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I don’t think most PhD physicists know what a diffeomorphism is.


I very much doubt that. I certainly learned it in a physics undergraduate degree.


Ok, let me guess without looking it up... A diffeomorphism is a smooth map that lets you switch coordinate systems.

(I sure hope that's not wrong.)


Pretty close. It's a smooth map with smooth inverse. If you've chosen chosen coordinates, it will transform them for you.

I think most physicists probably have a reasonable intuitive idea what a diffeomorphism is, since most have probably learned something about relativity.




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