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Pullback Map


A pullback map is a map induced in the opposite direction from a function or morphism, as in a contravariant functor. It is distinct from a categorical pullback, which is an object defined by a universal property.

For a linear transformation T:V->W between vector spaces, the dual map T^*:W^*->V^* is a pullback map. Its associated matrix is the transpose of the matrix of T.

For a smooth map T:M_1->M_2 and a differential r-form alpha on M_2, the pullback T^*alpha is a differential r-form on M_1 defined by

 (T^*alpha)_p(X_1,...,X_r)=alpha_(T(p))(dT_pX_1,...,dT_pX_r).

See also

Category, Differential k-Form, Pullback, Smooth Map

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Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Pullback Map." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/PullbackMap.html

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