Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 309 2 ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Let . Differentiating the Killing equation gives . For a covector, the Ricci identity isCall this difference . The differentiated Killing equation then givesTaking the first minus the second plus the third yieldsThe pair symmetries of the Riemann curvature tensor and the first Bianchi identity reduce the coefficient to . Therefore the second covariant derivative of a Killing vector is
For an affine parameter on a geodesic, its tangent obeys . ThusThe second term vanishes by the geodesic equation; the first contracts a symmetric product with the antisymmetric derivative from the Killing equation. This establishes the geodesic conserved quantity from a Killing vector:
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 309 2 i Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Use the curvature convention , consistent with the coordinate formula later in the paper. Choose normal coordinates at an arbitrary point . The Levi-Civita connection has and is torsion free, so . At ,Hence the cyclic sum isEach derivative cancels using symmetry of the two lower connection indices. Because the Riemann curvature tensor is antisymmetric in its last two indices, full antisymmetrization over equals one third of this cyclic sum. ThusThe statement is tensorial and was arbitrary, so it holds in all coordinates everywhere. This is the first Bianchi identity.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 309 4 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
For the torsion-free Levi-Civita connection, cyclically summing the displayed coordinate expression and using gives the algebraic first Bianchi identityApply the Jacobi identity to three covariant-derivative commutators, or differentiate the coordinate formula in normal coordinates. The third-derivative terms and the derivatives of quadratic connection terms cancel cyclically, giving the differential second Bianchi identityContracting the first and third curvature indices and then contracting once more yieldsor the contracted Bianchi identity
For the metric variation ,while the two double-divergence terms in the supplied metric variation of scalar curvature become a boundary term after integration by parts for tensor fields. The Einstein-Hilbert action therefore contributes . Varying the Proca action with respect to the metric gives the Proca stress-energy tensor, and the full Einstein-Proca theory equation is
Since , variation with respect to and one integration by parts give the covariant Proca equationTaking its covariant divergence givesbecause the resulting contractions pair the symmetric Ricci tensor with the antisymmetric electromagnetic field tensor. Since , the Lorenz constraint in Proca theory follows:Moreover, and , so the Electromagnetic Bianchi identity is
Finally, use that identity to differentiate the matter tensor. The result groups naturally asBoth terms vanish by the Proca equation and its Lorenz constraint in Proca theory. Thus , exactly as required by the contracted Bianchi identity applied to the Einstein field equations. The vector equation is therefore consistent with the gravitational equation.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 1 37D a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Because the Levi-Civita connection is torsion-free, its Christoffel symbols satisfy . Substitute the stated coordinate expression for each term in the cyclic sumThe partial-derivative terms cancel pairwise by the lower-index symmetry of , and the quadratic terms cancel after relabelling their dummy indices. Thereforewhich is the first Bianchi identity.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 1 37D c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Lower the free index of . The Killing equation makes the last two indices of antisymmetric after the appropriate derivative is moved. Combining the three resulting Ricci identities cyclically givesApplying the covector form of the Ricci identity and then the first Bianchi identity reduces this toRaising proves the second covariant derivative of a Killing vector identityContracting and and using the definition and symmetries of the Ricci tensor gives
At an arbitrary point choose normal coordinates, so the Christoffel symbols vanish there. Torsion freedom and commutation of partial derivatives then give the algebraic first Bianchi identityDifferentiate the coordinate curvature expression and cyclically antisymmetrize. Third derivatives cancel, giving the second Bianchi identityBoth statements are tensorial and hence hold in every coordinate system. Contracting the differential identity, using the curvature symmetries and metric compatibility, yieldsthe contracted Bianchi identity.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 iii Paper 309 2 a iii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
At an arbitrary point choose normal coordinates, so there. Torsion freedom and commuting partial derivatives immediately give the algebraic first Bianchi identityDifferentiating the coordinate curvature formula at that point and cyclically antisymmetrizing gives the differential identityBoth equations are tensorial, so validity in normal coordinates at every point proves them in every coordinate system.
Contract the differential identity on its first and third curvature indices and use the algebraic symmetries of the Riemann tensor. One obtains the contracted Bianchi identity
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 ii Paper 2 38E b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Set . Torsion-freeness and commutation of ordinary partial derivatives imply that its covariant Hessian is symmetric:Take the cyclic sum of the three commutators acting respectively on . Their left-hand sides cancel pairwise by this Hessian symmetry, leavingAt a chosen point, a scalar field can be selected whose gradient has any prescribed covector value. The coefficient of must therefore vanish. Relabelling indices gives the first Bianchi identity
Riemannian curvature two-form Created 2026-10-05 Updated 2026-10-07
For the Levi-Civita connection, the curvature form of a connection is the endomorphism-valued two-formIt has tensoriality in all three arguments. Its first Bianchi identity follows from torsion-freeness: the cyclic sum is by the Jacobi identity.
Second covariant derivative of a Killing vector Created 2026-09-29 Updated 2026-10-07
For a Killing vector field and the curvature convention ,The identity follows by combining the Ricci identity, Killing equation, and first Bianchi identity.