- #1
- 19,473
- 10,104
Definition/Summary
The Einstein Field Equations are a set of ten differential equations which express the general theory of relativity mathematically: they relate the geometry (the curvature) of spacetime to the energy/matter content of spacetime.
These ten differential equations may be written as a single second-order (two-index) symmetric tensor equation, relating the Ricci curvature tensor [itex]R_{\mu\nu}[/itex] to the stress-energy tensor [itex]T_{\mu\nu}[/itex].
Equations
Short version (using Einstein tensor [itex]G_{\mu\nu}[/itex]):
[tex]G_{\mu\nu}\ =\ \frac{8\pi G}{c^4}\,T_{\mu\nu}[/tex]
Using standard cosmological units with [itex]G\ =\ c\ =\ 1[/itex]:
[tex]G_{\mu\nu}\ =\ 8\pi\,T_{\mu\nu}[/tex]
Long version (using Ricci curvature tensor [itex]R_{\mu\nu}[/itex] and scalar curvature [itex]R\ =\ Tr(R_{\mu\nu})[/itex]):
[tex]R_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{2}\,R\,g_{\mu\nu}\ =\ 8\pi\,T_{\mu\nu}[/tex] or [tex]T_{\mu\nu}-\ \frac{1}{2}\,T\,g_{\mu\nu}\ =\ \frac{1}{8\pi}\,R_{\mu\nu}[/tex]
"Symmetric" decomposition, into scalar part:
[tex]R\ =\ -\,8\pi\,T[/tex]
and traceless symmetric tensor part:
[tex]R_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,R\,g_{\mu\nu}\ =\ 8\pi\left(T_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,T\,g_{\mu\nu}\right)[/tex]
Extended explanation
Cosmological units:
Cosmology is one of the few areas in which practitioners prefer not to use SI units.
Cosmological units are defined so that [itex]G\ =\ c\ =\ 1[/itex]
Structure of the EFE:
A second-order (two-index) tensor equation is the simplest possible equation which could describe the relationship between curvature and matter/energy.
The only two-index tensor describing matter and energy is the symmetric stress-energy tensor, [itex]T_{\mu\nu}[/itex].
The only two-index tensors describing the structure of space are the symmetric Ricci curvature tensor [itex]R_{\mu\nu}[/itex] and the symmetric metric tensor [itex]g_{\mu\nu}[/itex].
Also available, as scalar multipliers, are the traces [itex]R\ =\ Tr(R_{\mu\nu})[/itex] and [itex]T\ =\ Tr(T_{\mu\nu})[/itex]
The EFE is the only combination of these which, in the weak-field limit, gives the inverse-square law of Newtonian gravity.
A very small multiple of [itex]g_{\mu\nu}[/itex] may also be inserted into the EFE without noticeably affecting the weak-field limit: that multiple is the cosmological constant, [itex]\Lambda[/itex], whose value is estimated at less than [itex]10^{-35}\,s^{-2}[/itex]
Trace and traceless:
A symmetric tensor has one scalar invariant: the trace.
By comparison, an anti-symmetric tensor has two scalar invariants, usually written in the form [itex]E^2 - B^2[/itex] and [itex]\boldsymbol{E}\cdot\boldsymbol{B}[/itex]
A symmetric tensor equation can be split into two parts, a scalar trace equation, and a symmetric traceless tensor equation.
For the EFE, these show that (except for the factor [itex]8\pi[/itex]):
[tex]Tr(R_{\mu\nu})\ =\ R\ =\ -\,8\pi\,T\ =\ -\,8\pi\,Tr(T_{\mu\nu})[/tex]
[tex]Notr(R_{\mu\nu})\ =\ R_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,R\,g_{\mu\nu}\ =\ 8\pi\left(T_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,T\,g_{\mu\nu}\right)\ =\ 8\pi\,Notr(T_{\mu\nu})[/tex]
The notation "Notr" is not a standard notation.
[itex]Tr(A_{\mu\nu})[/itex] is defined as [itex]g^{\mu\nu}A_{\mu\nu}[/itex]
Note that (in a four-dimensional space) [itex]Tr(g_{\mu\nu})\ =\ \frac{1}{4}[/itex] and so [itex]Tr\left(A_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,g_{\mu\nu}\,Tr(A_{\mu\nu})\right)\ =\ (1\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,g_{\mu\nu})Tr(A_{\mu\nu})\ =\ 0[/itex] and so it would be more convenient if trace were defined to be one-quarter of its standard definition.
The reason for the factor [itex]8\pi[/itex] is ultimately that [will someone please complete this paragraph? ]
* This entry is from our old Library feature. If you know who wrote it, please let us know so we can attribute a writer. Thanks!
The Einstein Field Equations are a set of ten differential equations which express the general theory of relativity mathematically: they relate the geometry (the curvature) of spacetime to the energy/matter content of spacetime.
These ten differential equations may be written as a single second-order (two-index) symmetric tensor equation, relating the Ricci curvature tensor [itex]R_{\mu\nu}[/itex] to the stress-energy tensor [itex]T_{\mu\nu}[/itex].
Equations
Short version (using Einstein tensor [itex]G_{\mu\nu}[/itex]):
[tex]G_{\mu\nu}\ =\ \frac{8\pi G}{c^4}\,T_{\mu\nu}[/tex]
Using standard cosmological units with [itex]G\ =\ c\ =\ 1[/itex]:
[tex]G_{\mu\nu}\ =\ 8\pi\,T_{\mu\nu}[/tex]
Long version (using Ricci curvature tensor [itex]R_{\mu\nu}[/itex] and scalar curvature [itex]R\ =\ Tr(R_{\mu\nu})[/itex]):
[tex]R_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{2}\,R\,g_{\mu\nu}\ =\ 8\pi\,T_{\mu\nu}[/tex] or [tex]T_{\mu\nu}-\ \frac{1}{2}\,T\,g_{\mu\nu}\ =\ \frac{1}{8\pi}\,R_{\mu\nu}[/tex]
"Symmetric" decomposition, into scalar part:
[tex]R\ =\ -\,8\pi\,T[/tex]
and traceless symmetric tensor part:
[tex]R_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,R\,g_{\mu\nu}\ =\ 8\pi\left(T_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,T\,g_{\mu\nu}\right)[/tex]
Extended explanation
Cosmological units:
Cosmology is one of the few areas in which practitioners prefer not to use SI units.
Cosmological units are defined so that [itex]G\ =\ c\ =\ 1[/itex]
Structure of the EFE:
A second-order (two-index) tensor equation is the simplest possible equation which could describe the relationship between curvature and matter/energy.
The only two-index tensor describing matter and energy is the symmetric stress-energy tensor, [itex]T_{\mu\nu}[/itex].
The only two-index tensors describing the structure of space are the symmetric Ricci curvature tensor [itex]R_{\mu\nu}[/itex] and the symmetric metric tensor [itex]g_{\mu\nu}[/itex].
Also available, as scalar multipliers, are the traces [itex]R\ =\ Tr(R_{\mu\nu})[/itex] and [itex]T\ =\ Tr(T_{\mu\nu})[/itex]
The EFE is the only combination of these which, in the weak-field limit, gives the inverse-square law of Newtonian gravity.
A very small multiple of [itex]g_{\mu\nu}[/itex] may also be inserted into the EFE without noticeably affecting the weak-field limit: that multiple is the cosmological constant, [itex]\Lambda[/itex], whose value is estimated at less than [itex]10^{-35}\,s^{-2}[/itex]
Trace and traceless:
A symmetric tensor has one scalar invariant: the trace.
By comparison, an anti-symmetric tensor has two scalar invariants, usually written in the form [itex]E^2 - B^2[/itex] and [itex]\boldsymbol{E}\cdot\boldsymbol{B}[/itex]
A symmetric tensor equation can be split into two parts, a scalar trace equation, and a symmetric traceless tensor equation.
For the EFE, these show that (except for the factor [itex]8\pi[/itex]):
trace of Ricci curvature equals minus trace of stress-energy,
but traceless Ricci curvature equals traceless stress-energy:
but traceless Ricci curvature equals traceless stress-energy:
[tex]Tr(R_{\mu\nu})\ =\ R\ =\ -\,8\pi\,T\ =\ -\,8\pi\,Tr(T_{\mu\nu})[/tex]
[tex]Notr(R_{\mu\nu})\ =\ R_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,R\,g_{\mu\nu}\ =\ 8\pi\left(T_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,T\,g_{\mu\nu}\right)\ =\ 8\pi\,Notr(T_{\mu\nu})[/tex]
The notation "Notr" is not a standard notation.
[itex]Tr(A_{\mu\nu})[/itex] is defined as [itex]g^{\mu\nu}A_{\mu\nu}[/itex]
Note that (in a four-dimensional space) [itex]Tr(g_{\mu\nu})\ =\ \frac{1}{4}[/itex] and so [itex]Tr\left(A_{\mu\nu}\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,g_{\mu\nu}\,Tr(A_{\mu\nu})\right)\ =\ (1\ -\ \frac{1}{4}\,g_{\mu\nu})Tr(A_{\mu\nu})\ =\ 0[/itex] and so it would be more convenient if trace were defined to be one-quarter of its standard definition.
The reason for the factor [itex]8\pi[/itex] is ultimately that [will someone please complete this paragraph? ]
* This entry is from our old Library feature. If you know who wrote it, please let us know so we can attribute a writer. Thanks!