Definition
A symplectic form on a manifold M is a closed non-degenerate differential 2-form ω. The non-degeneracy condition means that for all p ∈ M we have the property that there does not exist non-zero X ∈ TpM such that ω(X,Y) = 0 for all Y ∈ TpM. The skew-symmetric condition (inherent in the definition of differential 2-form) means that for all p ∈ M we have ω(X,Y) = −ω(Y,X) for all X,Y ∈ TpM. Recall that in odd dimensions antisymmetric matrices are not invertible. Since ω is a differential two-form the skew-symmetric condition implies that M has even dimension. The closed condition means that the exterior derivative of ω, namely dω, is identically zero. A symplectic manifold consists a pair (M,ω), of a manifold M and a symplectic form ω. Assigning a symplectic form ω to a manifold M is referred to as giving M a symplectic structure.
Read more about this topic: Symplectic Manifold
Famous quotes containing the word definition:
“Perhaps the best definition of progress would be the continuing efforts of men and women to narrow the gap between the convenience of the powers that be and the unwritten charter.”
—Nadine Gordimer (b. 1923)
“According to our social pyramid, all men who feel displaced racially, culturally, and/or because of economic hardships will turn on those whom they feel they can order and humiliate, usually women, children, and animalsjust as they have been ordered and humiliated by those privileged few who are in power. However, this definition does not explain why there are privileged men who behave this way toward women.”
—Ana Castillo (b. 1953)
“Scientific method is the way to truth, but it affords, even in
principle, no unique definition of truth. Any so-called pragmatic
definition of truth is doomed to failure equally.”
—Willard Van Orman Quine (b. 1908)