I'm soon going to take Live-notes of a course where Tensors are commonly used.

Tensors consist of a Letter, say T, with numerous sub-and superscripts.

Generally, a tensor could look like

T^{i_{1},i{2},i{3}}_ {j_{1},j_{2},j_{3}}


I would like to know if it is possible to create a \newcommand with 4 parameters,

\Tensor{T}{i}{j}{3}


Which sets the Tensor letter, the name of the super and subscript, and specifically the number of sub-and superscripts. I don't know whether this is possible.

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Is it necessary that both i and j will have the same number of indices? Secondly, can there only be one superscript and one subscript? –  recluze Feb 16 '13 at 8:56
No it is not necessary, but in general I think we'll be working with tensors that have the same number of super and subscripts. The answer to your second question is yes. But if I stumble upon such a tensor, writing it out without the command could prove faster. –  Mathusalem Feb 16 '13 at 9:02
Have you checked out the package tensind? I use that all the time in lectures. –  Nathanael Farley Feb 16 '13 at 9:07
It will indeed be useful, but my question is a bit broader than simply creating tensors. I'd really like to know whether it is possible to concatenate strings like i_{1},i_{2},.. and then pass them to T^{concatenated string} –  Mathusalem Feb 16 '13 at 9:18

Yes, it's possible in many ways with loops. I prefer LaTeX3 (the experimental kernel and macros):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{xparse}

\DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathsfsl}{OT1}{cmss}{m}{sl}

\ExplSyntaxOn
% #1 = tensor
% #2 = number of indices
% #3 = upper index
% #4 = number of lower indices (optional)
% #5 = lower index
\NewDocumentCommand{\Tensor}{mmmom}
{
\IfNoValueTF { #4 }
{
\tens_make:nnnnn { #1 } { #2 } { #3 } { #2 } { #5 }
}
{
\tens_make:nnnnn { #1 } { #2 } { #3 } { #4 } { #5 }
}
}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tens_make:nnnnn #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
{
\tl_clear:N \l__tens_sup_tl
\tl_clear:N \l__tens_sub_tl
\tens_create_script:Nnn \l__tens_sup_tl { #2 } { #3 }
\tens_create_script:Nnn \l__tens_sub_tl { #4 } { #5 }
\mathsfsl{#1}
\sp{\l__tens_sup_tl}
\sb{\l__tens_sub_tl}
}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tens_create_script:Nnn #1 #2 #3
{
\int_step_inline:nnnn { 1 } { 1 } { #2 }
{
\int_compare:nTF { ##1 == 1 }
{
\tl_put_right:Nn #1 { #3 \sb {##1} }
}
{
\tl_put_right:Nn #1 { , #3 \sb {##1} }
}
}
}

\tl_new:N \l__tens_sup_tl
\tl_new:N \l__tens_sub_tl

\ExplSyntaxOff

\begin{document}

$\Tensor{T}{3}{i}{j}$

$\Tensor{T}{3}{i}[5]{j}$

$\Tensor{T}{2}{i}[0]{j}$

\end{document}


With a change of syntax, we can accommodate for different numbers of superscripts and subscripts: if there's no optional argument before the subscript variable name, the number will be the same as for the superscript variables. You can even have one (or both) equal to zero.

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Thank you, this is the desired form. I will try and familiarise myself with this syntax. –  Mathusalem Feb 19 '13 at 10:36