Does Schwarzschild Solution work inside a massive body?

In summary, the Schwarzschild Solution to Einstein's Field Equations for gravity is exact when outside a spherically symmetric massive body. However, it cannot be used inside the massive body, such as a neutron star. Instead, the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov (TOV) equations should be used. For constant density, there is also an interior Schwarzschild Solution. References for further reading on quasi-normal modes of stars and black holes and rotating stars in relativity are available.
  • #1
nickyrtr
93
2
The Schwarzschild Solution to Einstein's Field Equations for gravity are said to be exact when outside a spherically symmetric massive body. My question is, can the Schwarzschild Solution also be used inside the massive body, such as a neutron star.

In Newtonian gravity we can find the gravity potential at some position inside the body; just find the distance to the center of mass, and count the total mass enclosed by a sphere whose radius equals that distance. It is similar to Gauss' Law in electrostatics.

Does a similar procedure work in general relativity? To find the gravity field at some position inside a neutron star, can I just calculate an effective Schwarzschild radius by finding the mass enclosed by a sphere passing through that position? If not, is there a correction to the Schwarzschild solution for the interior of a spherically symmetric massive body.
 
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  • #2
No, it doesn't work inside the body. (Huh, does it work inside in Newton, I'd forgotten!) Try the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov (TOV) equations to start.
 
  • #3
atyy said:
No, it doesn't work inside the body. (Huh, does it work inside in Newton, I'd forgotten!) Try the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov (TOV) equations to start.

Thank you for the reference to the TOV equation, it is most helpful. Is there a similar equation if the body has some radial flow, for example a dense star that undergoes a rapid expansion such as during a supernova?
 
  • #4
nickyrtr said:
The Schwarzschild Solution to Einstein's Field Equations for gravity are said to be exact when outside a spherically symmetric massive body. My question is, can the Schwarzschild Solution also be used inside the massive body, such as a neutron star.
For constant density, there is also the interior Schwarzschild Solution:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=1543402#post1543402
 
  • #5
nickyrtr said:
Thank you for the reference to the TOV equation, it is most helpful. Is there a similar equation if the body has some radial flow, for example a dense star that undergoes a rapid expansion such as during a supernova?

I don't know exactly, but maybe you can find a useful reference here:

Quasi-Normal Modes of Stars and Black Holes
Kostas D. Kokkotas, Bernd G. Schmidt
http://relativity.livingreviews.org/Articles/lrr-1999-2/

Rotating Stars in Relativity
Nikolaos Stergioulas
http://relativity.livingreviews.org/Articles/lrr-2003-3/
 
Last edited by a moderator:

1. What is the Schwarzschild Solution and how does it work inside a massive body?

The Schwarzschild Solution is a mathematical solution to Einstein's field equations in general relativity. It describes the curvature of spacetime around a non-rotating, spherically symmetric mass. Inside a massive body, the Schwarzschild Solution predicts a singularity at the center where the curvature of spacetime becomes infinite.

2. Is the Schwarzschild Solution valid inside a massive body?

Yes, the Schwarzschild Solution has been extensively tested and is considered a valid solution within the framework of general relativity. However, it is important to note that it is a purely theoretical solution and has not been directly observed or tested inside a massive body.

3. What are some applications of the Schwarzschild Solution inside a massive body?

The Schwarzschild Solution has been used to model the behavior of light and matter near massive objects, such as stars and black holes. It has also been used to study the dynamics of galaxies and the evolution of the universe.

4. Are there any limitations to the Schwarzschild Solution inside a massive body?

While the Schwarzschild Solution is a highly accurate solution within the framework of general relativity, it does not take into account other factors such as quantum effects or the presence of matter and energy that may not be spherically symmetric. Therefore, it may not fully describe the behavior of spacetime inside a massive body.

5. How does the Schwarzschild Solution inside a massive body relate to black holes?

The Schwarzschild Solution is often used to describe the spacetime around a non-rotating black hole. The singularity predicted by the solution represents the point of infinite density at the center of a black hole. However, the Schwarzschild Solution does not fully explain the behavior of black holes and more advanced solutions, such as the Kerr Solution, are needed to fully describe them.

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