Let (M,g) be a spacetime and Γ the Levi-Civita connection of the metric g. The Riemann tensor of this spacetime is given in terms of the connection by
Rραβγ=∂αΓρβγ−∂βΓραγ+ΓρβμΓμαγ−ΓραμΓμβγ
The contracted Bianchi identities ensure that the Einstein tensor satisfies
∇μGμν=0
(a) Show that the Riemann tensor obeys the symmetry
Rραβμ+Rβραμ+Rαβρμ=0.
(b) Show that a vector field Vα satisfies the Ricci identity
2∇[α∇β]Vγ=∇α∇βVγ−∇β∇αVγ=RραβγVρ
Calculate the analogous expression for a rank (20) tensor Tμν, i.e. calculate ∇[α∇β]Tμν in terms of the Riemann tensor.
(c) Let Kα be a vector that satisfies the Killing equation
∇αKβ+∇βKα=0
Use the symmetry relation of part (a) to show that
∇ν∇μKα=RμνβαKβ∇μ∇μKα=−RβαKβ
where Rαβ is the Ricci tensor.
(d) Show that
Kα∇αR=2∇[μ∇λ]∇[μKλ],
and use the result of part (b) to show that the right hand side evaluates to zero, hence showing that Kα∇αR=0.