- #1
astrolollo
- 24
- 2
If a metric admits a Killing vector field ##V ## it is possible to define conserved quantities: ## V^{\mu} u_{\mu}=const## where ## u^{\mu}## is the 4 velocity of a particle.
For example, Schwarzschild metric admits a timelike Killing vector field. This means that the quantity ##g_{\mu 0} u^{0}## is conserved. Thus since the metric is asymptotically flat, and since ##u^{0}=\gamma## I can assume that the conserved quantity is the energy per unit mass.
Since the metric has a timelike Killing vector field, I can say that there is another conserved quantity: for a massive particle that quantity is the angular momentum.
But how can I extend this construction to massless particles? How can I say that energy and angular momentum of a photon are conserved in Schwarzschild spacetime?
For example, Schwarzschild metric admits a timelike Killing vector field. This means that the quantity ##g_{\mu 0} u^{0}## is conserved. Thus since the metric is asymptotically flat, and since ##u^{0}=\gamma## I can assume that the conserved quantity is the energy per unit mass.
Since the metric has a timelike Killing vector field, I can say that there is another conserved quantity: for a massive particle that quantity is the angular momentum.
But how can I extend this construction to massless particles? How can I say that energy and angular momentum of a photon are conserved in Schwarzschild spacetime?