Algebra of differential forms¶

Algebra of differential forms defined on a CoordinatePatch (an open subset of Euclidian space, see CoordinatePatch for details).

AUTHORS:

• Joris Vankerschaver (2010-05-26)

TODO:

• Allow for forms with values in a vector space
• Incorporate Kahler differentials

REFERENCES:

class sage.tensor.differential_forms.DifferentialForms(coordinate_patch=None)

Bases: sage.rings.ring.Algebra

The algebra of all differential forms on an open subset of Euclidian space of arbitrary dimension.

EXAMPLES:

To define an algebra of differential forms, first create a coordinate patch:

sage: p, q = var('p, q')
sage: U = CoordinatePatch((p, q)); U
Open subset of R^2 with coordinates p, q
sage: F = DifferentialForms(U); F
Algebra of differential forms in the variables p, q


If no coordinate patch is supplied, a default one (using the variables x, y, z) will be used:

sage: F = DifferentialForms(); F
Algebra of differential forms in the variables x, y, z

Element

alias of DifferentialForm

base_space()

Return the coordinate patch on which this algebra is defined.

EXAMPLES:

sage: x, y, z = var('x, y, z')
sage: U = CoordinatePatch((x, y, z)); U
Open subset of R^3 with coordinates x, y, z
sage: F = DifferentialForms(U); F
Algebra of differential forms in the variables x, y, z
sage: F.base_space()
Open subset of R^3 with coordinates x, y, z

gen(i=0)

Return the $$i^{th}$$ generator of self. This is a one-form, more precisely the exterior derivative of the i-th coordinate.

INPUT:

• i - integer (optional, default 0)

EXAMPLES:

sage: x, y, z = var('x, y, z')
sage: U = CoordinatePatch((x, y, z)); U
Open subset of R^3 with coordinates x, y, z
sage: F = DifferentialForms(U); F
Algebra of differential forms in the variables x, y, z
sage: F.gen(0)
dx
sage: F.gen(1)
dy
sage: F.gen(2)
dz

gens()

Return a list of the generators of self.

EXAMPLES:

sage: x, y, z = var('x, y, z')
sage: U = CoordinatePatch((x, y, z)); U
Open subset of R^3 with coordinates x, y, z
sage: F = DifferentialForms(U); F
Algebra of differential forms in the variables x, y, z
sage: F.gens()
(dx, dy, dz)

ngens()

Return the number of generators of this algebra.

EXAMPLES:

sage: x, y, z = var('x, y, z')
sage: U = CoordinatePatch((x, y, z)); U
Open subset of R^3 with coordinates x, y, z
sage: F = DifferentialForms(U); F
Algebra of differential forms in the variables x, y, z
sage: F.ngens()
3


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Open subset of Euclidian space with coordinates

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Elements of the algebra of differential forms