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Direct Product (Tensor)

For a first-Rank Tensor (i.e., a Vector),

\begin{displaymath}
a_i'b'^j \equiv {\partial x_k\over\partial x_i'} a_k {\parti...
...ver \partial x_i'} {\partial x_j'\over \partial x_l} (a_kb^l),
\end{displaymath} (1)

which is a second-Rank Tensor. The Contraction of a direct product of first-Rank Tensors is the Scalar
\begin{displaymath}
\mathop{\rm contr}(a_i'b'^j) = a_i'b'^i = a_kb^k.
\end{displaymath} (2)

For a second-Rank Tensor,
\begin{displaymath}
A^i_jB_{kl} = C_j^{ikl}
\end{displaymath} (3)


\begin{displaymath}
{C_j^{ikl}}' = {\partial x_i'\over \partial x_m} {\partial x...
...ver \partial x_p} {\partial x_l'\over \partial x_q} C_n^{mpq}.
\end{displaymath} (4)

For a general Tensor, the direct product of two Tensors is a Tensor of Rank equal to the sum of the two initial Ranks. The direct product is Associative, but not Commutative.


References

Arfken, G. ``Contraction, Direct Product.'' §3.2 in Mathematical Methods for Physicists, 3rd ed. Orlando, FL: Academic Press, pp. 124-126, 1985.




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-24