nLab line integral

Idea

A line integral is an integral along a curve. These are sometimes called path integrals (not to be confused with the path integral in quantum physics, which is integration over a space of curves rather than along a curve in some space) and contour integrals (especially in complex analysis).

By the modern understanding of the integration of differential forms, one integrates differential 1-forms (cotangent vector fields) along oriented curves, and so this would be the natural way to understand a line integral. However, there are several slightly different line integrals, and not all of them are reducible to integration of $1$-forms along oriented curves. Sometimes we have to fall back on more basic notions, ultimately the integration of pseudo-$1$-forms on a $1$-dimensional space.

Definitions

Here we assume familiarity with integration of differential forms and pseudoforms, defining in terms of them the various classical notions of line integral.

In each case, the classical notation (developed before the rigorous treatment of analysis in the 19th century) is not taken literally by the classical definition (developed after the rigorous treatment and still found in calculus texts), and this definition is accompanied by a reparametrisation? theorem. We would like to make sense of the classical notation and eliminate the reparametrisation theorems (or at least make them all special cases of a general theorem to be proved once for all) using differential forms. Often we find that we can relax some of the restrictions in the classical definition as well.

Line integral of a vector field

Classically, we have a Cartesian space $X$, a continuous map $\vec{F}\colon X \to X$, and a continuously differentiable map $C\colon [a,b] \to X$; the line integral of $\vec{F}$ along $C$ is defined as

$$\int_C \vec{F} \cdot \mathrm{d}\vec{r} \coloneqq \int_a^b \vec{F}(C(t)) \cdot C'(t) \,\mathrm{d}t ,$$

where the integral on the right is a Riemann integral and $C'$ is the derivative of $C$ componentwise. If $\phi\colon [e,f] \to [a,b]$ is a continuously differentiable increasing bijection, then

$$\int_{C \circ \phi} \vec{F} \cdot \mathrm{d}\vec{r} = \int_C \vec{F} \cdot \mathrm{d}\vec{r} ,$$

the reparametrisation theorem.

We can start to justify the classical notation by interpreting $\vec{r}$ as the same map $[a,b] \to X$ as $C$; then we have

$$\int_C \vec{F} \cdot \mathrm{d}\vec{r} \coloneqq \int_a^b \vec{F}(\vec{r}(t)) \cdot \vec{r}'(t) \,\mathrm{d}t ,$$

in which case the classical notation simply seems to be suppressing some of the notation in the formal definition on the right. In particular, we interpret $\mathrm{d}\vec{r}$ as meaning $\vec{r}'(t) \,\mathrm{d}t$.

But this suggests that we should really be looking at differential forms. Since $X$ is a Cartesian space, we may identify it with any of its tangent spaces and so identify $\vec{F}$ with a tangent vector field on $X$, or equivalenty a vector-valued $0$-form. Since $\vec{r}$ is only serving to parametrise the curve, it should be interpreted as something trivial, in this case the identity map on $X$, also viewed as a vector-valued $0$-form. Then $\mathrm{d}\vec{r}$ is a vector-valued $1$-form (which we can do since a Cartesian space has a trivial connection), and $\vec{F} \cdot \mathrm{d}\vec{r}$ is an ordinary $1$-form. Finally, since the curve $C$ is given up to an increasing reparametrisation, it is an oriented $1$-submanifold of $X$. Now we may interpret the notation

$$\int_C \vec{F} \cdot \mathrm{d}\vec{r}$$

literally as the integral of a $1$-form. It is now no longer necessary that $C$ be given by a continuously differentiable parametrisation; the vector-valued $0$-form $\vec{r}$ is continuously differentiable regardless, and so we only need $C$ to be a rectifiable curve? (although it is a theorem that such a curve must have a parametrisation —by arclength if nothing else— that is continuously differentiable almost everywhere, so that the classical definition still covers this using a Riemann integral).

However, this operation from $\vec{F}$ to $\vec{F} \cdot \mathrm{d}\vec{r}$ is something more fundamental in differential geometry; in fact, $\vec{F} \cdot \mathrm{d}\vec{r}$ is simply $\vec{F}^\flat$, the cotangent vector field that corresponds to the tangent vector field $\vec{F}$. Understanding this, we wish to generalise $X$ to any (pseudo)-Riemannian manifold. In this case, we cannot interpret $\vec{r}$ literally, but we may still interpret $\mathrm{d}\vec{r}$ as a vector-valued $1$-form, indeed as the tautological one that (viewing a $1$-form as an operation on vector fields) is the identity map on vector fields. With this understanding, the classical notation still makes sense, although it is probably easier to write

$$\int_C \vec{F} \cdot \mathrm{d}\vec{r} = \int_C \vec{F}^\flat$$

as the most general definition of the line integral of a vector field along an oriented curve in a (pseudo)-Riemannian manifold.

Line integral of a scalar field

Classically, we again have a Cartesian space $X$, now a continuous map $f$ from $X$ to $\mathbb{R}$ or $\mathbb{C}$, and again a continuously differentiable map $C\colon [a,b] \to X$; the line integral of $f$ along $C$ is defined as

$$\int_C f \mathrm{d}s \coloneqq \int_a^b f(C(t)) {\|C'(t)\|} \,\mathrm{d}t ,$$

where again the integral on the right is a Riemann integral and $C'$ is the derivative of $C$ componentwise. If $\phi\colon [e,f] \to [a,b]$ is a continuously differentiable bijection (whether increasing or decreasing), then

$$\int_{C \circ \phi} f \mathrm{d}s = \int_C f \mathrm{d}s ,$$

the reparametrisation theorem.

We cannot interpret $\mathrm{d}s$ as the differential of anything; rather, $\mathrm{d}s$ is the magnitude of the line integral element $\mathrm{d}\vec{r}$ from the previous section. In particular, identifying $\vec{r}$ with $C$ again, we have

$$\int_C f \mathrm{d}s \coloneqq \int_a^b f(\vec{r}(t)) {\|\vec{r}'(t)\|} \,\mathrm{d}t ,$$

so $\mathrm{d}s$ seems to mean ${\|\vec{r}'(t)\|} \,\mathrm{d}t$. Using the standard orientation on $[a,b]$ to change the $1$-form $\mathrm{d}t$ to the pseudo-$1$-form ${|\mathrm{d}t|}$, this is consistent with $\mathrm{d}s = {\|\mathrm{d}\vec{r}\|}$.

But for this to really make sense, we have to see what kind of object $\mathrm{d}s$ is on $X$. It is neither a $1$-form (which can be integrated along an oriented curve) nor a pseudo-$1$-form (which can be integrated along a pseudo-oriented curve, that is a transversely oriented curve); it is instead an absolute $1$-form, which can be integrated along an unoriented curve. If we interpret $\mathrm{d}\vec{r}$ as the canonical vector-valued $1$-form again, then we can take its magnitude to get a positive semidefinite (nonnegative-scalar-valued, and in this case actually definite) absolute $1$-form, so $\mathrm{d}s = {\|\mathrm{d}\vec{r}\|}$ is literally true.

It would be nice to have notation without fake differentials and with the one piece of structure that actually plays a role: the metric. If we multiply two $1$-forms using the symmetric product (instead of the exterior product as usual for differential forms), then we get a symmetric bilinear form, and in this way the (symmetric) square of the arclength element $\mathrm{d}s$ is the metric $g$. Since $\mathrm{d}s$ is positive, we can reasonably call it the principal square root of $g$. Thus,

$$\int_C f \mathrm{d}s = \int_C f \sqrt{g}$$

defines the line integral of a scalar field along an unoriented curve in a Riemannian manifold.

On a pseudo-Riemannian manifold, $g$ itself may not be positive and so may not have a square root. In that case, we can take the absolute value of $g$ first and use

$$\int_C f \mathrm{d}s = \int_C f \sqrt{|g|} ,$$

although this is most intuitive for curves that are consistently timelike or spacelike. It's also possible to keep the previous formula and allow one of these two types of curve to have imaginary arclength; which one depends on conventions. In any case, a line integral along a lightlike curve is zero.

Contour integral of a complex function

Classically, we have the complex plane $\mathbb{C}$, a continuous map $f\colon \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb{C}$, and a continuously differentiable map $C\colon [a,b] \to \mathbb{C}$; the contour integral (or line integral again) of $f$ along $C$ is defined as

$$\int_C f \mathrm{d}z \coloneqq \int_a^b f(C(t)) C'(t) \,\mathrm{d}t ,$$

where the integral on the right is a Riemann integral and $C'$ is the derivative of $C$. If $\phi\colon [e,f] \to [a,b]$ is a continuously differentiable increasing bijection, then

$$\int_{C \circ \phi} f \mathrm{d}z = \int_C f \mathrm{d}z ,$$

the reparametrisation theorem.

We start to justify the classical notation by interpreting $z$ as the same map $[a,b] \to \mathbb{C}$ as $C$; then we have

$$\int_C f \mathrm{d}z \coloneqq \int_a^b f(z(t)) z'(t) \,\mathrm{d}t ,$$

in which case the classical notation seems again to be suppressing some of the notation in the formal definition. In particular, $\mathrm{d}z$ is interpreted as $z'(t) \,\mathrm{d}t$.

But again, we should really be looking at differential forms. We may identify the space $\mathbb{C}$ with the scalar field and so identify $f$ with a scalar field on $\mathbb{C}$, or equivalenty a $0$-form. Since $z$ is only serving to parametrise the curve, it should be interpreted as the identity map on $\mathbb{C}$, also viewed as a $0$-form. Then $\mathrm{d}z$ is a $1$-form, and $f \mathrm{d}z$ is a $1$-form. Finally, since the curve $C$ is given up to an increasing reparametrisation, it is an oriented $1$-submanifold of $X$. Now we may interpet the notation

$$\int_C f \mathrm{d}z$$

literally as the integral of a $1$-form. It is now no longer necessary that $C$ be given by a continuously differentiable parametrisation; the vector-valued $0$-form $z$ is continuously differentiable regardless, and so we only need $C$ to be a rectifiable curve? (although it is a theorem that such a curve must have a continuously differentiable parametrisation after all).

Absolute contour integral of a complex function

Classically, we have the complex plane $\mathbb{C}$, a continuous map $f\colon \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb{C}$, and a continuously differentiable map $C\colon [a,b] \to \mathbb{C}$; the absolute contour integral (or whatever one calls it) of $f$ along $C$ is defined as

$$\int_C f {|\mathrm{d}z|} \coloneqq \int_a^b f(C(t)) {|C'(t)|} \,\mathrm{d}t ,$$

where the integral on the right is a Riemann integral and $C'$ is the derivative of $C$. If $\phi\colon [e,f] \to [a,b]$ is a continuously differentiable bijection (whether increasing or decreasing), then

$$\int_{C \circ \phi} f {|\mathrm{d}z|} = \int_C f {|\mathrm{d}z|} ,$$

the reparametrisation theorem.

As before, if $z$ is interpreted as the same map $[a,b] \to \mathbb{C}$ as $C$; then we have

$$\int_C f {|\mathrm{d}z|} \coloneqq \int_a^b f(z(t)) {|z'(t)|} \,\mathrm{d}t ,$$

so ${|\mathrm{d}z|}$ seems to mean ${|z'(t)|} \,\mathrm{d}t$. As before, if we use the standard orientation on $[a,b]$ to change the $1$-form $\mathrm{d}t$ to the pseudo-$1$-form ${|\mathrm{d}t|}$, then ${|\mathrm{d}z|}$ is the absolute value of $\mathrm{d}z$ from before.

Of course, we should really be looking at differential forms. Again, $f$ is a scalar field on $\mathbb{C}$, or equivalenty a $0$-form. Again $z$ is the identity map on $\mathbb{C}$, viewed as a $0$-form. Then $\mathrm{d}z$ is a $1$-form, its absolute value ${|\mathrm{d}z|}$ is a (positive definite) absolute $1$-form, and $f {|\mathrm{d}z|}$ is a (more general) absolute $1$-form. Since $C$ is given up to an arbitrary reparametrisation, it is an unoriented $1$-submanifold of $X$, which is just what we need for an absolute $1$-form. Now we may interpet the notation

$$\int_C f {|\mathrm{d}z|}$$

literally as the integral of an absolute $1$-form.

This is actually a special case of the line integral of a scalar field, since

$${|\mathrm{d}z|} = {|\mathrm{d}(x + \mathrm{i}y)|} = {|\mathrm{d}x + \mathrm{i} \,\mathrm{d}y|} = \sqrt{(\mathrm{d}x)^2 + (\mathrm{d}y)^2} = \sqrt{g} = \mathrm{d}s ,$$

since $\mathrm{d}x^2 + \mathrm{d}y^2$ is the standard metric on $\mathbb{C}$.

Properties

Cauchy’s theorems

• Cauchy integral formula

• Cauchy integral theorem

References

Here are a couple of old Usenet posts that explain how line integrals of scalar fields should be viewed in terms of forms and pseudoforms.

• first
• second

These are obsolete with the concept of absolute forms, but they contain more explicit calculations.

See also

• Wikipedia, Line integral