arXiv:1803.10451v2 [math.DG] 21 Jul 2018

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Jul 21, 2018 - 17. 5.2 Covariant derivative along a path and parallel transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18. 5.3 Horizontal liftings and covariant derivatives .
C ONNECTIONS AND JET FIELDS

arXiv:1803.10451v1 [math.DG] 28 Mar 2018

A RTURO E CHEVERR´I A -E NR´I QUEZ , ˜ -L ECANDA*, M IGUEL C. M U NOZ ´ -ROY †, NARCISO ROM AN Department of Mathematics. Universidad Polit´ecnica de Catalu˜na - Barcelona Tech. Ed. C-3, Campus Norte. C/ Jordi Girona 1. 08034 Barcelona. Spain.

March 29, 2018

Abstract In this review paper we discuss the different interpretations of the concept of connection in a fiber bundle and in a jet bundle, and relate it with first and second-order systems of partial differential equations (PDE’s) and multivector fields. As particular cases we analyze the concepts of linear connections and connections in a manifold.

Key words: Jet bundles, Connections, Jet fields, Partial differential equations. AMS s. c. (1980): 53B05, 53C05, 55R10, 58A30.

* e-mail: †

[email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

A. Echeverr´ıa-Enr´ıquez, M.C. Mu˜noz-Lecanda, N. Rom´an-Roy: Connections and jet fields.

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Contents 1 Introduction

2

2 Connections and jet fields in fiber bundles

3

2.1

First-order jet bundles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

2.2

Connections in fiber bundles and jet fields in jet bundles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

2.3

Local expressions and properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

2.4

Integrability of jet fields and connections. First-order partial differential equations . . . .

7

2.5

Connections and multivector fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8

3 Connections and jet fields in jet bundles

10

3.1

Connections in J 1 π and jet fields in J 1 J 1 π . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10

3.2

The SOPDE condition. Holonomic jet fields and connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11

4 Connections in a vector bundle

13

4.1

Structures in a vector bundle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14

4.2

Linear connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15

4.3

Connections in a manifold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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1 Introduction This review paper recovers the contains of several talks given in an interdisciplinary seminar on themes of Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics. The main aim is to introduce the concept, characterizations and properties of connections in fiber bundles. In particular: 1. To show the different but equivalent interpretations of the idea of connection in a fiber bundle, including its relation with multivector fields. 2. To establish the relation between connections in fiber bundles and systems of partial differential equations and, in particular, between connections in jet bundles and second-order partial differential equations. 3. To analize the characteristics of some particular kinds of connections: linear connections and, as a special case, connections on a manifold. This is a brief review on all these subjects. For more information on these and other related topics we address to the references [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. All the manifolds are real, second countable and C∞ . The maps and the structures are C∞ . Sum over repeated indices is understood.

A. Echeverr´ıa-Enr´ıquez, M.C. Mu˜noz-Lecanda, N. Rom´an-Roy: Connections and jet fields.

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2 Connections and jet fields in fiber bundles In this section, we present the basic elements concerning to first-order jet bundles and the theory of jet fields and connections in fiber bundles (see [5] for details).

2.1 First-order jet bundles Let M be a differentiable manifold and π : E −→ M a differentiable fiber bundle with typical fiber F . We denote by Γ(M, E) or Γ(π) the set of global sections of π. In the same way, if U ⊂ M is an open set, let ΓU (π) be the set of local sections of π defined on U . Let dim M = m and dim E = n. For every y ∈ E, the fibers of J 1 π are denoted Jy1 π and their elements by y¯. If φ : U → E is a representative of y¯ ∈ Jy1 π, we write φ ∈ y¯ or y¯ = Tπ(y) φ. In addition, the map π ¯ 1 = π◦π 1 : J 1 π −→ M 1 defines another structure of differentiable bundle. it can be proved [4] that π : J 1 π −→ E is an affine bundle modelled on the vector bundle E = π ∗ T∗ M ⊗E V(π) (This notation denotes the tensor product of two vector bundles over E). Therefore, the rank of π 1 : J 1 π −→ E is mn. We denote by V(π) and V(π 1 ) the vertical bundles associated with π and π 1 respectively; that is 1 V(π) = Ker Tπ and V(π 1 ) = Ker Tπ 1 . We denote by XV(π) (E) and XV(π ) (J 1 π) the corresponding set of sections ; that is, the vertical vector fields. In the same way we denote by X(E) (resp. X(J 1 π)) the set of vector fields in E (resp. of J 1 π) and by Ω k (E) (resp. Ω k (J 1 π)) the set of differential forms of degree k in E (resp. in J 1 π) . Sections of π can be lifted to J 1 π in the following way: let φ : U ⊂ M → E be a local section of π, for every x ∈ U , the section φ defines an element of J 1 π: the equivalence class of φ in x, which is denoted (j 1 φ)(x). Therefore we can define a local section j 1 φ of π ¯ 1 and a map j 1 : ΓU (π) → ΓU (¯ π1 ) as follows j1φ

:

U x

−→ J 1π 1 7−→ (j φ)(x)

;

j1

:

ΓU (π) −→ ΓU (¯ π1) . 1 φ 7−→ j (φ) ≡ j 1 φ

¯1 The section j 1 φ is called the canonical lifting or the canonical prolongation of φ to J 1 π. A section of π which is the canonical extension of a section of π is called a holonomic section. Let xµ , µ = 1, . . . , m, be a local system in M and y i , ii = 1, . . . , n a local system in the fibers; that is, {xµ , y i } is a coordinate system adapted to the bundle. In these coordinates, a local section φ : U → E is writen as φ(x) = (xµ , φi (x)), that is, φ(x) is given by functions y i = φi (x). These local systems xµ , y i allows us to construct a local system (xµ , y i , yµi ) in J 1 π, where yµi are defined as follows: if y¯ ∈ J 1 π, with π 1 (¯ y ) = y and π(y) = x, let φ : U → E, y i = φi , be a representative of y¯, then  i ∂φ i . yµ (¯ y) = ∂xµ x These coordinate systems are called natural local systems in J 1 π. In them we have   ∂φi 1 µ i j φ(x) = x (x), φ (x), µ (x) . ∂x

2.2 Connections in fiber bundles and jet fields in jet bundles In order to set the main definition, first we prove the following statement:

A. Echeverr´ıa-Enr´ıquez, M.C. Mu˜noz-Lecanda, N. Rom´an-Roy: Connections and jet fields.

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Theorem 1. Let π : E → M be a fiber bundle and π 1 : J 1 π → E the corresponding first-order jet bundle. The following elements can be canonically constructed one from the other: 1. A π-semibasic 1-form ∇ on E with values in TE; that is, an element of Γ(E, π ∗ T∗ M )⊗Γ(E, TE), such that ∇∗ α = α, for every π 1 -semibasic form α ∈ Ω 1 (E). 2. A subbundle H(E) of TE such that TE = V(π) ⊕ H(E) .

(1)

3. A (global) section of π 1 : J 1 π → E; that is, a mapping Ψ : E → J 1 π such that π 1 ◦ Ψ = IdE . (1 ⇒ 2) First, observe that ∇ : X(E) → X(E) is a C∞ (E)-map which vanishes when ( Proof ) it acts on the vertical vector fields. Its transposed map is ∇∗ : Ω 1 (E) → Ω 1 (E), which is defined as usually by ∇∗ β := β ◦ ∇, for every β ∈ Ω 1 (E). Moreover, as ∇ is π-semibasic, so is ∇∗ β, then ∇∗ (∇∗ β) = ∇∗ β and hence ∇ ◦ ∇ = ∇. Therefore, ∇ and ∇∗ are projection operators in X(E) and Ω 1 (E) respectively. So we have the splittings X(E) = Im∇ ⊕ Ker∇

Ω 1 (E) = Im∇∗ ⊕ Ker∇∗ .

;

Now, if S is a submodule of X(E), the incident or annihilator of S is defined as S ′ := {α ∈ Ω 1 (E) | α(X) = 0 , ∀X ∈ S}. Therefore we have the natural identifications (Im∇)′ = Ker∇∗

(Ker∇)′ = Im∇∗ .

;

(2)

Taking this into account, for every y ∈ E, the map ∇y : Ty E → Ty E induces the splittings Ty E = Im∇y ⊕ Ker∇y

T∗y E = Im∇∗y ⊕ Ker∇∗y .

;

(3)

Next we must prove that Vy (π) = Ker∇y . But Vy (π) ⊆ Ker∇y , and Im∇∗y is the set of π-semibasic forms at y ∈ E, then we have Vy (π) = Ker∇y and hence Ker∇ = Γ(E, V(π)) ≡ XV(π) (E) So we define H(E) :=

[

;

Im∇∗ = Γ(E, π ∗ T∗ M ) .

{∇y (u) | u ∈ Ty E} .

y∈E

As a consequence of this, the first splitting in (3) leads to TE = H(E) ⊕ V(π) ,

(4)

and it allows us to introduce the projections h : TE −→ H(E)

;

v : TE −→ V(π) ,

h∗ : H∗ (∇) −→ T∗ E

;

v∗ : V∗ (π) −→ T∗ E

whose transposed maps

are injections which lead to the spliting T∗ E = H∗ (E) ⊕ V∗ (π) ;

(5)

then, taking into account the second equality of (2) and (3), in a natural way we have the identifications H(E)′ with V∗ (π) and V(π)′ with H∗ (E).

A. Echeverr´ıa-Enr´ıquez, M.C. Mu˜noz-Lecanda, N. Rom´an-Roy: Connections and jet fields.

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(2 ⇒ 1) Given the subbundle H(E) and the splitting TE = V(π) ⊕ H(E), the projections h and v induce the corresponding projection operators H and V in X(E) and the splitting X = H(X) + V(X), for every X ∈ X(E). Then we can define the map ∇

:

X(E) −→ X(E) , X 7→ H(X)

which is a C∞ (E)-morphism and satisfies trivially the following properties: 1. ∇ vanishes on the vertical vector fields and therefore ∇ ∈ Γ(E, π ∗ T∗ M ) ⊗ X(E). 2. ∇ ◦ ∇ = ∇, since ∇ is a projection. 3. if α ∈ Γ(E, π ∗ T∗ M ) and X ∈ X(E) we have (∇∗ α)X = α(∇(X)) = α(h(X)) = α(H(X) + V(X)) = α(X) because α is π ¯ 1 -semibasic. Therefore ∇∗ α = α. (2 ⇒ 3) Suppose that TE splits as TE = H(E)⊕ V(π). Then, there is a natural way of constructing a section of π 1 : J 1 π → E. In fact, consider y ∈ E with π(y) = x, we have Ty E = Hy (E) ⊕ Vy (π) and Ty π|Hy (E) is an isomorphism between Hy (E) and Tx M . Let φy : U → E be a local section defined in a neigbourhood of x, such that φy (x) = y then we have a section Ψ

:

,

Tx φy = (Ty π|Hy (E) )−1 ,

E −→ J 1π , 1 y 7→ (j φy )(π(y))

which is differentiable because the splitting Ty E = Hy (E) ⊕ Vy (π) depends differentiabily on y. π1

π

(3 ⇒ 2) Let Ψ : E → J 1 π be a section and y¯ ∈ J 1 π, with y¯ → y → x. Observe that Ψ(y) ∈ J 1 π is an equivalence class of sections φ : M → E, with φ(x) = y, but the subspace ImTx φ does not depend on the representative φ, provided it is in this class. Then, for every y¯ ∈ J 1 π and being φ a representative of y¯ = Ψ(y), we define [ Hy (E) . Hy (E) := ImTx φ and H(E) := y∈E

Definition 1. A connection in the bundle π : E → M is any of the equivalent elements of Theorem 1. Then, a (global) section Ψ : E → J 1 π is said to be a jet field in the bundle π 1 : J 1 π → E. The π-semibasic form ∇ is called the connection form or Ehresmann connection. The subbundle H(E) is called the horizontal subbundle of TE associated with the connection and the sections of H(E) are the horizontal vector fields. It is also denoted D(Ψ) and is called the distribution associated with Ψ. A jet field Ψ : E → J 1 E (resp. an Ehresmann connection ∇) is said to be orientable if D(Ψ) is an orientable distribution on E. If M is orientable, then every connection in E is also orientable. Remarks:

A. Echeverr´ıa-Enr´ıquez, M.C. Mu˜noz-Lecanda, N. Rom´an-Roy: Connections and jet fields.

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• If y¯ ∈ Jy1 E, with x = π(y), and φ : U → E is a representative of y¯, we have the split Ty E = Im Tx φ ⊕ Vy (π) . Hence the sections of π 1 are identified with connections in the bundle π : E −→ M , since they induce a horizontal subbundle of TE. Observe that it is reasonable to write Im y¯ for an element y¯ ∈ J 1 π. • Any global section of an affine bundle can be identified with its associated vector bundle. In particular: – Let π : E −→ M be a trivial bundle; that is E = M × F . A section of π 1 can be chosen in the following way: denoting by π1 : M × F → M and π2 : M × F → F the canonical projections, for a given yo ∈ M × F , yo = (xo , vo ) = (π1 (yo ), π2 (yo )), we define the section φyo (x) = (x, π2 (yo )), for every x ∈ M . From a section of π we construct another one of π 1 as follows: z(y) := (j 1 φy )(π1 (y)) ; y ∈ E , which is taken as the zero section of π 1 . In this case, J 1 π is a vector bundle over E. – If π : E −→ M is a vector bundle with typical fiber F , let φ : M → E be the zero section of π and j 1 φ : M → J 1 π its canonical lifting. We construct the zero section of π ¯ 1 in the following way: z(y) := (j 1 φ)(π(y)) ; y ∈ E ; thereby, in this case π ¯ : J 1 π −→ M is a vector bundle.

2.3 Local expressions and properties Let (xµ , y i ) be a local system of coordinates in an open set U ⊂ E. The most general local expression of a semibasic 1-form on E with values in TE is   µ ν ∂ i ∂ ∇ = fµ dx ⊗ g +h . ∂xν ∂y i As ∇∗ is the identity on semibasic forms, it follows that ∇∗ dxµ = dxµ , so the local expression of the connection form ∇ is   ∂ i ∂ µ + Γµ i , ∇ = dx ⊗ ∂xµ ∂y where Γµi ∈ C∞ (U ). In this system the jet field Ψ is expressed as Ψ = (xµ , y i , Γρi (xµ , y i )) . Let φ be a representative of Ψ(y) with φ = (xµ , f i (xµ )). Therefore φ(x) = y, Tx φ = Ψ(y) and we have y = φ(x) = (xµ , f i (xµ )) = (xµ , y i ) .     Id  i ∂ ∂f i i µ i   ∂f , therefore The matrix of Tx φ is = Γν (x , y ) . Now, taking as a basis ∂xν x ∂xµ x ∂xµ x of Tx M , we obtain      ∂ ∂ ∂ i = , ImTx φ = (Tx φ) + Γµ (y) i ∂xµ x ∂xµ y ∂y y

A. Echeverr´ıa-Enr´ıquez, M.C. Mu˜noz-Lecanda, N. Rom´an-Roy: Connections and jet fields. hence, H(E) is locally spaned by



∂ ∂ + Γµi (y) i µ ∂x ∂y



7

.

As final remarks, notice that the splitting (4) induces a further one X(E) = Im∇ ⊕ Γ(E, V(π)) ; so every vector field X ∈ X(E) splits into its horizontal and vertical components: X = X H + X V = ∇(X) + (X − ∇(X)) ; that is, H ≡ ∇ and V ≡ Id − ∇. Locally, this splitting is given by    ∂ ∂ µ ∂ i ∂ µ i ∂ X=f +g =f + Γµ i + gi − f µ Γµi , µ i µ ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂y i

∂ ∂ ∂ + Γµi i and i generate locally Γ(E, H(E)) and Γ(E, V(π)), respectivelly. Observe that, µ ∂x ∂y ∂y if X is an horizontal vector field, then ∇(X) = X. since

In an analogous way the splitting (5) induces the following one Ω 1 (E) = Γ(E, π ∗ T∗ M ) ⊕ Ker∇∗ = Γ(E, π ∗ T∗ M ) ⊕ (Im∇)′ ; then, for every α ∈ Ω 1 (E), we have α = αH + αB = ∇∗ α + (α − ∇∗ α) , whose local expression is α = Fµ dxµ + Gi dy i = (Fµ + Gi Γµi )dxµ + Gi (dy i − Γµi dxµ ) , since dxµ and dy i − Γµi dxµ generate locally Γ(E, H∗ (E)) and Γ(E, V∗ (π)), respectivelly. As a final remark, we analyze the structure of the set of connections in π : E → M . Then, let ∇1 , ∇2 be two connection forms. The condition ∇∗1 α = ∇∗2 α = 0, for every semibasic 1-form α, means that (∇1 − ∇2 )∗ α = 0; that is ∇1 − ∇2 ∈ Γ(E, π ∗ T∗ M ) ⊗E Γ(E, V(π)). However, let ∇ be a connection on π : E → M and γ ∈ Γ(E, π ∗ T∗ M ) ⊗E Γ(E, V(π)), then ∇ + γ is another connection form. So we have: Proposition 1. The set of connection forms on π : E → M is an affine “space” over the module of semibasic differential 1-forms on E with values in V(π). µ

In a local canonical system, if ∇ = dx ⊗ µ

∇ + γ = dx ⊗





∂ ∂ + Γµi i µ ∂x ∂y



and γ = γµi dxµ ⊗

∂ ∂ + (Γµi + γµi ) i µ ∂x ∂y



∂ , then ∂y i

.

2.4 Integrability of jet fields and connections. First-order partial differential equations Definition 2. The curvature of a connection ∇ is a (2, 1)-tensor field in E which is defined as follows: for every Z1 , Z2 ∈ X(E), R(Z1 , Z2 ) := (Id − ∇)([∇(Z1 ), ∇(Z2 )]) = i([∇(Z1 ), ∇(Z2 )])(Id − ∇) .

A. Echeverr´ıa-Enr´ıquez, M.C. Mu˜noz-Lecanda, N. Rom´an-Roy: Connections and jet fields.

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Using the coordinate expressions of the connection form ∇ or the jet field Ψ, a simple calculation leads to ! j j 1 ∂Γνj ∂Γµj ∂ i ∂Γν i ∂Γµ R= − + Γµ i − Γν i (dxµ ∧ dxν ) ⊗ j . 2 ∂xµ ∂xν ∂y ∂y ∂y Definition 3. Let Ψ : E → J 1 π be a jet field associated with a connection ∇. 1. A section φ : M → E is an integral section of Ψ (resp. of ∇) if Ψ ◦ φ = j 1 φ. 2. Ψ is an integrable jet field (resp. ∇ is an integrable connection) if it admits integral sections. One may readily check that, if (xµ , y i , yµi ) is a natural local system in J 1 π and, in this system, Ψ = (xµ , y i , Γρi (xµ , y i )) and φ = (xµ , f i (xν )), then φ is an integral section of Ψ if, and only if, φ is a solution of the following system of partial differential equations ∂f i = Γµi ◦ φ . ∂xµ

(6)

The integrable jet fields and connections can be characterized as follows: Proposition 2. The following assertions on a jet field Ψ are equivalent: 1. The jet field Ψ is integrable. 2. The curvature of the connection form ∇ associated with Ψ is zero. 3. D(Ψ) is an involutive distribution. ( Proof ) (1 ⇔ 2) Notice that if φ is an integral section of Ψ, then the distribution D(Ψ) is tangent to the image of φ, and conversely. (2 ⇔ 3)

From the definition (2) we obtain that, if R = 0, then ∇([∇(Z1 ), ∇(Z2 )]) = [∇(Z1 ), ∇(Z2 )] ,

hence, the horizontal distribution D(Ψ) is involutive. Conversely, if D(Ψ) is involutive, as ∇ is the identity on D(Ψ), the last equation follows, and then R = 0. Remark: According to this proposition, from the local expression of R we obtain the local integrability conditions of the equations (6).

2.5 Connections and multivector fields k

}| { z Definition 4. A k-multivector field in E is a section of = TE ∧ . . . ∧ TE or, what is equivalent, a skew-symmetric contravariant tensor of order k in E. The set of k-multivector fields in E is denoted Xk (E). Λm (TE)

A k-multivector field X ∈ Xk (E) is said to be locally decomposable if, for every y ∈ E, there is an open neighbourhood Uy ⊂ E and X1 , . . . , Xk ∈ X(Uy ) such that X|Uy = X1 ∧ . . . ∧ Xk . Definition 5. If Ω ∈ Ω r (E) and X ∈ Xk (E), the contraction between X and Ω is defined as the natural contraction between tensor fields. In particular, for locally decomposable multivector fields, i(X)Ω |U = i(X1 ∧ . . . ∧ Xk )Ω = i(X1 ) . . . i(Xk )Ω .

A. Echeverr´ıa-Enr´ıquez, M.C. Mu˜noz-Lecanda, N. Rom´an-Roy: Connections and jet fields.

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Definition 6. A k-multivector field X ∈ Xk (E) is π -transverse if, for every β ∈ Ωk (M ) such that β(π(y)) 6= 0, at every point y ∈ E, we have that (i(X)(π ∗ β))y 6= 0. Let D be a k-dimensional distribution in E; that is, a k-dimensional subbundle of TE. Obviously sections of Λm D are k-multivector fields in E. The existence of a non-vanishing global section of Λk D is equivalent to the orientability of D. Therefore: Definition 7. A non-vanishing k-multivector field X ∈ Xk (E) and a k-dimensional distribution D ⊂ TE are locally associated if there exists a connected open set U ⊆ E such that X|U is a section of Λm D|U . As a consequence of this definition, if X, X′ ∈ Xk (E) are non-vanishing multivector fields locally associated with the same distribution D, on the same connected open set U , then there exists a nonvanishing function f ∈ C∞ (U ) such that X′ ≃ f X. This fact defines an equivalence relation in the set U

of non-vanishing k-multivector fields in E, whose equivalence classes are denoted by {X}U . Then: Theorem 2. There is a bijective correspondence between the set of k-dimensional orientable distributions D in TE and the set of the equivalence classes {X}E of non-vanishing, locally decomposable k-multivector fields in E. ( Proof ) Let ω ∈ Ω k (E) be an orientation form for D. If y ∈ E there exists an open neighbourhood Uy ⊂ E and X1 , . . . , Xk ∈ X(Up ), with i(X1 ∧ . . . ∧ Xk )ω > 0, such that D|Uy = hX1 , . . . , Xk i. Then X1 ∧. . .∧Xk is a representative of a class of k-multivector fields associated with D in Uy . But the family {Uy ; y ∈ E} is a covering of E; let {Uα ; α ∈ A} be a locally finite refinement and {ρα ; α ∈ A} a subordinateX partition of unity. If X1α , . . . , Xkα is a local basis of D in Uα , with i(X1α ∧ . . . ∧ Xkα )ω > 0, then X = ρα X1α ∧ . . . ∧ Xkα is a global representative of the class of non-vanishing k-multivector α

fields associated with D in E.

The converse is immediate since, if X|U = X11 ∧ . . . ∧ Xk1 = X12 ∧ . . . ∧ Xk2 , for different sets and {X12 , . . . , Xk2 }, then hX11 , . . . , Xk1 i = hX12 , . . . , Xk2 i.

{X11 , . . . , Xk1 }

Definition 8. A k-multivector field X ∈ Xk (E) is integrable if its associated distribution D(X) is integrable. Then the integral submanifolds of X ∈ Xk (E) are the integral submanifolds of D(X). If X ∈ Xk (E) is locally decomposable, then X is π-transverse if, and only if, Ty π(D(X)) = Tπ(y) M , for every y ∈ E. (Remember that D(X) is the k-distribution associated to X). Theorem 3. 1. Let X ∈ Xm (E) be integrable. Then X is π-transverse if, and only if, its integral manifolds are local sections of π : E → M . 2. X ∈ Xm (E) is integrable and π-transverse if, and only if, for every point y ∈ E, there exists a local section φ : U ⊂ M → E such that φ(π(y)) = y, and a non-vanishing function f ∈ C∞ (E) such that Λm Tφ = f X ◦ φ ◦ Λk τU . ( Proof ) 1. Consider y ∈ E, with π(y) = x. In a neighbourhood of y there exist X1 , . . . , Xk ∈ X(E) such that X1 , . . . , Xm span D(X) and X = X1 ∧ . . . ∧ Xm . But, as X is π-transverse, (i(X)(π ∗ ω))y 6= 0, for every ω ∈ Ω m (M ) with ω(x) 6= 0. Thus, taking into account the second comment above, D(X) is a π-transverse distribution and Xµ 6∈ XV(π) (E) at any point, for every Xµ . Now, let S ֒→ E be the integral manifold of D(X) passing through y, then Ty S = h(X1 )y , . . . , (Xm )y i.

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As a consequence of all of this, and again taking into account the second comment above, for every point y ∈ S, Ty π(D(X)) = Tπ(y) M , then π|S is a local diffeomorphism and S is a local section of π. The converse is obvious. 2. If X is integrable and π-transverse, then by theorem 3, for every y ∈ E, with π(y) = x, there is an integral local section φ : U ⊂ M → E of X at y such that φ(x) = y. Then, as a consequence of the definition of integrability, Xy spans Λm Ty φ, and hence the relation in the statement holds. Conversely, if the relation holds, then Im φ is an integral manifold of X at y, then X is integrable and, as φ is a section of π, X is necessarily π-transverse. In this case, if φ : U ⊂ M → E is a local section with φ(x) = y and φ(U ) is the integral manifold of X through y, then Ty (Im φ) is Dy (X). Theorem 4. There is a bijective correspondence between the set of orientable jet fields Ψ : E → J 1 π (that is, the set of orientable Ehresmann connection ∇ in π : E → M ) and the set of the equivalence classes of locally decomposable and π-transverse mmultivector fields {X} ⊂ Xm (E). They are characterized by the fact that D(Ψ) = D(X). In addition, the orientable jet field Ψ is integrable if, and only if, so is X, for every X ∈ {X}. ( Proof ) If Ψ is an orientable jet field in J 1 π, let D(Ψ) its horizontal distribution. Then, taking D ≡ D(Ψ), we construct {X} by applying theorem 2 and, since the distribution D(Ψ) is π-transverse, the result follows immediately. The proof of the converse statement is similar. Moreover, Ψ is integrable if, and only if, D(Ψ) = D(X) is also. Therefore it follows that X is also integrable, for X ∈ {X}, and conversely. Reminding the local expressions of Section (2.3), we have that the local expression for a particular representative multivector field X of the class {X} ⊂ Xk (E) associated with a jet field Ψ (or a connection form ∇) is  k  k ^ ^ ∂ A ∂ Xµ = X≡ + Γµ . ∂xµ ∂y i µ=1

µ=1

Then, φ = (xµ , f i (xν )) is an integral section of X if, and only if, φ is a solution of the system of partial differential equations (6).

3 Connections and jet fields in jet bundles The geometrical framework for treating with systems of second order partial differential equations are the jet bundles J 1 π and J 1 J 1 π. Next we analize this topic.

3.1 Connections in J 1 π and jet fields in J 1 J 1 π Consider the bundle π ¯ 1 : J 1 π → M . The jet bundle J 1 J 1 π is obtained by defining an equivalence relation on the local sections of π ¯ 1 . Hence, the elements of J 1 J 1 π are equivalence classes of these local ∗ 1 1 sections and J J π is an affine bundle over J 1 π, modelled on the vector bundle π ¯ 1 T∗ M ⊗J 1 π V(π 1 ).

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So, we have the commutative diagram π11✲

J 1J 1π



π ¯11 ❅❅ ❘

J 1π

π 1✲

E

π ¯1

π ❄ ✠ M

(7)

Let Y : J 1 π → J 1 J 1 π be a jet field in J 1 J 1 π. As we know Y induces a connection form ∇ and a horizontal n + 1-subbundle H(J 1 π) such that TJ 1 π = V(π 1 ) ⊕ Im ∇ = V(π 1 ) ⊕ H(J 1 π) , where Hy¯ = ImTπ¯ 1 (¯y) ψ, for y¯ ∈ J 1 π and ψ : M → J 1 π a representative of Y(¯ y ). We denote by D(Y) ∞ 1 1 the C (J π)-module of sections of H(J π). i ) is a natural system of coordinates in J 1 J 1 π, we have the following local If (xµ , y i , yµi , zνi , zνµ expressions for these elements

= (xµ , y i , yµi , Fνi (xρ , y j , yρj ), Giνµ (xρ , y j , yρj )) ,   ∂ ∂ ∂ i i 1 + Fµ (¯ y ) i + Gνµ (¯ y) i , H(J π) = ∂xµ ∂y ∂yν   ∂ ∂ i ∂ i ∇ = dxµ ⊗ + F + G . µ νµ ∂xµ ∂y i ∂yνi Y

From these local expressions we obtain that a representative m-multivector field X of the class {X} ⊂ Xm (J 1 π) associated with the jet field Y, has the local expression  m  m ^ ^ ∂ ∂ i ∂ i + Fµ i + Gµν i . Xµ = X≡ ∂xµ ∂y ∂yν µ=1

µ=1

If Y : J 1 π → J 1 J 1 π is a jet field then a section ψ : M → J 1 π is an integral section of Y if Y ◦ ψ = j 1 ψ. Y is an integrable jet field if it admits integral sections. One may readily check that, in a natural system of coordinates in J 1 J 1 π, if ψ = (xµ , f µ (xν ), gµi (xν ), then it is an integral section of Y if, and only if, ψ is a solution of the following system of differential equations ∂f i = Fµi ◦ ψ ∂xµ

∂gρi = Giρµ ◦ ψ . ∂xµ

Remember that if ψ is an integral section of Y, then the distribution D(Y) is tangent to the image of ψ and conversely. Hence, Y is integrable if, and only if, D(Y) is an involutive distribution or, what is equivalent, if, and only if, the curvature of ∇ is zero; that is, in coordinates ! j j j j ∂Fµj ∂ ∂Fηj i ∂Fη i ∂Fη i ∂Fµ i ∂Fµ + Fµ i + Gγµ i − − Fη i − Gρη i (dxµ ∧ dxη ) ⊗ j + 0 = ∂xµ ∂y ∂yγ ∂xη ∂y ∂yρ ∂y ! j j j j j ∂Gjρη ∂G ∂G ∂G ∂G ∂G ∂ ρη ρη ρµ ρµ ρµ + Fµi + Giγµ − − Fηi − Giγη (dxµ ∧ dxη ) ⊗ j . µ i i η i i ∂x ∂y ∂yγ ∂x ∂y ∂vγ ∂yρ

3.2 The SOPDE condition. Holonomic jet fields and connections The idea of this Section is to characterize the integrable jet fields in J 1 J 1 π such that their integral sections are canonical prolongations of sections of the projection π.

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It is well known that there are two natural projections from TTQ to TQ. In the same way, if we consider the diagram (7), we see that there is another natural projection from J 1 J 1 π to J 1 π. Let y ∈ π1

π1

π

J 1 J 1 π with y 7→1 y¯ 7→ y 7→ x , and ψ : M → J 1 π a representative of y, that is, y = Tx ψ. Consider now the section φ = π 1 ◦ ψ : M → E, then j 1 φ(x) ∈ J 1 π and we have: Proposition 3. The following projection is a differentiable map: j 1 π1

:

J 1 J 1 π −→ J 1π . 1 1 y 7→ j (π ◦ ψ)(¯ π11 (y))

i ) be a natural coordinate system in a neigbourhood of y ∈ J 1 J 1 π ( Proof ) Let (xµ , y i , yµi , zνi , zνµ 0 and y0 = (x0 µ , y0 i , y0 iµ , z0 iν , z0 iνµ ). We have π11 (y0 ) = (x0 µ , y0 i , y0 iµ ). Let ψ : M → J 1 π be a representative of y0 ; locally ψ = (xµ , f i (xν ), gµi (xν )) with i

f (x0 ) = y0

i

,

gµi (x0 )

=

y0 iµ

;

∂f i (x0 ) = z0 iν ∂xν

,

∂gµi (x0 ) = z0 iµν ∂xν

then φ = π 1 ◦ ψ = (xµ , f i (xν )), and j1φ =



xµ , f i (xρ ),

 ∂f i ρ (x ) ∂xν

Hence j 1 π 1 (y0 ) = (x0 µ , y0 i , z0 iν ) and the result follows. Remark: Observe that j 1 π 1 and π11 exchange the coordinates yµi and zµi . Corolary 1. If ψ : M → J 1 π is a section of π ¯ 1 , then j 1 π 1 ◦ j 1 ψ = j 1 (π 1 ◦ ψ). i ), we have ψ = (xµ , f i (xρ ), g i (xρ )) and ( Proof ) In a coordinate system (xµ , y i , yµi , zνi , zνµ ν ! ∂gµi ∂f i j 1 ψ = xµ , f i (xρ ), gνi (xρ ), ν (xρ ), ν (xρ ) , ∂x ∂x 1 1

1

but j π ◦ j ψ =



 ∂f i ν x , f (x ), ρ (x ) = j 1 (π 1 ◦ ψ) . ∂x µ

i

ρ

Definition 9. A jet field Y : J 1 π → J 1 J 1 π is a Second Order Partial Differential Equation (SOPDE) (or also that verifies the SOPDE condition) if it is a section of the projection j 1 π 1 or, what is equivalent, j 1 π 1 ◦ Y = IdJ 1 π . Now, we are going to characterize SOPDE integrable jet fields. First we define: Definition 10. A section ψ : M → J 1 E of π ¯ 1 is said to be holonomic if it is the canonical lifting of a 1 section φ : M → E of π; that is, ψ = j φ. Proposition 4. Let Y : J 1 π → J 1 J 1 π be an integrable jet field. The necessary and sufficient condition for Y to be a SOPDE is that its integral sections are holonomic. (=⇒) If Y is a SOPDE then j 1 π 1 ◦ Y = IdJ 1 π . Let ψ : M → J 1 π be an integral ( Proof ) section of Y; that is, Y ◦ ψ = j 1 ψ, then ψ = j 1 π 1 ◦ Y ◦ ψ = j 1 π 1 ◦ j 1 ψ = j 1 (π 1 ◦ ψ) ≡ j 1 φ ,

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and ψ is a canonical prolongation. (⇐=) Now, let Y be an integrable jet field whose integral sections are canonical prolongations. Take y¯ ∈ J 1 π and φ : M → E a section such that j 1 φ : M → J 1 π is an integral section of Y with j 1 φ(¯ π 1 (¯ y )) = y¯. We have (j 1 π 1 ◦ Y)(¯ y ) = (j 1 π 1 ◦ Y)(j 1 φ(¯ π 1 (¯ y ))) = (j 1 π 1 ◦ Y ◦ j 1 φ)(¯ π 1 (¯ y )) = (j 1 π 1 ◦ Y ◦ ψ)(¯ π 1 (¯ y )) = (j 1 π 1 ◦ j 1 ψ)(¯ π 1 (¯ y )) = j 1 (π 1 ◦ ψ)(¯ π 1 (¯ y )) = j 1 φ(¯ π 1 (¯ y )) = y¯ , and Y is a SOPDE. Remarks: • In coordinates, the condition j 1 π 1 ◦ Y = IdJ 1 π is expressed as follows: the jet field Y = (xµ , y i , yµi , Fνi , Giνµ ) is a SOPDE if, and only if, Fνi = yνi .   ∂f i • If Y = (xµ , y i , yµi , yνi , Giνµ ) is a SOPDE and j 1 φ = xµ , f i , µ is an integral section of Y, ∂x then the differential equations for φ are   j ∂2f i i ρ j ∂f Gνµ x , f , γ = , (8) ∂x ∂xν ∂xµ which justifies the terminology. If Y is a SOPDE, then a representative m-multivector field X of the class {X} ⊂ Xm (J 1 π) associated with Y, has the local expression X≡

 m  ^ ∂ ∂ y ∂ i + y + G , µ µν ∂xµ ∂y i ∂iiν

µ=1

  ∂f A xµ , f A , µ is an integral section of it if, and onlyif, φ is the solution ∂x of the system of (second order) PDE’s (9)   i ∂2f i A µ i ∂f . (9) Gνρ x , f , µ = ∂x ∂xρ ∂xν

and, if Y is integrable, j 1 φ =

It is important to remark that, since the integrability of a class of multivector fields is equivalent to demanding that the curvature R of the connection associated with this class vanishes everywhere; the system (9) has solution if, and only if, the following additional system of equations holds 0 = Gjνµ − Gjµν , 0 =

j j j j ∂Gjνρ ∂Gjµρ i ∂Gνρ i ∂Gνρ i ∂Gµρ i ∂Gµρ + v + G − − v − G . µ µγ ν νγ ∂xµ ∂y i ∂yγi ∂xν ∂y i ∂yγi

4 Connections in a vector bundle As special cases of connections in fiber bundles, we study connections in a vector bundle, in particular linear connections and the related notion of connections on a manifold.

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4.1 Structures in a vector bundle Linear connections are a particular type of connections, which can be defined only on vector bundles. In order to give their different characterizations, first we need to introduce some previous concepts. First, remember that, if E is a vector space and u ∈ E, there is a natural identification between E and Tu E, which is given by E −→ Tu E , w 7→ Dw (u) where Dw (u) is the directional derivative with respect the vector w at the point u; that is, for every differentiable function f , 1 Dw (u)f := lim (f (u + tw) − f (u)) . t→0 t ∂ So, if z 1 , . . . , z n are coordinates in E and w ≡ (λ1 , . . . , λn ), then Dw (u) = λi i , and the identifi∂z u cation is immediate. In this way, if π : E → M is a vector bundle, for every section φ : M → E and p ∈ M , we denote by ♯φ(p) : Vφ(p) (π) → Ep the natural identification between the vector space Ep and Vφ(p) (π) = Tφ(p) Ep . Definition 11. Let φ(p) ≡ (p, u) ∈ E, with u ∈ Vφ(p) (π) = Tu Ep . The map E −→ TE = V(π) (p, u)

7→

((p, u), Du (u))

defines a π-vertical vector field ∆ ∈ X(E) which is called the Liouville vector field of the vector bundle π : E → M. In a natural set of coordinates (xµ , y i ) of E, the local expression of ∆ is ∆ = y i

∂ . Then, its ∂y i

integral curves are the solution of the system of differential equations dxµ =0 , dt

dy i = yi ; dt

that is, xµ (t) = Aµ and y i (t) = B i et (Aµ , B i ∈ R). Thus, ∆ generates dilatations along the fibres of the vector bundle. Remark: Observe that the flow of ∆ is the map Φ

:

R × E −→ E ; (t, y) 7→ et y

which, by a suitable reparametrization, can be equivalently defined as Φ

:

R+ × E −→ E . (t, y) 7→ ty

This map allows to define the following one: for every t ∈ R+ , the map Φt : E → E is given by Φt (y) = ty, for every y ∈ E. If a connection is given in a vector bundle, then we can establish the following: Definition 12. Let ∇ be a connection on a vector bundle π : E → M . The covariant derivative induced ˜ : Γ(π) → Γ(π) ⊗ Ω 1 (M ) defined as follows: if φ : M → E is a section, Z ∈ X(M ) by ∇ is the map ∇ and p ∈ M , ˜ (∇φ)(p; Z) := ♯φ(p) (v(Tp φ(Zp ))) = ♯φ(p) [Tp φ(Zp ) − ∇(φ(p); Tp φ(Zp ))] . ˜ Z φ)(p) instead of (∇φ)(p; ˜ (It is usual to write (∇ Z)).

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4.2 Linear connections Now we can prove the following equivalence: Theorem 5. Let π : E → M be a vector bundle. Consider a connection given by the equivalent elements ∇, H(E) or Ψ. Then the following conditions are equivalent: 1. The connection form is invariant under the Liouville vector field: L(∆)∇ = 0 , or, what is the same thing, the vertical projection operator V ≡ Id − ∇ is invariant by ∆: L(∆)V = 0 . 2. The Liouville vector field preserves the horizontal subbundle; that is, for every t ∈ R+ and every y ∈ E, we have Ty Φt (Hy (E)) = HΦt (y) (E) . 3. If (xµ , y i ) is a natural system of coordinates in the vector bundle π : E → M , then the functions Γµi which characterize the connection are linear on the fibers and their expressions are Γµi = i )y j , where Γ i ∈ C∞ (M ) are the Christoffel symbols of the linear connection. π ∗ (−Γjµ jµ 4. The jet field Ψ is a vector bundle morfism. (Notice that if E → M is a vector bundle, so is J 1 π → M ). 5. For every f ∈ C∞ (M ) and every section φ : M → E, ˜ φ) = df ⊗ φ + f ∇φ ˜ . ∇(f ( Proof ) (1 ⇒ 2) If L(∆)∇ = 0 then Φt∗ ∇ = ∇, for every t ∈ R+ . If u ∈ Hy (E), then there exists v ∈ Ty E such that ∇(v) = u and we have Ty Φt (u) = Ty Φt (∇(v)) = (Φt∗ ∇)(Φt∗ v) = ∇(Φt∗ v) , which implies that Ty Φt (u) ∈ HΦt (y) (E) and, since Φt is a diffeomorphism the result follows. (2 ⇒ 1) If Ty Φt (Hy (E)) = HΦt (y) (E), for every t ∈ R+ , then the splitting Ty E = Hy (E) + Vy (π) implies that TΦt (y) E = HΦt (y) (E) + VΦt (y) (π) = Ty Φt (Hy (E)) + VΦt (y) (π) = Ty Φt Hy (E) + Ty Φt (Vy (π)) ; that is, if u ∈ Ty E, writing u = h(u) + v(u) := ∇(u) + v(u), we have Ty Φt (u) = ∇(Ty Φt (u)) + v(Ty Φt (u)) = Ty Φt (∇(u)) + Ty Φt (v(u)) , and hence ∇ ◦ Ty Φt = Ty Φt ◦ ∇, so ∇ is invariant by Φt and, therefore, L(∆)∇ = 0.   ∂ i ∂ µ + Γµ i , then L(∆)∇ = 0 implies that the (1 ⇔ 3) Locally we have ∇ = dx ⊗ ∂xµ ∂y i functions Γµ are homogeneous of degree 1 (Euler’s theorem) and, as they are differentiable at the origin, i )y j , where Γ i ∈ C∞ (M ) (they are then they are also linear in the variables y i . So Γµi = π ∗ (−Γjµ jµ µ functions of the coordinates x ). The converse is immediate.

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(3 ⇔ 4) Taking into account that the local expression of Ψ is Ψ(xµ , y i ) = (xµ , y i , Γiµ (x, y)), the assertion is immediate since Ψ is a vector bundle morphism if, and only if, the functions Γiµ are linear of the coordinates y i . (3 ⇔ 5)

On the one hand we have that

˜ (df ⊗ φ + f ∇φ)(p; Z) = Zp (f )φ(p) + f (p)(∇φ)(p; Z) = Zp (f )φ(p) + f (p)(♯φ(p) ◦ v ◦ Tp φ)Zp = Zp (f )φ(p) + f (p)♯φ(p) (Tp φ)Zp − (∇(φ(p)); Tp φZp )) , and, on the other hand, ˜ φ)(p; Z) = ♯f (p)φ(p) [Tp (f φ)Z − ∇((f φ)(p); Tp (f φ)Zp ] . ∇(f ∂ and φ = (xµ , φi ), then ∂xµ ∂ ∂φi µ ∂ µ Tp (f φ)Zp = g (p) µ + f (p) µ g (p) i ∂x (f φ)(p) ∂x p ∂y (f φ)(p) ∂ ∂f , +g µ (p) µ φi (p) i ∂x p ∂y (f φ)(p)    i ∂φ ∂f µ i i ˜ φ)(p; Z) = ∇(f p; g (p) f (p) µ + µ φ (p) − Γµ (f (p)φ(p)) , ∂x p ∂x p    ∂f i ∂φi i µ ˜ ; (df ⊗ φ + f ∇φ)(p; Z) = p; g (p) f (p) µ + µ φ (p) − f (p)Γµ (φ(p)) ∂x p ∂x p

In a local natural system of coordinates in the vector bundle, if Z = gµ

therefore, the local condition in order that item 5 holds is

Γµi (f (p)φ(p)) = f (p)Γµi (φ(p)) , for every f ∈ C∞ (M ). This proves the assertion. Then we define Definition 13. A connection in the vector bundle π : E → M is a linear connection if the equivalent conditions in Theorem 5 hold. Finally, we can state the following concept: Definition 14. Let ∇ be a linear connection on a vector bundle π : E → M , and φ : M → E a section. Then ∇φ is called the covariant differential of φ. It is a map ∇φ : X(M ) → Γ(π), which is an element of Ω 1 (M ) ⊗M Γ(π). In natural coordinates the local expression of ∇φ is   i i j µ ρ ∂φ ∇φ = dx ⊗ x , µ + Γjµ φ . ∂x In relation to the structure of the set of linear connections, if ∇1 , ∇2 are linear connections, then ∇1 − ∇2 : Γ(π) → X(M ) ⊗ Γ(π) is a C∞ (M )-linear map, so that ∇1 − ∇2 ∈ Γ(π)∗ ⊗ Ω 1 (M ) ⊗ Γ(π) = Ω 1 (M ) ⊗ End Γ(π) = Ω 1 (M ) ⊗M Γ(M, LE ) ,

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where LE is the bundle of endomorphisms of E. On the other hand, if Υ ∈ Ω 1 (M, LE ) = Ω 1 (M ) ⊗ Γ(M, LE ) and ∇ is a linear connection, then ∇ + Υ is another linear connection because (∇ + Υ)(f φ) = df ⊗ (∇ + Υ) + f (∇ + Υ)φ , since the action of Υ on sections is the following: writing Υ = αi ⊗ υ i , with αi ∈ Ω 1 (M ) and υ i ∈ Γ(M, LE ), and taking Z ∈ X(M ), φ : M → E and p ∈ M , then Υ(p; Z, φ) = αi (p; Z)υ i (φ(p)) verifying that Υ(p; Z, f φ) = f (p)Υ(p; Z, φ) , because Υ is C∞ (M )-linear. Therefore we can state: Proposition 5. The set of linear connections on π : E → M is an affine “space” modelled on the C∞ (M )-module of 1-forms on M with values on the bundle of endomorphisms of E, LE . As you can observe, there exists a canonical injection of the module Ω 1 (M ) ⊗M Γ(M, LE ) into Γ(E, π ∗ T∗ M ) ⊗E Γ(E, V(π)) defined as follows: α ⊗ Υ 7→ π ∗ α ⊗ (♯−1 ◦ Υ), and that this injection is a morphism of C∞ (M )-modules.

4.3 Connections in a manifold The concept of connection on a manifold is closely related to that of linear connection. Definition 15. A connection on a manifold M is a linear connection in the tangent bundle TM . In this case, the sections of the bundle are vector fields, hence we can define: Definition 16. Let ∇ be a connection on the manifold M . 1. If X, Y ∈ X(M ), the map ˜ XY − ∇ ˜ Y X − [X, Y ] T (X, Y ) := ∇ is called the torsion associated to this connection. T is an antisymmetric tensor field on M with values on TM ; so that T ∈ Ω 2 (M ) ⊗ X(M ). 2. ∇ is a torsion-free or symmetric connection if T is zero. Let (xµ , v µ ) be a natural system of coordinates of TM . If the local expression of ∇ is   ∂ ρ ν ∂ µ + Γµν v , ∇ = dx ⊗ ∂xµ ∂xρ then ˜ ∇ and the local expression of T is

∂ ∂xρ



∂ g ∂xη η



=



∂gη η ν + Γρν g ∂xρ

µ µ T = (−Γρη + Γηρ ) dxρ ⊗ dxη ⊗



∂ , ∂xν

∂ , ∂xµ

According to this we can state the following Proposition (which justifies the name given to these kinds of connections):

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Proposition 6. The necessary and sufficient condition for the connection ∇ on M to be torsion-free is that the following relation holds for every natural system of coordinates, µ µ Γρη = Γηρ .

If ∇1 , ∇2 are symmetric connections on M , this implies that, for every X, Y ∈ X(M ), ˜1 Y − ∇ ˜1 X = ∇ ˜2 Y −∇ ˜2 X , ∇ X Y X Y ˜1 − ∇ ˜ 2 )X Y = (∇ ˜1 − ∇ ˜ 2 )Y X and hence ∇1 − ∇2 is symmetric too; that is, it is an therefore (∇ element of S2 (M ) ⊗ X(M ), where S2 (M ) denotes the module of symmetric 2-degree tensor fields on M . (Remember that an element of S2 (M ) ⊗ X(M ) is a section of the bundle ∨2 T∗ M ⊗ TM → M , where ∨2 T∗ M is the symmetric product of T∗ M with itself. If (xµ ) is a local system of coordinates in ∂ γ γ γ M , then a local section of this bundle is locally expressed as Γµν dxµ ⊗ dxν ⊗ γ , with Γµν = Γνµ ). ∂x Conversely, if ∇ is a symmetric connection on M and Σ ∈ S2 (M ) ⊗ X(M ), then ∇ + Σ is another symmetric connection on M . Therefore: Proposition 7. The set of symmetric connections on a manifold M is an affine space modelled on the C∞ (M )-module S2 (M ) ⊗M X(M ). Observe that this module is a submodule of Ω 1 (M )⊗M Γ(M, LE ) = Ω 1 (M )⊗M Ω 1 (M )⊗M X(M ).

Acknowledgments We acknowledge the financial support of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci´on (Spain), projects MTM 2014-54855–P and MTM 2015-69124-REDT. We also acknowledge specially the help of Prof. L.A. Ibort who introduced us in the idea of characterizing linear connections by using the Liouville vector field. We want to thank to all the participants in the interdisciplinary seminar on themes of Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics for attending these lectures. Their valuable suggestions and comments have allowed us to improve these notes.

References [1] A. Echeverr´ıa-Enr´ıquez, M.C. Mu˜noz-Lecanda, N. Rom´an-Roy, “Multivector fields and connections: Setting Lagrangian equations in field theories”, J. Math. Phys. 39(9) (1998) 4578-4603. (doi: 10.1063/1.532525). [2] W. Greub, S. Halpering, S. Vanstone, Connections, curvature and cohomology, Pure Appl. Math. 47, Acad. Press, New York, 1972. [3] D. H¨usemoller, Fibre Bundles, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1966. (ISBN 0-387-94087-1). [4] R. Ouzilou, “Expression symplectique des probl`emes variationels”, Symp. Math. 14 (1973) 85-98. [5] D.J. Saunders, The Geometry of Jet Bundles, London Math. Soc. Lect. Notes Ser. 142, Cambridge, Univ. Press, 1989. (ISBN 13: 978-0521369480).