Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 309 4 iv Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Take the oscillation to be ; a different initial phase does not affect a period average. In the mass-density normalization of the quadrupole formula, the second mass moment tensor of the point mass has only nonzero. Its trace-free mass quadrupole moment is thereforeThe constant part does not radiate. Since , the tensor contraction isUsing in the quadrupole formula gives the averaged positive radiated powerThe mass quadrupole moment oscillates at twice the source's angular frequency, and the source energy loss has the opposite sign. The expression uses the leading slow-motion weak-field approximation, . With SI stress-energy tensor components, the mass-density integrand is ; the displayed quadrupole formula uses that mass normalization. This is the point-mass contribution requested by the model: an apparatus maintaining an accelerating mass would also contribute its own mass quadrupole moment.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 115 2 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Use the PDF's covector-first convention: its space consists of tensor fields inThis reverses the order in which some texts list tensor type. For a finite-dimensional real vector space , define the tensor contraction first on decomposable tensors:The hats mean omission, with the other factors left in their original order. The formula is a multilinear map of its individual factors, so the universal property of a tensor product gives a unique linear map with this formula.
Apply it with at every . Evaluation of a covector on a vector is basis independent: under a change of frame, one factor transforms by a matrix and the other by its inverse transpose, and the matrices cancel in the pairing. Thus the fiber maps agree on overlapping vector bundle trivializations. In a local dual basis, the coefficients of the contracted tensor are finite sums of coefficients with the selected covariant and contravariant indices set equal. They remain smooth. Henceis a globally defined smooth contraction for . It is also linear over .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 115 2 b iii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
For a decomposable tensor field, consider a selected pairing in a tensor contraction. Its derivative isby the defining one-form formula. In the Leibniz rule expansion of the uncontracted tensor, the terms differentiating these two selected factors combine into exactly this derivative of the pairing. Every term differentiating another factor passes unchanged through the contraction. Thus, first on local decomposable tensors and then by linearity on every local tensor expansion,This is basis independent; in components the negative covector term and positive vector term for the two contracted slots cancel.
For uniqueness, any extension satisfying the tensor-product rule is local. If vanishes near , multiply it by a smooth cutoff function equal to one near and supported where . The identity implies . Any allowed extension on a differential one-form is forced by differentiating its contraction with every vector field. Its value on every local frame tensor is then forced by the tensor-product rule and its value on scalar coefficients. These local tensors span each tensor bundle, so two extensions agree everywhere.
Together with the preceding construction, this proves existence and uniqueness of the contraction-compatible tensor derivation, with the scalar-rule qualification already stated. No claim that every global tensor field is a finite sum of products of global vector fields is needed.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 115 2 d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The tensor denoted acts as the rank-one endomorphism . In the paper's covector-first ordering it is written , using the canonical interchange of tensor factors; this is the same endomorphism.
On any smooth function ,On a vector field , the Lie bracket of vector fields givessoMultiplication by preserves the tensor-product Leibniz rule and commutation with tensor contractions, since the latter are linear over smooth functions. Hence the difference is a real-linear contraction-compatible tensor derivation whose scalar operator is zero. Its agreement with on functions and vector fields determines its action on every tensor by uniqueness:For example, on a differential one-form this gives . Equivalently , which checks the sign independently. This is the scaled Lie derivative defect identity.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 312 1 b ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
The result above gives . Since the shear is trace-free and already first order, it cannot contribute linearly to the quadratic tensor contraction . Thereforeup to second-order scalar cosmological perturbations. Combining these with the supplied spatial Ricci scalar gives the Hamiltonian constraintIts background part is the flat Friedmann equation . Subtracting that equation proves the linearized cosmological Hamiltonian constraint:Here is the energy density measured by the hypersurface normal, as required by the normal-normal projection of the Einstein field equations.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 322 3 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Set , and , the reduced mass. Newton's law of universal gravitation gives and . Subtraction establishesFor fixed masses, the orbital energy and angular momentum areTaking derivatives gives and . These are conservation of energy and conservation of angular momentum in the unperturbed Kepler orbit. To see directly that the orbital eccentricity is fixed, put and . The eccentricity vector isSince , the cross product identity gives , so . Its magnitude is the orbital eccentricity. Equivalently,Thus the semi-major axis and orbital eccentricity of a bound noncollision Kepler orbit are constant, including .
Take the centre of mass as origin. The two positions are and . For , a Taylor expansion givesThe mass dipole vanishes because , and the second mass moment tensor is . The gravitational quadrupole potential of a point-mass binary is consequentlyBoth printed tensors are trace-free. Contracting them with the Kronecker delta summed over three spatial dimensions givesThis proves the requested expression through second order. In particular the printed convention is , where is the standard mass quadrupole moment; the radiation coefficient must be adjusted accordingly. No mass dipole term may be retained in centre of mass coordinates.
To evaluate the quadrupole formula without assuming a circular orbit, put , and . Differentiating the gravitational acceleration gives the kinematic jerkFor , the product rule then givesInserting these into the printed mass quadrupole moment convention yieldsThe two tensors in brackets are orthogonal in their tensor contraction, because . Their squared norms are and , respectively. HenceThe instantaneous quadrupole luminosity of a Kepler binary is thereforeThe radial derivative is not the vector speed. The bracket equals , so the radiated luminosity is nonnegative for every instantaneous velocity.
For a slowly evolving circular orbit, there is no preferred orbital phase at which to excite a persistent eccentricity vector. More precisely, the rotating mass quadrupole moment emits at twice the orbital frequency, with angular harmonic number two; its gravitational-wave energy and angular-momentum balance is . The circular Kepler orbit sequence has and , so this loss is tangent to the sequence. At leading adiabatic order it preserves zero secular orbital eccentricity. This is a circular gravitational-wave inspiral, with a small radial drift rather than an exactly fixed-radius Newtonian circle. The energy flux alone would not establish circularity without this symmetry and angular momentum balance.
To leading radiation order use , and in the loss formula. Combining it with givesKeeping the fixed masses and leading quadrupole formula, integration givesThis formal coalescence time displays the strong dependence: gravitational-wave emission from a binary system matters far more for close binary stars than for wide ones. The orbital period decreases as and the gravitational-wave frequency increases, producing a chirp. A detached binary can be driven into Roche-lobe overflow; further evolution then depends on mass-transfer stability. A sufficiently close compact pair may merge. The weak-field, slow-motion, point-mass approximation ceases to apply before literal ; finite stellar radii or strong relativistic effects determine the final interaction.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 329 1 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Linearity of Stokes flow and rotational symmetry, including reflection in mathematics invariance of the spherical geometry, determine the possible rigid motions before any calculation. Translation is a polar vector; its linear dependence on a single vector must be . A traceless second-rank tensor cannot produce a polar vector by an isotropic linear map: tensor contraction with the identity matrix vanishes and tensor contraction with the totally antisymmetric tensor vanishes because is a symmetric second-rank tensor. Angular velocity is an axial vector. Neither nor a symmetric can produce one by an isotropic linear map. Products such as are excluded by Linearity of Stokes flow. Thus .
Use the Unscaled Papkovich–Neuber representation, with harmonic functions and :Indeed and because each potential is a harmonic function. Put and . The decaying harmonic functions with the necessary angular dependence are , and . The last is a harmonic function precisely because . A Stokeslet is excluded by the force-free condition, and a rotlet by the torque-free condition. TryThe resulting Stokes flow isAt , the coefficient of fixes ; the remaining constant vector gives . In the mode, matching gives and . Therefore the complete two-mode tensorial squirmer flow isThe boundary condition is satisfied in the laboratory frame, so the Stokes flow tends to zero at infinity. The potential dipole in the mode gives an irrotational flow and decays as ; the leading mode is a stresslet, decaying as . Neither carries a net force or torque. Direct surface integral averaging with the surface slip velocity formula gives the same translation, providing an independent check. Uniqueness of Stokes flow then identifies this decaying solution.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 305 1 e Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Write for the Dirac current and for the axial current. Under parity symmetry in quantum field theory, the Dirac spinor phases cancel andThe extra sign for the axial current follows from . Combining these transformations with part (c), both currents transform under CP symmetry as . The vector relativistic quantum field transforms as . The two parity matrices cancel in the tensor contraction, givingFor a real vector relativistic quantum field with , the interaction is invariant under CP symmetry. A complex vector relativistic quantum field instead maps to the conjugate-field interaction, which must be compared with its Hermitian conjugation partner.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ia Paper 3 10B b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
The unit sphere and the kernel are invariant under every rotation in three dimensions fixing . Therefore has the same axisymmetry, so part (a) gives
Choose spherical polar coordinates with polar axis and put . Since ,The tensor contraction giving the trace isSimilarly,At these expressions have the continuous limiting values and . Writing them as and gives
For a diffeomorphism, pull a type tensor field back by the inverse differential on vector slots and the dual differential on covector slots. Invertibility distinguishes this construction from pullback of purely covariant tensors along an arbitrary smooth map. This operation preserves tensor products and tensor contractions, supplying the flow definition of the Lie derivative of a tensor field.
Tensor derivation 2026-10-05
A tensor derivation is a real-linear operation preserving every tensor type, obeying the tensor-product Leibniz rule, and commuting with every tensor contraction. A derivation of smooth functions and a real-linear operator on vector fields satisfying extend uniquely to a tensor derivation. On a differential one-form it must satisfyThis expression is linear over smooth functions in . In a local frame , the dual rule is . Apply the product rule to every coefficient and frame factor to define the extension; these dual signs cancel under contraction. Frame changes agree by differentiating the inverse matrix. Cutoffs prove locality and hence uniqueness from local expansions.
Tensor field 2026-10-05
A tensor field is a smooth section of a vector bundle formed from tensor products of the tangent bundle and cotangent bundle. With covector factors and vector factors it belongs toIts coefficients in any local frame vary smoothly. Different conventions list the two counts in different orders, so the factor order should be specified. Tensor contractions use the canonical evaluation of a covector on a vector and are independent of the frame.
Universal property of a tensor product 2026-10-05
For vector spaces , every multilinear map factors uniquely through a linear map sending a decomposable tensor to of its factors. Thus multilinear formulas define linear maps on tensor products without choosing a basis. Tensor contraction is an example, using the evaluation pairing between a vector and a covector.