English

Metric Tensor Vs. Metric Extensor

Mathematical Physics 2016-08-16 v2 math.MP

Abstract

In this paper we give a comparison between the formulation of the concept of metric for a real vector space of finite dimension in terms of \emph{tensors} and \emph{extensors}. A nice property of metric extensors is that they have inverses which are also themselves metric extensors. This property is not shared by metric tensors because tensors do \emph{not} have inverses. We relate the definition of determinant of a metric extensor with the classical determinant of the corresponding matrix associated to the metric tensor in a given vector basis. Previous identifications of these concepts are equivocated. The use of metric extensor permits sophisticated calculations without the introduction of matrix representations.

Cite

@article{arxiv.math-ph/0212048,
  title  = {Metric Tensor Vs. Metric Extensor},
  author = {V. V. Fernández and A. M. Moya and Waldyr A. Rodrigues},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math-ph/0212048},
  year   = {2016}
}