- #1
Rearden
- 16
- 0
Hi,
I was wondering if the stress-energy tensor arose naturally in special relativity in the same way that plain energy and momentum do via Lagrangians. I understand Noether's theorem for particles, but Wikipedia describes the stress-energy tensor as a Noether current; can anyone explain what this is?
Unfortunately, I don't know enough about differential forms to follow the standard definition. The other derivations based on dust etc. all seem a little contrived, deriving vanishing divergence almost as an aftherthought. I'm hoping that this line of inquiry will bring me more satisfaction.
Thanks a lot!
I was wondering if the stress-energy tensor arose naturally in special relativity in the same way that plain energy and momentum do via Lagrangians. I understand Noether's theorem for particles, but Wikipedia describes the stress-energy tensor as a Noether current; can anyone explain what this is?
Unfortunately, I don't know enough about differential forms to follow the standard definition. The other derivations based on dust etc. all seem a little contrived, deriving vanishing divergence almost as an aftherthought. I'm hoping that this line of inquiry will bring me more satisfaction.
Thanks a lot!