The torsion tensor is defined as (Hawking p.34) T(X,Y)=∇XY−∇YX−[X,Y].
Let T=0. Does it mean that the connection is symmetric only in the coordinate basis?
On the other hand, we can calculate The torsion tensor in holonomic coordinate as Tσμν=Γσμν−Γσνμ,
EDIT
This should be a fairy straightforward tensor manipulation (I should have put more effort).
Define ∂aeb=Γcabec where the Latin indices denote orthonormal frame. Then ∂aeb=eμa∇μ(eνbeν)=[eνa(∂μeσb)+eμaeνbΓσμν]ecσec,
The question remains: to manipulate these tensor object we use abstract index notation. Given a tensor equation like T(X,Y)=∇XY−∇YX−[X,Y], how do we write it in abstract index notation? The notation of symmetric relies on the index placement of the component. For T=0 it give symmetric Γσμν but not to the Γabc. Are they all equal for whatever basis we choose to express, and differ only in physical expression (like what observer sees)? However, on page 24 of the book by Wald, the author states (relating to abstract index notation)
However, in some cases it will be convenient to use a particular type of basis, e.g., a coordinate basis adapted to the symmetries of a particular spacetime. If we do this, then the equations we write down for the tensor components may be valid only in this basis.
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