Ricci curvature tensor

E8635

The Ricci curvature tensor is a geometric object in differential geometry that measures how volumes in a curved space-time deviate from those in flat space, playing a central role in general relativity.

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Observed surface forms (2)

Surface form Occurrences
Ricci tensor 2
Ricci curvature 1

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf (0,2)-tensor
geometric object
symmetric tensor
tensor
appearsIn Einstein field equations
characterizes Einstein manifold condition Ric = λg
componentsDefinition R_{ij} = R^{k}{}_{ikj}
R_{ij} = R^{k}{}_{jik}
componentsNotation R_{ij}
coordinateExpression R_{ij} = \partial_k \Gamma^{k}_{ij} - \partial_j \Gamma^{k}_{ik} + \Gamma^{k}_{ij} \Gamma^{l}_{kl} - \Gamma^{k}_{il} \Gamma^{l}_{kj}
definedOn Riemannian manifold
pseudo-Riemannian manifold
dependsOn Levi-Civita connection
surface form: Christoffel symbols

Levi-Civita connection
derivedFrom Riemann curvature tensor
determines scalar curvature by contraction with the metric
developedWith Tullio Levi-Civita
dimensionOfComponents n×n on an n-dimensional manifold
equals 0 in vacuum Einstein equations with zero cosmological constant
field Riemannian geometry
differential geometry
general relativity
pseudo-Riemannian geometry
introducedBy Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro
isLocalInvariantOf metric tensor
isSymmetric true
isZeroCondition characterizes Ricci-flat manifolds
measures average sectional curvature
deviation of volume growth from Euclidean
volume distortion
obtainedBy contraction of the Riemann curvature tensor
order 2
rank 2
relatedTo Einstein tensor
scalar curvature
sectional curvature
roleInGeneralRelativity describes how matter and energy curve spacetime on average
symbol Ric
Ric(g)
symmetryProperty R_{ij} = R_{ji}
traceOf Riemann curvature tensor
traceWithRespectTo metric tensor
transformationProperty tensorial under coordinate changes
usedIn Einstein manifolds
Ricci flow
Ricci flow
surface form: Ricci solitons
usedToForm Einstein tensor G_{ij} = R_{ij} - 1/2 R g_{ij}
vanishesFor flat manifold

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ricci flow drivingTensor Ricci curvature tensor
this entity surface form: Ricci curvature
Ricci scalar isContractionOf Ricci curvature tensor
this entity surface form: Ricci tensor
Einstein tensor relatedConcept Ricci curvature tensor
this entity surface form: Ricci tensor
Einstein field equations uses Ricci curvature tensor