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affine parameter (Definition)

Given a geodesic curve, an affine parameterization for that curve is a parameterization by a parameter $t$ such that the parametric equations for the curve satisfy the geodesic equation.

Put another way, if one picks a parameterization of a geodesic curve by an arbitrary parameter $s$ and sets $u^\mu = dx^\mu / ds$, then we have

$\displaystyle u^\mu \nabla_\mu u^\nu = f(s) u^\nu$
for some function $f$. In general, the right hand side of this equation does not equal zero — it is only zero in the special case where $t$ is an affine parameter.

The reason for the name “affine parameter” is that, if $t_1$ and $t_2$ are affine parameters for the same geodesic curve, then they are related by an affine transform, i.e. there exist constants $a$ and $b$ such that

$\displaystyle t_1 = a t_2 + b$
Conversely, if $t$ is an affine parameter, then $at + b$ is also an affine parameter.

From this it follows that an affine parameter $t$ is uniquely determined if we specify its value at two points on the geodesic or if we specify both its value and the value of $dx^\mu / dt$ at a single point of the geodesic.



"affine parameter" is owned by rspuzio.

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Cross-references: function, geodesic equation, parameter, geodesic

This is version 1 of affine parameter, born on 2009-03-11.
Object id is 591, canonical name is AffineParameter.
Accessed 861 times total.

Classification:
Physics Classification: 02.40.Hw (Classical differential geometry)
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