Let (M,g) be a four-dimensional manifold with metric gαβ of Lorentzian signature.
The Riemann tensor R is defined through its action on three vector fields X,V,W by
R(X,V)W=∇X∇VW−∇V∇XW−∇[X,V]W
and the Ricci identity is given by
∇α∇βVγ−∇β∇αVγ=RραβγVρ.
(i) Show that for two arbitrary vector fields V,W, the commutator obeys
[V,W]α=Vμ∇μWα−Wμ∇μVα
(ii) Let γ:I×I′→M,I,I′⊂R,(s,t)↦γ(s,t) be a one-parameter family of affinely parametrized geodesics. Let T be the tangent vector to the geodesic γ(s= const, t) and S be the tangent vector to the curves γ(s,t= const ). Derive the equation for geodesic deviation,
∇T∇TS=R(T,S)T
(iii) Let Xα be a unit timelike vector field (XμXμ=−1) that satisfies the geodesic equation ∇XX=0 at every point of M. Define
Bαβ:=∇βXα,Θ:=Bαβhαβ,σαβ:=B(αβ)−31Θhαβ,hαβ:=gαβ+XαXβ,ωαβ:=B[αβ].
Show that
BαβXα=BαβXβ=hαβXα=hαβXβ=0Bαβ=31Θhαβ+σαβ+ωαβ,gαβσαβ=0
(iv) Let S denote the geodesic deviation vector, as defined in (ii), of the family of geodesics defined by the vector field Xα. Show that S satisfies
Xμ∇μSα=BμαSμ
(v) Show that
Xμ∇μBαβ=−BβμBαμ+RμβανXμXν