[Physics] Riemann curvature tensor symmetries confusion

curvaturedifferential-geometrygeneral-relativity

In the context of spacetime, reading Schutz, I'm confused about the symmetries of the Riemann curvature tensor, which I understand are: $$R_{\alpha\beta\gamma\mu}=-R_{\beta\alpha\gamma\mu}=-R_{\alpha\beta\mu\gamma}=R_{\gamma\mu\alpha\beta}.$$

But using the metric to contract the Riemann tensor can't I also say

$$R_{\gamma\mu}=g^{\alpha\beta}R_{\alpha\beta\gamma\mu}=g^{\alpha\beta}R_{\alpha\gamma\beta\mu}?$$
Which leads me to think that
$$R_{\alpha\beta\gamma\mu}=R_{\alpha\gamma\beta\mu}.$$
But $R_{\alpha\gamma\beta\mu}$ isn't one of the above listed symmetries. Where am I going wrong?

Best Answer

$g^{\alpha\beta}$ is symmetric in $\alpha$ and $\beta$, while $R_{\alpha\beta\gamma\mu}$ is anti-symmetric in $\alpha$ and $\beta$, so the contraction $g^{\alpha\beta}R_{\alpha\beta\gamma\mu}$ is necessarily $0$, and cannot be $R_{\gamma\mu}$.

Moreover, it is not correct to say, that if the contraction of $2$ tensors with another tensor (here the metric tensor) are equals, then the $2$ tensors are equal. For instance, if you take a tensor $T_1$, and a tensor $T_2$, with $T_2-T_1$ anti-symmetric in lower indices $\alpha, \beta$ and contract the tensors $T_1$ and $T_2$ with a tensor symmetric in upper indices $\alpha, \beta$, you will get the same result.

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