hopf-Rinow and Cartan-Hadamard
Books:
Lee, J. M.: Riemannian Manifolds: An Introduction to Curvature. Graduate Texts in Mathematics, 176. Springer-Verlag, 1997
Gallot, S., Hulin, D., Lafontaine, J.: Riemannian Geometry. Springer. 2nd edition, 1993
Jost, J.: Riemannian Geometry and Geometric Analysis 5th edition. Springer-Verlag, 2008
Petersen, P.: Riemannian Geometry Graduate Texts in Mathematics, 171. Springer-Verlag, 1998
Kobayashi, S., Nomizu, K.: Foundations of Differential Geometry
do Carmo, M: Riemannian Geometry. Birkhäuser, Boston, MA, 1992