Faraday tensor vs. Maxwell-Eistein tensor

In summary, the SET of the EM field is calculated from the Faraday tensor (\mathcal{F}) which is antisymmetric and of rank two, while the EMT is calculated from the metric gμv which is covariant and of rank one.
  • #1
TrickyDicky
3,507
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I'm curious about what are the similarities and differences in GR between the EM field (Faraday) tensor, a 2-form and therefore antisymmetric tensor that describes the force of the EM field in the relativistic formuation of EM, and the EM field stress-energy tensor, the part of the SET that corresponds to the EM field and that is symmetric and also of rank two.
Is the first one the Minkowskian (flat spacetime) version and the second the curved spacetime version or is this distinction too simplistic?
 
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  • #2
TrickyDicky said:
I'm curious about what are the similarities and differences in GR between the EM field (Faraday) tensor, a 2-form and therefore antisymmetric tensor that describes the force of the EM field in the relativistic formuation of EM, and the EM field stress-energy tensor, the part of the SET that corresponds to the EM field and that is symmetric and also of rank two.
Is the first one the Minkowskian (flat spacetime) version and the second the curved spacetime version or is this distinction too simplistic?
I have some difficulty parsing your post, but perhaps this is what you're asking.

The SET ( or EMT ) of the EM field is calculated from the Faraday tensor ([itex]\mathcal{F}[/itex]) thus
[tex]
T_{\mu\nu} = \mathcal{F}_{\mu\alpha}\mathcal{F}^\alpha_\nu - \frac{1}{4}g_{\mu\nu} \mathcal{F}^{\alpha\beta}\mathcal{F}_{\alpha\beta}
[/tex]
The metric gμv has been used to raise indices of [itex]\mathcal{F}[/itex].
 
  • #3
Mentz114 said:
I have some difficulty parsing your post, but perhaps this is what you're asking.

The SET ( or EMT ) of the EM field is calculated from the Faraday tensor ([itex]\mathcal{F}[/itex]) thus
[tex]
T_{\mu\nu} = \mathcal{F}_{\mu\alpha}\mathcal{F}^\alpha_\nu - \frac{1}{4}g_{\mu\nu} \mathcal{F}^{\alpha\beta}\mathcal{F}_{\alpha\beta}
[/tex]
The metric gμv has been used to raise indices of [itex]\mathcal{F}[/itex].

Yes, that much I can gather from the wikipedia page, but there they use the contravariant form of the SET and the Minkowski metric.
 

1. What is the difference between the Faraday tensor and the Maxwell-Einstein tensor?

The Faraday tensor and the Maxwell-Einstein tensor are two mathematical representations of the electromagnetic field in physics. The main difference between them lies in the number of dimensions they consider. The Faraday tensor is a 2D representation, while the Maxwell-Einstein tensor is a 4D representation.

2. How are the Faraday tensor and the Maxwell-Einstein tensor related?

The Faraday tensor and the Maxwell-Einstein tensor are related through a mathematical equation called the Bianchi identity. This equation links the two tensors and shows that they are essentially different representations of the same physical phenomenon - the electromagnetic field.

3. Which tensor is used in classical electromagnetism?

In classical electromagnetism, the Faraday tensor is used to represent the electromagnetic field. This is because classical electromagnetism deals with 3D space and the Faraday tensor is a 2D representation that simplifies calculations and equations.

4. What is the role of the Maxwell-Einstein tensor in general relativity?

In general relativity, the Maxwell-Einstein tensor is used to represent the electromagnetic field in 4D space-time. This is necessary because general relativity deals with the curvature of space-time, and the Maxwell-Einstein tensor takes this into account. It is an important component in the Einstein field equations, which describe the relationship between the curvature of space-time and the energy-momentum tensor.

5. Can the Faraday tensor and the Maxwell-Einstein tensor be combined?

Yes, the Faraday tensor and the Maxwell-Einstein tensor can be combined to form a unified tensor that represents both the electromagnetic field and the curvature of space-time. This unified tensor is called the electromagnetic stress-energy tensor and is used in theories that aim to unify electromagnetism and gravity, such as Kaluza-Klein theory and string theory.

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