Does the Gauss-Bonnet theorem apply to non-orientable surfaces?
I found statements of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. None of them require that the surface be orientable. However, Ted Shifrin claims in a comment to this question that the Gauss-Bonnet theorem actually only applies to orientable surfaces. Are these sources all incorrect?
differential-geometry algebraic-topology surfaces orientation non-orientable-surfaces
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I found statements of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. None of them require that the surface be orientable. However, Ted Shifrin claims in a comment to this question that the Gauss-Bonnet theorem actually only applies to orientable surfaces. Are these sources all incorrect?
differential-geometry algebraic-topology surfaces orientation non-orientable-surfaces
4
Shocking. I can't load several of those. Interesting that none of your sources is a published respected textbook. :) You know what my answer to your question is. I'm curious to see what other feedback you get :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:49
2
@TedShifrin The reason that none of them is a published respected textbook is that I just Googled it, and the complete text of published respected textbooks is rarely available online. For what it's worth, I suspect you're right, I'd just like to get further info.
– tparker
Aug 19 '18 at 23:51
5
I am not criticizing you or your curiosity. (Indeed, I upvoted.) I am truly shocked, particularly because Herman Gluck, for example, is usually very careful :) I'm not surprised by errors in Wiki or other such sources. I'll give you this little challenge: Take one of the standard embeddings of the Möbius strip in $Bbb R^3$ [I can give you a formula if you can't find one]. Find the geodesic curvature of the boundary. The Euler characteristic is $0$. See if you can make sense of the curvature integral and see if it works out. I'm actually curious to see the computation. :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:56
@TedShifrin I think a non-orientable Riemannian manifold still has a volume density (instead of a volume form), so the curvature integral still makes sense. No?
– Seub
Sep 12 '18 at 0:19
2
@tparker: I've resolved the paradox. Consider the matter settled :P
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 14 '18 at 23:42
|
show 2 more comments
I found statements of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. None of them require that the surface be orientable. However, Ted Shifrin claims in a comment to this question that the Gauss-Bonnet theorem actually only applies to orientable surfaces. Are these sources all incorrect?
differential-geometry algebraic-topology surfaces orientation non-orientable-surfaces
I found statements of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. None of them require that the surface be orientable. However, Ted Shifrin claims in a comment to this question that the Gauss-Bonnet theorem actually only applies to orientable surfaces. Are these sources all incorrect?
differential-geometry algebraic-topology surfaces orientation non-orientable-surfaces
differential-geometry algebraic-topology surfaces orientation non-orientable-surfaces
edited 2 days ago
Martin Sleziak
44.6k8115271
44.6k8115271
asked Aug 19 '18 at 23:09
tparkertparker
1,828833
1,828833
4
Shocking. I can't load several of those. Interesting that none of your sources is a published respected textbook. :) You know what my answer to your question is. I'm curious to see what other feedback you get :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:49
2
@TedShifrin The reason that none of them is a published respected textbook is that I just Googled it, and the complete text of published respected textbooks is rarely available online. For what it's worth, I suspect you're right, I'd just like to get further info.
– tparker
Aug 19 '18 at 23:51
5
I am not criticizing you or your curiosity. (Indeed, I upvoted.) I am truly shocked, particularly because Herman Gluck, for example, is usually very careful :) I'm not surprised by errors in Wiki or other such sources. I'll give you this little challenge: Take one of the standard embeddings of the Möbius strip in $Bbb R^3$ [I can give you a formula if you can't find one]. Find the geodesic curvature of the boundary. The Euler characteristic is $0$. See if you can make sense of the curvature integral and see if it works out. I'm actually curious to see the computation. :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:56
@TedShifrin I think a non-orientable Riemannian manifold still has a volume density (instead of a volume form), so the curvature integral still makes sense. No?
– Seub
Sep 12 '18 at 0:19
2
@tparker: I've resolved the paradox. Consider the matter settled :P
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 14 '18 at 23:42
|
show 2 more comments
4
Shocking. I can't load several of those. Interesting that none of your sources is a published respected textbook. :) You know what my answer to your question is. I'm curious to see what other feedback you get :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:49
2
@TedShifrin The reason that none of them is a published respected textbook is that I just Googled it, and the complete text of published respected textbooks is rarely available online. For what it's worth, I suspect you're right, I'd just like to get further info.
– tparker
Aug 19 '18 at 23:51
5
I am not criticizing you or your curiosity. (Indeed, I upvoted.) I am truly shocked, particularly because Herman Gluck, for example, is usually very careful :) I'm not surprised by errors in Wiki or other such sources. I'll give you this little challenge: Take one of the standard embeddings of the Möbius strip in $Bbb R^3$ [I can give you a formula if you can't find one]. Find the geodesic curvature of the boundary. The Euler characteristic is $0$. See if you can make sense of the curvature integral and see if it works out. I'm actually curious to see the computation. :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:56
@TedShifrin I think a non-orientable Riemannian manifold still has a volume density (instead of a volume form), so the curvature integral still makes sense. No?
– Seub
Sep 12 '18 at 0:19
2
@tparker: I've resolved the paradox. Consider the matter settled :P
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 14 '18 at 23:42
4
4
Shocking. I can't load several of those. Interesting that none of your sources is a published respected textbook. :) You know what my answer to your question is. I'm curious to see what other feedback you get :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:49
Shocking. I can't load several of those. Interesting that none of your sources is a published respected textbook. :) You know what my answer to your question is. I'm curious to see what other feedback you get :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:49
2
2
@TedShifrin The reason that none of them is a published respected textbook is that I just Googled it, and the complete text of published respected textbooks is rarely available online. For what it's worth, I suspect you're right, I'd just like to get further info.
– tparker
Aug 19 '18 at 23:51
@TedShifrin The reason that none of them is a published respected textbook is that I just Googled it, and the complete text of published respected textbooks is rarely available online. For what it's worth, I suspect you're right, I'd just like to get further info.
– tparker
Aug 19 '18 at 23:51
5
5
I am not criticizing you or your curiosity. (Indeed, I upvoted.) I am truly shocked, particularly because Herman Gluck, for example, is usually very careful :) I'm not surprised by errors in Wiki or other such sources. I'll give you this little challenge: Take one of the standard embeddings of the Möbius strip in $Bbb R^3$ [I can give you a formula if you can't find one]. Find the geodesic curvature of the boundary. The Euler characteristic is $0$. See if you can make sense of the curvature integral and see if it works out. I'm actually curious to see the computation. :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:56
I am not criticizing you or your curiosity. (Indeed, I upvoted.) I am truly shocked, particularly because Herman Gluck, for example, is usually very careful :) I'm not surprised by errors in Wiki or other such sources. I'll give you this little challenge: Take one of the standard embeddings of the Möbius strip in $Bbb R^3$ [I can give you a formula if you can't find one]. Find the geodesic curvature of the boundary. The Euler characteristic is $0$. See if you can make sense of the curvature integral and see if it works out. I'm actually curious to see the computation. :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:56
@TedShifrin I think a non-orientable Riemannian manifold still has a volume density (instead of a volume form), so the curvature integral still makes sense. No?
– Seub
Sep 12 '18 at 0:19
@TedShifrin I think a non-orientable Riemannian manifold still has a volume density (instead of a volume form), so the curvature integral still makes sense. No?
– Seub
Sep 12 '18 at 0:19
2
2
@tparker: I've resolved the paradox. Consider the matter settled :P
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 14 '18 at 23:42
@tparker: I've resolved the paradox. Consider the matter settled :P
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 14 '18 at 23:42
|
show 2 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
Orientability is not needed. Indeed, one can deduce unorientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem from the orientable one :
Given a (compact) nonorientable surface, say $M$, with metric $g$, consider its orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$. The metric $g$ is naturally pulled back to a metric $widetilde{g}$ on $widetilde{M}$; i.e. locally, $widetilde{M}$ is isometric to $M$. Then it is easy to see that the usual Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the orientable double cover implies the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the nonorientable surface, because $2pichi(M) = pichi(widetilde{M}) = frac{1}{2}int_{widetilde{M}}{K} = int_{M}K$, where $K$ denotes the Gaussian curvature.
Added :
One might want a version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces with boundary. Indeed, the argument above can be applied to nonorientable surfaces with boundary. Let $M$ be a nonorientable surface with boundary $partial M$. Then correspondingly its has an orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$ with boundary $partial widetilde{M}$. As before, this double cover is locally isometric to $M$. Following the notation of Wikipedia, we have the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on $widetilde{M}$ :
$$int_{widetilde{M}}K + int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2pi chi(widetilde{M})$$
Now observe that each term are twice the corresponding term for $M$. In particular, $int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2int_{partial M}k_g$ just because it is a 2-to-1 locally isometric double covering. As a result, we get
$$int_{M}K + int_{partial M}k_g = 2pi chi(M)$$ There is nothing special for nonorientable surfaces!
Added again :
Let me give you an example, a Möbius strip. Its Euler Characteristic is $0$. The most convenient metric on the Möbius strip is a flat metric; such Möbius strip can be realized as a quotient of a flat strip with parallel geodesic boundaries. With such a metric, $K=0$ and $k_g=0$, so the LHS of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is $0$ as expected.
In general, for any metric on the Möbius strip, the Gauss-Bonnet theorem should hold just as well, because the LHS remains constant under smooth deformation of metric. (Any deformation is a composition of local deformations, and for local deformations, it is a corollary of the orientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem.)
Another easy proof is to cut your surface into small orientable pieces. It is not important whether your original surface is orientable or not. Gauss-Bonnet theorem holds for individual pieces, and when you glue them back, boundary terms corresponding to seams cancel out. In this way it is easy to see that orientability is not important at all in Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces.
1
I haven't worked it out, but I think the line integrals on the boundary cancel, rather than doubling. I did work out the Möbius strip with explicit computation (the exercise I posed to you) and the theorem most definitely did not check. [I think the boundaryless case is, in fact, convincing with the area density in there.] I also still stand by my complaints about the Pfaffian in higher dimensions. And Chern certainly uses orientability in his proofs.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 19:38
1
@TedShifrin I'm not sure whether the boundary terms should add up or cancel, but let's imagine that they cancel, that would mean that $int_tilde{M} tilde{K} = 2pi chi(tilde{M})$, hence $int_M K = 2pi chi(M)$. This would be a version of Gauss-Bonnet for non-orientable surfaces: no boundary term, even if the surface has boundary. Interesting?
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:26
1
@Sunghyuk Park: Your addition with the Möbius strip example is nice, but it is also compatible with Ted Shifrin's hypothesis that the boundary term $int_tilde{partial M} tilde{k}$ could be equal to zero instead of $2 int_{partial M} k$
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:43
1
@TedShifrin@Seub The boundary term cannot cancel out. I know it can be a little confusing at first, but observe that even in case of an orientable surface, the boundary term does not depend on the orientation of the surface; the integral should be understood as a density integral, rather than an integral of a differential form. Intuitively, the boundary term measures the amount the boundary is curved inward (or outward). It is irrelevant to orientation.
– Henry Park
Sep 13 '18 at 12:27
2
@TedShifrin Also observe that a collar neighborhood of the boundary of a surface (not necessarily orientable) is always orientable. Hence there's no way the line integral "sees" orientability of the surface.
– Henry Park
Sep 14 '18 at 3:42
|
show 15 more comments
Following the OP's request, I'm posting the details of my computations for the explicit embedding of the Möbius strip $M$ in $Bbb R^3$. The orientation of (halves) of the boundary curve turns out to be the crucial matter, as I'd suspected. Although the theoretical arguments are compelling, I remain confused about what's wrong with the following computations. I can now vouch that the numerics are correct.
Consider the parametrization
$$x(u,v) = big((2+vsin(u/2))cos u,(2+vsin(u/2))sin u,vcos(u/2)big), quad 0le ule 2pi, -1le vle 1.$$
Note that $B = x(0,1) = x(2pi,-1)$ and $C=x(0,-1)=x(0,1)$.
As you can check, this is an orthogonal parametrization, and the first fundamental form has coefficients $E = |x_u|^2 = 4+frac34 v^2 - frac12 v^2cos u + 4vsin(u/2)$ and $G=|x_v|^2 = 1$.
I'm now going to use the standard formulas for $K$ and $kappa_g$ in an orthogonal parametrization (see, e.g., my text, pp. 60 and 81):
begin{align*} K &= -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright) \
kappa_g &= frac1{2sqrt{EG}}big({-}E_v u'(s) + G_u v'(s)big)+theta'(s),
end{align*}
the latter for an arclength parametrization of the curve. Here $theta$ is the angle the curve makes with $x_u$ at each point. In our case $theta'=0$ everywhere.
Note, also, that (forgetting about orientation issues for the moment)
begin{align*}
int_M K,dA &= iint_{[0,2pi]times [-1,1]} -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright)underbrace{sqrt{EG},du,dv}_{dA} \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi}int_{-1}^1 Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)_v,dv,du \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi} Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=1} - Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=-1} ,du.
end{align*}
Regarding the orientation issue, surely we'll agree that $|dA|$ should agree with this $dA$ if we remove one ruling of the surface (say the ruling from $B$ to $C$). So this integral should be the density integral.
Now, $E_v/sqrt E$ is rather a mess, but, using Mathematica to do the numerical integration, we find that this integral is (approximately) $-1.97$. [The most basic check is that it's negative, as we have a non-developable ruled surface.]
We can now use Mathematica to evaluate the geodesic curvature integrals. We note that $ds = frac{ds}{du}du$, so $kappa_g,ds = big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig)u'(s),ds =big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig),du$. On half the boundary circle, going from $B$ to $C$,
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=1}du approx -4.53,$$
and on the other half, going from $C$ to $B$, we have
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=-1}du approx -2.56.$$
So $int_M K,dA + int_{partial M} kappa_g,ds approx -9.06$ (certainly not $0$, nor, indeed, an integer multiple of $2pi$).
To double-check this computation, let's remove a tiny bit of our Möbius strip, say the region corresponding to $0le ule varepsilon$. This leaves us an oriented surface, for sure. Its boundary has two extra pieces, $u=0$ (oriented downward) and $u=varepsilon$ (oriented upward); these have no contribution, regardless of $varepsilon$, since the $v$-curves are line segments and have no geodesic curvature. The main discrepancy, however, is the reversed orientation on the segment $v=1$. Indeed, for $varepsilon$ very small, the $v=1$ integral is now approximately $+4.53$, and — mirabile dictu — note that
$$-1.97 + 4.53 - 2.56 = 0,$$
as it should! (The exterior angles of the "rectangle" contribute the $2pichi = 2pi$.) But I emphasize that when we've removed a bit of the Möbius strip to make an oriented creature, we do not have (almost) the same boundary curve as the Möbius strip. This difference, as far as I'm concerned, is what messes up the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem. One more comment: The definition of $kappa_g$ (as $kappamathbf Ncdot(mathbf ntimesmathbf T)$, where $mathbf T,mathbf N$ are the Frenet frame of the curve and $mathbf n$ is the surface normal) makes it clear that when we have an oriented surface with boundary, the sign of $kappa_g$ does not change if we reverse the orientation of the surface; for when we do, we change both $mathbf n$ and $mathbf T$ by a sign. But, if we interpreted $ds$ in this integral as a measure, as @SunghyukPark suggests, it surely must be consistent along the boundary circle of the Möbius strip, so we cannot just switch the sign of half the line integral. ...
EDIT: OK, I believe I've figured it out, much to my chagrin. We need to think about geodesic curvature intrinsically (as one does in a fancier proof of the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem). If $e_1$ is the unit tangent vector along $partial M$ and $e_2$ is the inward-pointing normal to $partial M$ in $M$, then, by definition, $kappa_g = nabla_{e_1}e_1cdot e_2$. So, in fact, on the upper edge $v=1$ of our parametrizing rectangle, the formula for $kappa_g$ we used earlier is off by a sign, and correcting this is equivalent to reversing the orientation on that upper integral. The correct values are
$$int_M K|dA| = -1.97 qquadtext{and}qquad int_{partial M}kappa_g ds = +4.53-2.56 = +1.97.$$
So the sum is, in fact, $2pichi(M) = 0$, as desired. I feel better now. :)
Here's the graph of the geodesic curvature (upper upper, lower lower):
Thank you for sharing your computations. Just a small remark: according to wikipedia, the geodesic curvature of a curve $gamma(t)$ is just the curvature of $gamma(t)$ in $S$, where $S$ is equipped with the induced Riemannian metric: $k_g =Vert frac{nabla^2}{ds^2} gamma(s) Vert$ for a unit speed curve, where $nabla$ is the Levi-Civita connection of the induced Riemannian metric. That seems to be a pretty good intrinsic definition.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:00
@Seub: I definitely do not like that. $kappa_g$ has an intrinsic sign. It shouldn't always be positive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 15 '18 at 1:05
I see, I understand now.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
This is more of an extended comment than a complete answer, but hope that it will close the question.
Applying a little Googlomagic (namely, searching for "gauss-bonnet non-orientable") it is possible to find out the following:
a paper by R. Palais's A Topological Gauss-Bonnet Theorem, J.Diff.Geom. 13 (1978) 385-398, where he mentions in passing that the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is easily generalized to the non-orientable case by considering measures.
an answer to this question with a feasible proof of the Gauss-Bonnet for the non-orientable case;
and many more interesting things, of course :)
On a side note, the Pfaffian has nothing to do with the orientability, bit rather with the dimension: it is defined in even dimensions (thus, in dimension 2 as well). See, maybe, here for the details.
Your final link makes it clear why you need an oriented (even rank) bundle.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 16:14
1
Thanks for the Palais reference. It's conclusive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 13 '18 at 18:00
add a comment |
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Orientability is not needed. Indeed, one can deduce unorientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem from the orientable one :
Given a (compact) nonorientable surface, say $M$, with metric $g$, consider its orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$. The metric $g$ is naturally pulled back to a metric $widetilde{g}$ on $widetilde{M}$; i.e. locally, $widetilde{M}$ is isometric to $M$. Then it is easy to see that the usual Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the orientable double cover implies the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the nonorientable surface, because $2pichi(M) = pichi(widetilde{M}) = frac{1}{2}int_{widetilde{M}}{K} = int_{M}K$, where $K$ denotes the Gaussian curvature.
Added :
One might want a version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces with boundary. Indeed, the argument above can be applied to nonorientable surfaces with boundary. Let $M$ be a nonorientable surface with boundary $partial M$. Then correspondingly its has an orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$ with boundary $partial widetilde{M}$. As before, this double cover is locally isometric to $M$. Following the notation of Wikipedia, we have the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on $widetilde{M}$ :
$$int_{widetilde{M}}K + int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2pi chi(widetilde{M})$$
Now observe that each term are twice the corresponding term for $M$. In particular, $int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2int_{partial M}k_g$ just because it is a 2-to-1 locally isometric double covering. As a result, we get
$$int_{M}K + int_{partial M}k_g = 2pi chi(M)$$ There is nothing special for nonorientable surfaces!
Added again :
Let me give you an example, a Möbius strip. Its Euler Characteristic is $0$. The most convenient metric on the Möbius strip is a flat metric; such Möbius strip can be realized as a quotient of a flat strip with parallel geodesic boundaries. With such a metric, $K=0$ and $k_g=0$, so the LHS of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is $0$ as expected.
In general, for any metric on the Möbius strip, the Gauss-Bonnet theorem should hold just as well, because the LHS remains constant under smooth deformation of metric. (Any deformation is a composition of local deformations, and for local deformations, it is a corollary of the orientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem.)
Another easy proof is to cut your surface into small orientable pieces. It is not important whether your original surface is orientable or not. Gauss-Bonnet theorem holds for individual pieces, and when you glue them back, boundary terms corresponding to seams cancel out. In this way it is easy to see that orientability is not important at all in Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces.
1
I haven't worked it out, but I think the line integrals on the boundary cancel, rather than doubling. I did work out the Möbius strip with explicit computation (the exercise I posed to you) and the theorem most definitely did not check. [I think the boundaryless case is, in fact, convincing with the area density in there.] I also still stand by my complaints about the Pfaffian in higher dimensions. And Chern certainly uses orientability in his proofs.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 19:38
1
@TedShifrin I'm not sure whether the boundary terms should add up or cancel, but let's imagine that they cancel, that would mean that $int_tilde{M} tilde{K} = 2pi chi(tilde{M})$, hence $int_M K = 2pi chi(M)$. This would be a version of Gauss-Bonnet for non-orientable surfaces: no boundary term, even if the surface has boundary. Interesting?
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:26
1
@Sunghyuk Park: Your addition with the Möbius strip example is nice, but it is also compatible with Ted Shifrin's hypothesis that the boundary term $int_tilde{partial M} tilde{k}$ could be equal to zero instead of $2 int_{partial M} k$
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:43
1
@TedShifrin@Seub The boundary term cannot cancel out. I know it can be a little confusing at first, but observe that even in case of an orientable surface, the boundary term does not depend on the orientation of the surface; the integral should be understood as a density integral, rather than an integral of a differential form. Intuitively, the boundary term measures the amount the boundary is curved inward (or outward). It is irrelevant to orientation.
– Henry Park
Sep 13 '18 at 12:27
2
@TedShifrin Also observe that a collar neighborhood of the boundary of a surface (not necessarily orientable) is always orientable. Hence there's no way the line integral "sees" orientability of the surface.
– Henry Park
Sep 14 '18 at 3:42
|
show 15 more comments
Orientability is not needed. Indeed, one can deduce unorientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem from the orientable one :
Given a (compact) nonorientable surface, say $M$, with metric $g$, consider its orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$. The metric $g$ is naturally pulled back to a metric $widetilde{g}$ on $widetilde{M}$; i.e. locally, $widetilde{M}$ is isometric to $M$. Then it is easy to see that the usual Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the orientable double cover implies the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the nonorientable surface, because $2pichi(M) = pichi(widetilde{M}) = frac{1}{2}int_{widetilde{M}}{K} = int_{M}K$, where $K$ denotes the Gaussian curvature.
Added :
One might want a version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces with boundary. Indeed, the argument above can be applied to nonorientable surfaces with boundary. Let $M$ be a nonorientable surface with boundary $partial M$. Then correspondingly its has an orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$ with boundary $partial widetilde{M}$. As before, this double cover is locally isometric to $M$. Following the notation of Wikipedia, we have the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on $widetilde{M}$ :
$$int_{widetilde{M}}K + int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2pi chi(widetilde{M})$$
Now observe that each term are twice the corresponding term for $M$. In particular, $int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2int_{partial M}k_g$ just because it is a 2-to-1 locally isometric double covering. As a result, we get
$$int_{M}K + int_{partial M}k_g = 2pi chi(M)$$ There is nothing special for nonorientable surfaces!
Added again :
Let me give you an example, a Möbius strip. Its Euler Characteristic is $0$. The most convenient metric on the Möbius strip is a flat metric; such Möbius strip can be realized as a quotient of a flat strip with parallel geodesic boundaries. With such a metric, $K=0$ and $k_g=0$, so the LHS of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is $0$ as expected.
In general, for any metric on the Möbius strip, the Gauss-Bonnet theorem should hold just as well, because the LHS remains constant under smooth deformation of metric. (Any deformation is a composition of local deformations, and for local deformations, it is a corollary of the orientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem.)
Another easy proof is to cut your surface into small orientable pieces. It is not important whether your original surface is orientable or not. Gauss-Bonnet theorem holds for individual pieces, and when you glue them back, boundary terms corresponding to seams cancel out. In this way it is easy to see that orientability is not important at all in Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces.
1
I haven't worked it out, but I think the line integrals on the boundary cancel, rather than doubling. I did work out the Möbius strip with explicit computation (the exercise I posed to you) and the theorem most definitely did not check. [I think the boundaryless case is, in fact, convincing with the area density in there.] I also still stand by my complaints about the Pfaffian in higher dimensions. And Chern certainly uses orientability in his proofs.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 19:38
1
@TedShifrin I'm not sure whether the boundary terms should add up or cancel, but let's imagine that they cancel, that would mean that $int_tilde{M} tilde{K} = 2pi chi(tilde{M})$, hence $int_M K = 2pi chi(M)$. This would be a version of Gauss-Bonnet for non-orientable surfaces: no boundary term, even if the surface has boundary. Interesting?
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:26
1
@Sunghyuk Park: Your addition with the Möbius strip example is nice, but it is also compatible with Ted Shifrin's hypothesis that the boundary term $int_tilde{partial M} tilde{k}$ could be equal to zero instead of $2 int_{partial M} k$
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:43
1
@TedShifrin@Seub The boundary term cannot cancel out. I know it can be a little confusing at first, but observe that even in case of an orientable surface, the boundary term does not depend on the orientation of the surface; the integral should be understood as a density integral, rather than an integral of a differential form. Intuitively, the boundary term measures the amount the boundary is curved inward (or outward). It is irrelevant to orientation.
– Henry Park
Sep 13 '18 at 12:27
2
@TedShifrin Also observe that a collar neighborhood of the boundary of a surface (not necessarily orientable) is always orientable. Hence there's no way the line integral "sees" orientability of the surface.
– Henry Park
Sep 14 '18 at 3:42
|
show 15 more comments
Orientability is not needed. Indeed, one can deduce unorientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem from the orientable one :
Given a (compact) nonorientable surface, say $M$, with metric $g$, consider its orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$. The metric $g$ is naturally pulled back to a metric $widetilde{g}$ on $widetilde{M}$; i.e. locally, $widetilde{M}$ is isometric to $M$. Then it is easy to see that the usual Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the orientable double cover implies the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the nonorientable surface, because $2pichi(M) = pichi(widetilde{M}) = frac{1}{2}int_{widetilde{M}}{K} = int_{M}K$, where $K$ denotes the Gaussian curvature.
Added :
One might want a version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces with boundary. Indeed, the argument above can be applied to nonorientable surfaces with boundary. Let $M$ be a nonorientable surface with boundary $partial M$. Then correspondingly its has an orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$ with boundary $partial widetilde{M}$. As before, this double cover is locally isometric to $M$. Following the notation of Wikipedia, we have the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on $widetilde{M}$ :
$$int_{widetilde{M}}K + int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2pi chi(widetilde{M})$$
Now observe that each term are twice the corresponding term for $M$. In particular, $int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2int_{partial M}k_g$ just because it is a 2-to-1 locally isometric double covering. As a result, we get
$$int_{M}K + int_{partial M}k_g = 2pi chi(M)$$ There is nothing special for nonorientable surfaces!
Added again :
Let me give you an example, a Möbius strip. Its Euler Characteristic is $0$. The most convenient metric on the Möbius strip is a flat metric; such Möbius strip can be realized as a quotient of a flat strip with parallel geodesic boundaries. With such a metric, $K=0$ and $k_g=0$, so the LHS of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is $0$ as expected.
In general, for any metric on the Möbius strip, the Gauss-Bonnet theorem should hold just as well, because the LHS remains constant under smooth deformation of metric. (Any deformation is a composition of local deformations, and for local deformations, it is a corollary of the orientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem.)
Another easy proof is to cut your surface into small orientable pieces. It is not important whether your original surface is orientable or not. Gauss-Bonnet theorem holds for individual pieces, and when you glue them back, boundary terms corresponding to seams cancel out. In this way it is easy to see that orientability is not important at all in Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces.
Orientability is not needed. Indeed, one can deduce unorientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem from the orientable one :
Given a (compact) nonorientable surface, say $M$, with metric $g$, consider its orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$. The metric $g$ is naturally pulled back to a metric $widetilde{g}$ on $widetilde{M}$; i.e. locally, $widetilde{M}$ is isometric to $M$. Then it is easy to see that the usual Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the orientable double cover implies the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the nonorientable surface, because $2pichi(M) = pichi(widetilde{M}) = frac{1}{2}int_{widetilde{M}}{K} = int_{M}K$, where $K$ denotes the Gaussian curvature.
Added :
One might want a version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces with boundary. Indeed, the argument above can be applied to nonorientable surfaces with boundary. Let $M$ be a nonorientable surface with boundary $partial M$. Then correspondingly its has an orientable double cover $widetilde{M}$ with boundary $partial widetilde{M}$. As before, this double cover is locally isometric to $M$. Following the notation of Wikipedia, we have the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on $widetilde{M}$ :
$$int_{widetilde{M}}K + int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2pi chi(widetilde{M})$$
Now observe that each term are twice the corresponding term for $M$. In particular, $int_{partialwidetilde{M}}k_g = 2int_{partial M}k_g$ just because it is a 2-to-1 locally isometric double covering. As a result, we get
$$int_{M}K + int_{partial M}k_g = 2pi chi(M)$$ There is nothing special for nonorientable surfaces!
Added again :
Let me give you an example, a Möbius strip. Its Euler Characteristic is $0$. The most convenient metric on the Möbius strip is a flat metric; such Möbius strip can be realized as a quotient of a flat strip with parallel geodesic boundaries. With such a metric, $K=0$ and $k_g=0$, so the LHS of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is $0$ as expected.
In general, for any metric on the Möbius strip, the Gauss-Bonnet theorem should hold just as well, because the LHS remains constant under smooth deformation of metric. (Any deformation is a composition of local deformations, and for local deformations, it is a corollary of the orientable version of Gauss-Bonnet theorem.)
Another easy proof is to cut your surface into small orientable pieces. It is not important whether your original surface is orientable or not. Gauss-Bonnet theorem holds for individual pieces, and when you glue them back, boundary terms corresponding to seams cancel out. In this way it is easy to see that orientability is not important at all in Gauss-Bonnet theorem for surfaces.
edited Sep 13 '18 at 23:34
answered Sep 12 '18 at 14:35
Henry ParkHenry Park
1,700724
1,700724
1
I haven't worked it out, but I think the line integrals on the boundary cancel, rather than doubling. I did work out the Möbius strip with explicit computation (the exercise I posed to you) and the theorem most definitely did not check. [I think the boundaryless case is, in fact, convincing with the area density in there.] I also still stand by my complaints about the Pfaffian in higher dimensions. And Chern certainly uses orientability in his proofs.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 19:38
1
@TedShifrin I'm not sure whether the boundary terms should add up or cancel, but let's imagine that they cancel, that would mean that $int_tilde{M} tilde{K} = 2pi chi(tilde{M})$, hence $int_M K = 2pi chi(M)$. This would be a version of Gauss-Bonnet for non-orientable surfaces: no boundary term, even if the surface has boundary. Interesting?
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:26
1
@Sunghyuk Park: Your addition with the Möbius strip example is nice, but it is also compatible with Ted Shifrin's hypothesis that the boundary term $int_tilde{partial M} tilde{k}$ could be equal to zero instead of $2 int_{partial M} k$
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:43
1
@TedShifrin@Seub The boundary term cannot cancel out. I know it can be a little confusing at first, but observe that even in case of an orientable surface, the boundary term does not depend on the orientation of the surface; the integral should be understood as a density integral, rather than an integral of a differential form. Intuitively, the boundary term measures the amount the boundary is curved inward (or outward). It is irrelevant to orientation.
– Henry Park
Sep 13 '18 at 12:27
2
@TedShifrin Also observe that a collar neighborhood of the boundary of a surface (not necessarily orientable) is always orientable. Hence there's no way the line integral "sees" orientability of the surface.
– Henry Park
Sep 14 '18 at 3:42
|
show 15 more comments
1
I haven't worked it out, but I think the line integrals on the boundary cancel, rather than doubling. I did work out the Möbius strip with explicit computation (the exercise I posed to you) and the theorem most definitely did not check. [I think the boundaryless case is, in fact, convincing with the area density in there.] I also still stand by my complaints about the Pfaffian in higher dimensions. And Chern certainly uses orientability in his proofs.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 19:38
1
@TedShifrin I'm not sure whether the boundary terms should add up or cancel, but let's imagine that they cancel, that would mean that $int_tilde{M} tilde{K} = 2pi chi(tilde{M})$, hence $int_M K = 2pi chi(M)$. This would be a version of Gauss-Bonnet for non-orientable surfaces: no boundary term, even if the surface has boundary. Interesting?
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:26
1
@Sunghyuk Park: Your addition with the Möbius strip example is nice, but it is also compatible with Ted Shifrin's hypothesis that the boundary term $int_tilde{partial M} tilde{k}$ could be equal to zero instead of $2 int_{partial M} k$
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:43
1
@TedShifrin@Seub The boundary term cannot cancel out. I know it can be a little confusing at first, but observe that even in case of an orientable surface, the boundary term does not depend on the orientation of the surface; the integral should be understood as a density integral, rather than an integral of a differential form. Intuitively, the boundary term measures the amount the boundary is curved inward (or outward). It is irrelevant to orientation.
– Henry Park
Sep 13 '18 at 12:27
2
@TedShifrin Also observe that a collar neighborhood of the boundary of a surface (not necessarily orientable) is always orientable. Hence there's no way the line integral "sees" orientability of the surface.
– Henry Park
Sep 14 '18 at 3:42
1
1
I haven't worked it out, but I think the line integrals on the boundary cancel, rather than doubling. I did work out the Möbius strip with explicit computation (the exercise I posed to you) and the theorem most definitely did not check. [I think the boundaryless case is, in fact, convincing with the area density in there.] I also still stand by my complaints about the Pfaffian in higher dimensions. And Chern certainly uses orientability in his proofs.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 19:38
I haven't worked it out, but I think the line integrals on the boundary cancel, rather than doubling. I did work out the Möbius strip with explicit computation (the exercise I posed to you) and the theorem most definitely did not check. [I think the boundaryless case is, in fact, convincing with the area density in there.] I also still stand by my complaints about the Pfaffian in higher dimensions. And Chern certainly uses orientability in his proofs.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 19:38
1
1
@TedShifrin I'm not sure whether the boundary terms should add up or cancel, but let's imagine that they cancel, that would mean that $int_tilde{M} tilde{K} = 2pi chi(tilde{M})$, hence $int_M K = 2pi chi(M)$. This would be a version of Gauss-Bonnet for non-orientable surfaces: no boundary term, even if the surface has boundary. Interesting?
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:26
@TedShifrin I'm not sure whether the boundary terms should add up or cancel, but let's imagine that they cancel, that would mean that $int_tilde{M} tilde{K} = 2pi chi(tilde{M})$, hence $int_M K = 2pi chi(M)$. This would be a version of Gauss-Bonnet for non-orientable surfaces: no boundary term, even if the surface has boundary. Interesting?
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:26
1
1
@Sunghyuk Park: Your addition with the Möbius strip example is nice, but it is also compatible with Ted Shifrin's hypothesis that the boundary term $int_tilde{partial M} tilde{k}$ could be equal to zero instead of $2 int_{partial M} k$
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:43
@Sunghyuk Park: Your addition with the Möbius strip example is nice, but it is also compatible with Ted Shifrin's hypothesis that the boundary term $int_tilde{partial M} tilde{k}$ could be equal to zero instead of $2 int_{partial M} k$
– Seub
Sep 13 '18 at 11:43
1
1
@TedShifrin@Seub The boundary term cannot cancel out. I know it can be a little confusing at first, but observe that even in case of an orientable surface, the boundary term does not depend on the orientation of the surface; the integral should be understood as a density integral, rather than an integral of a differential form. Intuitively, the boundary term measures the amount the boundary is curved inward (or outward). It is irrelevant to orientation.
– Henry Park
Sep 13 '18 at 12:27
@TedShifrin@Seub The boundary term cannot cancel out. I know it can be a little confusing at first, but observe that even in case of an orientable surface, the boundary term does not depend on the orientation of the surface; the integral should be understood as a density integral, rather than an integral of a differential form. Intuitively, the boundary term measures the amount the boundary is curved inward (or outward). It is irrelevant to orientation.
– Henry Park
Sep 13 '18 at 12:27
2
2
@TedShifrin Also observe that a collar neighborhood of the boundary of a surface (not necessarily orientable) is always orientable. Hence there's no way the line integral "sees" orientability of the surface.
– Henry Park
Sep 14 '18 at 3:42
@TedShifrin Also observe that a collar neighborhood of the boundary of a surface (not necessarily orientable) is always orientable. Hence there's no way the line integral "sees" orientability of the surface.
– Henry Park
Sep 14 '18 at 3:42
|
show 15 more comments
Following the OP's request, I'm posting the details of my computations for the explicit embedding of the Möbius strip $M$ in $Bbb R^3$. The orientation of (halves) of the boundary curve turns out to be the crucial matter, as I'd suspected. Although the theoretical arguments are compelling, I remain confused about what's wrong with the following computations. I can now vouch that the numerics are correct.
Consider the parametrization
$$x(u,v) = big((2+vsin(u/2))cos u,(2+vsin(u/2))sin u,vcos(u/2)big), quad 0le ule 2pi, -1le vle 1.$$
Note that $B = x(0,1) = x(2pi,-1)$ and $C=x(0,-1)=x(0,1)$.
As you can check, this is an orthogonal parametrization, and the first fundamental form has coefficients $E = |x_u|^2 = 4+frac34 v^2 - frac12 v^2cos u + 4vsin(u/2)$ and $G=|x_v|^2 = 1$.
I'm now going to use the standard formulas for $K$ and $kappa_g$ in an orthogonal parametrization (see, e.g., my text, pp. 60 and 81):
begin{align*} K &= -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright) \
kappa_g &= frac1{2sqrt{EG}}big({-}E_v u'(s) + G_u v'(s)big)+theta'(s),
end{align*}
the latter for an arclength parametrization of the curve. Here $theta$ is the angle the curve makes with $x_u$ at each point. In our case $theta'=0$ everywhere.
Note, also, that (forgetting about orientation issues for the moment)
begin{align*}
int_M K,dA &= iint_{[0,2pi]times [-1,1]} -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright)underbrace{sqrt{EG},du,dv}_{dA} \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi}int_{-1}^1 Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)_v,dv,du \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi} Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=1} - Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=-1} ,du.
end{align*}
Regarding the orientation issue, surely we'll agree that $|dA|$ should agree with this $dA$ if we remove one ruling of the surface (say the ruling from $B$ to $C$). So this integral should be the density integral.
Now, $E_v/sqrt E$ is rather a mess, but, using Mathematica to do the numerical integration, we find that this integral is (approximately) $-1.97$. [The most basic check is that it's negative, as we have a non-developable ruled surface.]
We can now use Mathematica to evaluate the geodesic curvature integrals. We note that $ds = frac{ds}{du}du$, so $kappa_g,ds = big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig)u'(s),ds =big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig),du$. On half the boundary circle, going from $B$ to $C$,
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=1}du approx -4.53,$$
and on the other half, going from $C$ to $B$, we have
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=-1}du approx -2.56.$$
So $int_M K,dA + int_{partial M} kappa_g,ds approx -9.06$ (certainly not $0$, nor, indeed, an integer multiple of $2pi$).
To double-check this computation, let's remove a tiny bit of our Möbius strip, say the region corresponding to $0le ule varepsilon$. This leaves us an oriented surface, for sure. Its boundary has two extra pieces, $u=0$ (oriented downward) and $u=varepsilon$ (oriented upward); these have no contribution, regardless of $varepsilon$, since the $v$-curves are line segments and have no geodesic curvature. The main discrepancy, however, is the reversed orientation on the segment $v=1$. Indeed, for $varepsilon$ very small, the $v=1$ integral is now approximately $+4.53$, and — mirabile dictu — note that
$$-1.97 + 4.53 - 2.56 = 0,$$
as it should! (The exterior angles of the "rectangle" contribute the $2pichi = 2pi$.) But I emphasize that when we've removed a bit of the Möbius strip to make an oriented creature, we do not have (almost) the same boundary curve as the Möbius strip. This difference, as far as I'm concerned, is what messes up the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem. One more comment: The definition of $kappa_g$ (as $kappamathbf Ncdot(mathbf ntimesmathbf T)$, where $mathbf T,mathbf N$ are the Frenet frame of the curve and $mathbf n$ is the surface normal) makes it clear that when we have an oriented surface with boundary, the sign of $kappa_g$ does not change if we reverse the orientation of the surface; for when we do, we change both $mathbf n$ and $mathbf T$ by a sign. But, if we interpreted $ds$ in this integral as a measure, as @SunghyukPark suggests, it surely must be consistent along the boundary circle of the Möbius strip, so we cannot just switch the sign of half the line integral. ...
EDIT: OK, I believe I've figured it out, much to my chagrin. We need to think about geodesic curvature intrinsically (as one does in a fancier proof of the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem). If $e_1$ is the unit tangent vector along $partial M$ and $e_2$ is the inward-pointing normal to $partial M$ in $M$, then, by definition, $kappa_g = nabla_{e_1}e_1cdot e_2$. So, in fact, on the upper edge $v=1$ of our parametrizing rectangle, the formula for $kappa_g$ we used earlier is off by a sign, and correcting this is equivalent to reversing the orientation on that upper integral. The correct values are
$$int_M K|dA| = -1.97 qquadtext{and}qquad int_{partial M}kappa_g ds = +4.53-2.56 = +1.97.$$
So the sum is, in fact, $2pichi(M) = 0$, as desired. I feel better now. :)
Here's the graph of the geodesic curvature (upper upper, lower lower):
Thank you for sharing your computations. Just a small remark: according to wikipedia, the geodesic curvature of a curve $gamma(t)$ is just the curvature of $gamma(t)$ in $S$, where $S$ is equipped with the induced Riemannian metric: $k_g =Vert frac{nabla^2}{ds^2} gamma(s) Vert$ for a unit speed curve, where $nabla$ is the Levi-Civita connection of the induced Riemannian metric. That seems to be a pretty good intrinsic definition.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:00
@Seub: I definitely do not like that. $kappa_g$ has an intrinsic sign. It shouldn't always be positive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 15 '18 at 1:05
I see, I understand now.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
Following the OP's request, I'm posting the details of my computations for the explicit embedding of the Möbius strip $M$ in $Bbb R^3$. The orientation of (halves) of the boundary curve turns out to be the crucial matter, as I'd suspected. Although the theoretical arguments are compelling, I remain confused about what's wrong with the following computations. I can now vouch that the numerics are correct.
Consider the parametrization
$$x(u,v) = big((2+vsin(u/2))cos u,(2+vsin(u/2))sin u,vcos(u/2)big), quad 0le ule 2pi, -1le vle 1.$$
Note that $B = x(0,1) = x(2pi,-1)$ and $C=x(0,-1)=x(0,1)$.
As you can check, this is an orthogonal parametrization, and the first fundamental form has coefficients $E = |x_u|^2 = 4+frac34 v^2 - frac12 v^2cos u + 4vsin(u/2)$ and $G=|x_v|^2 = 1$.
I'm now going to use the standard formulas for $K$ and $kappa_g$ in an orthogonal parametrization (see, e.g., my text, pp. 60 and 81):
begin{align*} K &= -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright) \
kappa_g &= frac1{2sqrt{EG}}big({-}E_v u'(s) + G_u v'(s)big)+theta'(s),
end{align*}
the latter for an arclength parametrization of the curve. Here $theta$ is the angle the curve makes with $x_u$ at each point. In our case $theta'=0$ everywhere.
Note, also, that (forgetting about orientation issues for the moment)
begin{align*}
int_M K,dA &= iint_{[0,2pi]times [-1,1]} -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright)underbrace{sqrt{EG},du,dv}_{dA} \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi}int_{-1}^1 Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)_v,dv,du \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi} Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=1} - Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=-1} ,du.
end{align*}
Regarding the orientation issue, surely we'll agree that $|dA|$ should agree with this $dA$ if we remove one ruling of the surface (say the ruling from $B$ to $C$). So this integral should be the density integral.
Now, $E_v/sqrt E$ is rather a mess, but, using Mathematica to do the numerical integration, we find that this integral is (approximately) $-1.97$. [The most basic check is that it's negative, as we have a non-developable ruled surface.]
We can now use Mathematica to evaluate the geodesic curvature integrals. We note that $ds = frac{ds}{du}du$, so $kappa_g,ds = big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig)u'(s),ds =big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig),du$. On half the boundary circle, going from $B$ to $C$,
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=1}du approx -4.53,$$
and on the other half, going from $C$ to $B$, we have
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=-1}du approx -2.56.$$
So $int_M K,dA + int_{partial M} kappa_g,ds approx -9.06$ (certainly not $0$, nor, indeed, an integer multiple of $2pi$).
To double-check this computation, let's remove a tiny bit of our Möbius strip, say the region corresponding to $0le ule varepsilon$. This leaves us an oriented surface, for sure. Its boundary has two extra pieces, $u=0$ (oriented downward) and $u=varepsilon$ (oriented upward); these have no contribution, regardless of $varepsilon$, since the $v$-curves are line segments and have no geodesic curvature. The main discrepancy, however, is the reversed orientation on the segment $v=1$. Indeed, for $varepsilon$ very small, the $v=1$ integral is now approximately $+4.53$, and — mirabile dictu — note that
$$-1.97 + 4.53 - 2.56 = 0,$$
as it should! (The exterior angles of the "rectangle" contribute the $2pichi = 2pi$.) But I emphasize that when we've removed a bit of the Möbius strip to make an oriented creature, we do not have (almost) the same boundary curve as the Möbius strip. This difference, as far as I'm concerned, is what messes up the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem. One more comment: The definition of $kappa_g$ (as $kappamathbf Ncdot(mathbf ntimesmathbf T)$, where $mathbf T,mathbf N$ are the Frenet frame of the curve and $mathbf n$ is the surface normal) makes it clear that when we have an oriented surface with boundary, the sign of $kappa_g$ does not change if we reverse the orientation of the surface; for when we do, we change both $mathbf n$ and $mathbf T$ by a sign. But, if we interpreted $ds$ in this integral as a measure, as @SunghyukPark suggests, it surely must be consistent along the boundary circle of the Möbius strip, so we cannot just switch the sign of half the line integral. ...
EDIT: OK, I believe I've figured it out, much to my chagrin. We need to think about geodesic curvature intrinsically (as one does in a fancier proof of the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem). If $e_1$ is the unit tangent vector along $partial M$ and $e_2$ is the inward-pointing normal to $partial M$ in $M$, then, by definition, $kappa_g = nabla_{e_1}e_1cdot e_2$. So, in fact, on the upper edge $v=1$ of our parametrizing rectangle, the formula for $kappa_g$ we used earlier is off by a sign, and correcting this is equivalent to reversing the orientation on that upper integral. The correct values are
$$int_M K|dA| = -1.97 qquadtext{and}qquad int_{partial M}kappa_g ds = +4.53-2.56 = +1.97.$$
So the sum is, in fact, $2pichi(M) = 0$, as desired. I feel better now. :)
Here's the graph of the geodesic curvature (upper upper, lower lower):
Thank you for sharing your computations. Just a small remark: according to wikipedia, the geodesic curvature of a curve $gamma(t)$ is just the curvature of $gamma(t)$ in $S$, where $S$ is equipped with the induced Riemannian metric: $k_g =Vert frac{nabla^2}{ds^2} gamma(s) Vert$ for a unit speed curve, where $nabla$ is the Levi-Civita connection of the induced Riemannian metric. That seems to be a pretty good intrinsic definition.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:00
@Seub: I definitely do not like that. $kappa_g$ has an intrinsic sign. It shouldn't always be positive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 15 '18 at 1:05
I see, I understand now.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
Following the OP's request, I'm posting the details of my computations for the explicit embedding of the Möbius strip $M$ in $Bbb R^3$. The orientation of (halves) of the boundary curve turns out to be the crucial matter, as I'd suspected. Although the theoretical arguments are compelling, I remain confused about what's wrong with the following computations. I can now vouch that the numerics are correct.
Consider the parametrization
$$x(u,v) = big((2+vsin(u/2))cos u,(2+vsin(u/2))sin u,vcos(u/2)big), quad 0le ule 2pi, -1le vle 1.$$
Note that $B = x(0,1) = x(2pi,-1)$ and $C=x(0,-1)=x(0,1)$.
As you can check, this is an orthogonal parametrization, and the first fundamental form has coefficients $E = |x_u|^2 = 4+frac34 v^2 - frac12 v^2cos u + 4vsin(u/2)$ and $G=|x_v|^2 = 1$.
I'm now going to use the standard formulas for $K$ and $kappa_g$ in an orthogonal parametrization (see, e.g., my text, pp. 60 and 81):
begin{align*} K &= -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright) \
kappa_g &= frac1{2sqrt{EG}}big({-}E_v u'(s) + G_u v'(s)big)+theta'(s),
end{align*}
the latter for an arclength parametrization of the curve. Here $theta$ is the angle the curve makes with $x_u$ at each point. In our case $theta'=0$ everywhere.
Note, also, that (forgetting about orientation issues for the moment)
begin{align*}
int_M K,dA &= iint_{[0,2pi]times [-1,1]} -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright)underbrace{sqrt{EG},du,dv}_{dA} \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi}int_{-1}^1 Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)_v,dv,du \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi} Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=1} - Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=-1} ,du.
end{align*}
Regarding the orientation issue, surely we'll agree that $|dA|$ should agree with this $dA$ if we remove one ruling of the surface (say the ruling from $B$ to $C$). So this integral should be the density integral.
Now, $E_v/sqrt E$ is rather a mess, but, using Mathematica to do the numerical integration, we find that this integral is (approximately) $-1.97$. [The most basic check is that it's negative, as we have a non-developable ruled surface.]
We can now use Mathematica to evaluate the geodesic curvature integrals. We note that $ds = frac{ds}{du}du$, so $kappa_g,ds = big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig)u'(s),ds =big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig),du$. On half the boundary circle, going from $B$ to $C$,
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=1}du approx -4.53,$$
and on the other half, going from $C$ to $B$, we have
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=-1}du approx -2.56.$$
So $int_M K,dA + int_{partial M} kappa_g,ds approx -9.06$ (certainly not $0$, nor, indeed, an integer multiple of $2pi$).
To double-check this computation, let's remove a tiny bit of our Möbius strip, say the region corresponding to $0le ule varepsilon$. This leaves us an oriented surface, for sure. Its boundary has two extra pieces, $u=0$ (oriented downward) and $u=varepsilon$ (oriented upward); these have no contribution, regardless of $varepsilon$, since the $v$-curves are line segments and have no geodesic curvature. The main discrepancy, however, is the reversed orientation on the segment $v=1$. Indeed, for $varepsilon$ very small, the $v=1$ integral is now approximately $+4.53$, and — mirabile dictu — note that
$$-1.97 + 4.53 - 2.56 = 0,$$
as it should! (The exterior angles of the "rectangle" contribute the $2pichi = 2pi$.) But I emphasize that when we've removed a bit of the Möbius strip to make an oriented creature, we do not have (almost) the same boundary curve as the Möbius strip. This difference, as far as I'm concerned, is what messes up the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem. One more comment: The definition of $kappa_g$ (as $kappamathbf Ncdot(mathbf ntimesmathbf T)$, where $mathbf T,mathbf N$ are the Frenet frame of the curve and $mathbf n$ is the surface normal) makes it clear that when we have an oriented surface with boundary, the sign of $kappa_g$ does not change if we reverse the orientation of the surface; for when we do, we change both $mathbf n$ and $mathbf T$ by a sign. But, if we interpreted $ds$ in this integral as a measure, as @SunghyukPark suggests, it surely must be consistent along the boundary circle of the Möbius strip, so we cannot just switch the sign of half the line integral. ...
EDIT: OK, I believe I've figured it out, much to my chagrin. We need to think about geodesic curvature intrinsically (as one does in a fancier proof of the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem). If $e_1$ is the unit tangent vector along $partial M$ and $e_2$ is the inward-pointing normal to $partial M$ in $M$, then, by definition, $kappa_g = nabla_{e_1}e_1cdot e_2$. So, in fact, on the upper edge $v=1$ of our parametrizing rectangle, the formula for $kappa_g$ we used earlier is off by a sign, and correcting this is equivalent to reversing the orientation on that upper integral. The correct values are
$$int_M K|dA| = -1.97 qquadtext{and}qquad int_{partial M}kappa_g ds = +4.53-2.56 = +1.97.$$
So the sum is, in fact, $2pichi(M) = 0$, as desired. I feel better now. :)
Here's the graph of the geodesic curvature (upper upper, lower lower):
Following the OP's request, I'm posting the details of my computations for the explicit embedding of the Möbius strip $M$ in $Bbb R^3$. The orientation of (halves) of the boundary curve turns out to be the crucial matter, as I'd suspected. Although the theoretical arguments are compelling, I remain confused about what's wrong with the following computations. I can now vouch that the numerics are correct.
Consider the parametrization
$$x(u,v) = big((2+vsin(u/2))cos u,(2+vsin(u/2))sin u,vcos(u/2)big), quad 0le ule 2pi, -1le vle 1.$$
Note that $B = x(0,1) = x(2pi,-1)$ and $C=x(0,-1)=x(0,1)$.
As you can check, this is an orthogonal parametrization, and the first fundamental form has coefficients $E = |x_u|^2 = 4+frac34 v^2 - frac12 v^2cos u + 4vsin(u/2)$ and $G=|x_v|^2 = 1$.
I'm now going to use the standard formulas for $K$ and $kappa_g$ in an orthogonal parametrization (see, e.g., my text, pp. 60 and 81):
begin{align*} K &= -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright) \
kappa_g &= frac1{2sqrt{EG}}big({-}E_v u'(s) + G_u v'(s)big)+theta'(s),
end{align*}
the latter for an arclength parametrization of the curve. Here $theta$ is the angle the curve makes with $x_u$ at each point. In our case $theta'=0$ everywhere.
Note, also, that (forgetting about orientation issues for the moment)
begin{align*}
int_M K,dA &= iint_{[0,2pi]times [-1,1]} -frac1{2sqrt{EG}}left(Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_v +
Big(frac{G_u}{sqrt{EG}}Big)_uright)underbrace{sqrt{EG},du,dv}_{dA} \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi}int_{-1}^1 Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)_v,dv,du \ &= -frac12int_0^{2pi} Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=1} - Big(frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big)Big|_{v=-1} ,du.
end{align*}
Regarding the orientation issue, surely we'll agree that $|dA|$ should agree with this $dA$ if we remove one ruling of the surface (say the ruling from $B$ to $C$). So this integral should be the density integral.
Now, $E_v/sqrt E$ is rather a mess, but, using Mathematica to do the numerical integration, we find that this integral is (approximately) $-1.97$. [The most basic check is that it's negative, as we have a non-developable ruled surface.]
We can now use Mathematica to evaluate the geodesic curvature integrals. We note that $ds = frac{ds}{du}du$, so $kappa_g,ds = big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig)u'(s),ds =big({-}frac12 E_v/sqrt Ebig),du$. On half the boundary circle, going from $B$ to $C$,
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=1}du approx -4.53,$$
and on the other half, going from $C$ to $B$, we have
$$-frac12int_0^{2pi} frac{E_v}{sqrt E}Big|_{v=-1}du approx -2.56.$$
So $int_M K,dA + int_{partial M} kappa_g,ds approx -9.06$ (certainly not $0$, nor, indeed, an integer multiple of $2pi$).
To double-check this computation, let's remove a tiny bit of our Möbius strip, say the region corresponding to $0le ule varepsilon$. This leaves us an oriented surface, for sure. Its boundary has two extra pieces, $u=0$ (oriented downward) and $u=varepsilon$ (oriented upward); these have no contribution, regardless of $varepsilon$, since the $v$-curves are line segments and have no geodesic curvature. The main discrepancy, however, is the reversed orientation on the segment $v=1$. Indeed, for $varepsilon$ very small, the $v=1$ integral is now approximately $+4.53$, and — mirabile dictu — note that
$$-1.97 + 4.53 - 2.56 = 0,$$
as it should! (The exterior angles of the "rectangle" contribute the $2pichi = 2pi$.) But I emphasize that when we've removed a bit of the Möbius strip to make an oriented creature, we do not have (almost) the same boundary curve as the Möbius strip. This difference, as far as I'm concerned, is what messes up the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem. One more comment: The definition of $kappa_g$ (as $kappamathbf Ncdot(mathbf ntimesmathbf T)$, where $mathbf T,mathbf N$ are the Frenet frame of the curve and $mathbf n$ is the surface normal) makes it clear that when we have an oriented surface with boundary, the sign of $kappa_g$ does not change if we reverse the orientation of the surface; for when we do, we change both $mathbf n$ and $mathbf T$ by a sign. But, if we interpreted $ds$ in this integral as a measure, as @SunghyukPark suggests, it surely must be consistent along the boundary circle of the Möbius strip, so we cannot just switch the sign of half the line integral. ...
EDIT: OK, I believe I've figured it out, much to my chagrin. We need to think about geodesic curvature intrinsically (as one does in a fancier proof of the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem). If $e_1$ is the unit tangent vector along $partial M$ and $e_2$ is the inward-pointing normal to $partial M$ in $M$, then, by definition, $kappa_g = nabla_{e_1}e_1cdot e_2$. So, in fact, on the upper edge $v=1$ of our parametrizing rectangle, the formula for $kappa_g$ we used earlier is off by a sign, and correcting this is equivalent to reversing the orientation on that upper integral. The correct values are
$$int_M K|dA| = -1.97 qquadtext{and}qquad int_{partial M}kappa_g ds = +4.53-2.56 = +1.97.$$
So the sum is, in fact, $2pichi(M) = 0$, as desired. I feel better now. :)
Here's the graph of the geodesic curvature (upper upper, lower lower):
edited 2 days ago
Martin Sleziak
44.6k8115271
44.6k8115271
answered Sep 14 '18 at 18:42
Ted ShifrinTed Shifrin
63k44489
63k44489
Thank you for sharing your computations. Just a small remark: according to wikipedia, the geodesic curvature of a curve $gamma(t)$ is just the curvature of $gamma(t)$ in $S$, where $S$ is equipped with the induced Riemannian metric: $k_g =Vert frac{nabla^2}{ds^2} gamma(s) Vert$ for a unit speed curve, where $nabla$ is the Levi-Civita connection of the induced Riemannian metric. That seems to be a pretty good intrinsic definition.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:00
@Seub: I definitely do not like that. $kappa_g$ has an intrinsic sign. It shouldn't always be positive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 15 '18 at 1:05
I see, I understand now.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
Thank you for sharing your computations. Just a small remark: according to wikipedia, the geodesic curvature of a curve $gamma(t)$ is just the curvature of $gamma(t)$ in $S$, where $S$ is equipped with the induced Riemannian metric: $k_g =Vert frac{nabla^2}{ds^2} gamma(s) Vert$ for a unit speed curve, where $nabla$ is the Levi-Civita connection of the induced Riemannian metric. That seems to be a pretty good intrinsic definition.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:00
@Seub: I definitely do not like that. $kappa_g$ has an intrinsic sign. It shouldn't always be positive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 15 '18 at 1:05
I see, I understand now.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:18
Thank you for sharing your computations. Just a small remark: according to wikipedia, the geodesic curvature of a curve $gamma(t)$ is just the curvature of $gamma(t)$ in $S$, where $S$ is equipped with the induced Riemannian metric: $k_g =Vert frac{nabla^2}{ds^2} gamma(s) Vert$ for a unit speed curve, where $nabla$ is the Levi-Civita connection of the induced Riemannian metric. That seems to be a pretty good intrinsic definition.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:00
Thank you for sharing your computations. Just a small remark: according to wikipedia, the geodesic curvature of a curve $gamma(t)$ is just the curvature of $gamma(t)$ in $S$, where $S$ is equipped with the induced Riemannian metric: $k_g =Vert frac{nabla^2}{ds^2} gamma(s) Vert$ for a unit speed curve, where $nabla$ is the Levi-Civita connection of the induced Riemannian metric. That seems to be a pretty good intrinsic definition.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:00
@Seub: I definitely do not like that. $kappa_g$ has an intrinsic sign. It shouldn't always be positive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 15 '18 at 1:05
@Seub: I definitely do not like that. $kappa_g$ has an intrinsic sign. It shouldn't always be positive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 15 '18 at 1:05
I see, I understand now.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:18
I see, I understand now.
– Seub
Sep 15 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
This is more of an extended comment than a complete answer, but hope that it will close the question.
Applying a little Googlomagic (namely, searching for "gauss-bonnet non-orientable") it is possible to find out the following:
a paper by R. Palais's A Topological Gauss-Bonnet Theorem, J.Diff.Geom. 13 (1978) 385-398, where he mentions in passing that the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is easily generalized to the non-orientable case by considering measures.
an answer to this question with a feasible proof of the Gauss-Bonnet for the non-orientable case;
and many more interesting things, of course :)
On a side note, the Pfaffian has nothing to do with the orientability, bit rather with the dimension: it is defined in even dimensions (thus, in dimension 2 as well). See, maybe, here for the details.
Your final link makes it clear why you need an oriented (even rank) bundle.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 16:14
1
Thanks for the Palais reference. It's conclusive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 13 '18 at 18:00
add a comment |
This is more of an extended comment than a complete answer, but hope that it will close the question.
Applying a little Googlomagic (namely, searching for "gauss-bonnet non-orientable") it is possible to find out the following:
a paper by R. Palais's A Topological Gauss-Bonnet Theorem, J.Diff.Geom. 13 (1978) 385-398, where he mentions in passing that the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is easily generalized to the non-orientable case by considering measures.
an answer to this question with a feasible proof of the Gauss-Bonnet for the non-orientable case;
and many more interesting things, of course :)
On a side note, the Pfaffian has nothing to do with the orientability, bit rather with the dimension: it is defined in even dimensions (thus, in dimension 2 as well). See, maybe, here for the details.
Your final link makes it clear why you need an oriented (even rank) bundle.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 16:14
1
Thanks for the Palais reference. It's conclusive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 13 '18 at 18:00
add a comment |
This is more of an extended comment than a complete answer, but hope that it will close the question.
Applying a little Googlomagic (namely, searching for "gauss-bonnet non-orientable") it is possible to find out the following:
a paper by R. Palais's A Topological Gauss-Bonnet Theorem, J.Diff.Geom. 13 (1978) 385-398, where he mentions in passing that the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is easily generalized to the non-orientable case by considering measures.
an answer to this question with a feasible proof of the Gauss-Bonnet for the non-orientable case;
and many more interesting things, of course :)
On a side note, the Pfaffian has nothing to do with the orientability, bit rather with the dimension: it is defined in even dimensions (thus, in dimension 2 as well). See, maybe, here for the details.
This is more of an extended comment than a complete answer, but hope that it will close the question.
Applying a little Googlomagic (namely, searching for "gauss-bonnet non-orientable") it is possible to find out the following:
a paper by R. Palais's A Topological Gauss-Bonnet Theorem, J.Diff.Geom. 13 (1978) 385-398, where he mentions in passing that the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is easily generalized to the non-orientable case by considering measures.
an answer to this question with a feasible proof of the Gauss-Bonnet for the non-orientable case;
and many more interesting things, of course :)
On a side note, the Pfaffian has nothing to do with the orientability, bit rather with the dimension: it is defined in even dimensions (thus, in dimension 2 as well). See, maybe, here for the details.
answered Sep 12 '18 at 8:57
Yuri VyatkinYuri Vyatkin
7,44322241
7,44322241
Your final link makes it clear why you need an oriented (even rank) bundle.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 16:14
1
Thanks for the Palais reference. It's conclusive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 13 '18 at 18:00
add a comment |
Your final link makes it clear why you need an oriented (even rank) bundle.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 16:14
1
Thanks for the Palais reference. It's conclusive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 13 '18 at 18:00
Your final link makes it clear why you need an oriented (even rank) bundle.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 16:14
Your final link makes it clear why you need an oriented (even rank) bundle.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 12 '18 at 16:14
1
1
Thanks for the Palais reference. It's conclusive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 13 '18 at 18:00
Thanks for the Palais reference. It's conclusive.
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 13 '18 at 18:00
add a comment |
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4
Shocking. I can't load several of those. Interesting that none of your sources is a published respected textbook. :) You know what my answer to your question is. I'm curious to see what other feedback you get :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:49
2
@TedShifrin The reason that none of them is a published respected textbook is that I just Googled it, and the complete text of published respected textbooks is rarely available online. For what it's worth, I suspect you're right, I'd just like to get further info.
– tparker
Aug 19 '18 at 23:51
5
I am not criticizing you or your curiosity. (Indeed, I upvoted.) I am truly shocked, particularly because Herman Gluck, for example, is usually very careful :) I'm not surprised by errors in Wiki or other such sources. I'll give you this little challenge: Take one of the standard embeddings of the Möbius strip in $Bbb R^3$ [I can give you a formula if you can't find one]. Find the geodesic curvature of the boundary. The Euler characteristic is $0$. See if you can make sense of the curvature integral and see if it works out. I'm actually curious to see the computation. :)
– Ted Shifrin
Aug 19 '18 at 23:56
@TedShifrin I think a non-orientable Riemannian manifold still has a volume density (instead of a volume form), so the curvature integral still makes sense. No?
– Seub
Sep 12 '18 at 0:19
2
@tparker: I've resolved the paradox. Consider the matter settled :P
– Ted Shifrin
Sep 14 '18 at 23:42