- #1
Airsteve0
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Homework Statement
Show that all Robertson - Walker models are conformally flat.
Homework Equations
Robertson Walker Metric: [itex]ds^{2}=a^{2}(t)\left(\frac{dr^{2}}{1-Kr^{2}}+r^{2}(d\theta^{2}+(sin\theta)^{2}d\phi^{2} )\right)-dt^{2}[/itex]
Ricci Tensor: [itex]R_{\alpha\beta}=2Kg_{\alpha\beta}[/itex]
Ricci Scalar: [itex]R=8K[/itex]
Weyl Tensor: [itex]C_{\alpha\beta\gamma\delta}=R_{\alpha\beta\gammaδ}-\frac{1}{2}(g_{\alpha\gamma}R_{\beta\delta}-g_{\alpha\delta}R_{\beta\gamma}-g_{\beta\gamma}R_{\alpha\delta}+g_{\beta\delta}R_{\alpha\gamma}) + \frac{R}{6}(g_{\alpha\gamma}g_{\beta\delta}-g_{\alpha\delta}g_{\beta\gamma})[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
In order for the models to be conformally flat the weyl tensor must vanish, therefore that is what I have tried to show. By subbing in the values for the Ricci tensor and the Ricci scalar (both of which were given in a lecture by my professor) I arrived at the following expression:
[itex]C_{\alpha\beta\gammaδ}=R_{\alpha\beta\gamma\delta}-\frac{2}{3}K(g_{\alpha\gamma}g_{\beta\delta}-g_{\alpha\delta}g_{\beta\gamma})[/itex]
However, as you can see I am left with the Riemann tensor undefined and I cannot show the weyl tensor to be zero. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!