Thread Closed

what is a time-like killing vector?

 
Share Thread
Aug25-04, 04:27 PM   #1
 

what is a time-like killing vector?


What is a time-like killing vector?
PhysOrg.com science news on PhysOrg.com

>> A robot that runs like a cat (w/ Video)
>> Global cooling as significant as global warming, research shows
>> 'Chase and run' cell movement mechanism explains process of metastasis
Aug25-04, 04:54 PM   #2
 
Unless given further explanation I´d say it´s exactly what the name sais:

Killing vector: A vector that fulfies the Killing-equation [tex] v_{i;j} + v_{j;i} = 0 [/tex]. The existence of a Killing-vector implies the existance of a coordinate system where the metric tensor is independent of one of the coordiantes.

time-like: A vector v is timelike if [tex] g_{ij} v^{i} v^{j} >0 [/tex].
EDIT: As pmb_phy correctly claims I should mention that above inequality assumes the signature of the metric to be (+,-,-,-).
Aug25-04, 05:35 PM   #3
 
Quote by kurious
What is a time-like killing vector?
A few preliminaries - A coordinate transformation which leaves the components of the metric tensor invariant is called an isometry. This means that when the coordinates are change from the primed coordinates, x', to the unprimed coordinates x, the metric tensor remains unchanged, i.e. is the same function of the coordinates. This means

[tex]g'_{\alpha\beta}(x') = g_{\alpha\beta}(x') [/tex]

For the components of the metric tensor invariant under the isometry we must have

[tex]g_{\mu\nu} (x) = \frac{\partial x'^{\alpha}}{\partial x^{\beta}}\frac{\partial x'^{\mu}}{\partial x^{\nu}}g(x'(x))[/tex]

Consider the infinitesimal coordinate transformation

[tex]x' = x^{\alpha} + \epsilon \xi^{\alpha}[/tex]

where [tex]\xi^{\alpha}(x)[/tex] is a vector field and [tex]\epsilon[/tex] -> 0. For this coordinate transformation to yield an isometry the [tex]\xi^{\alpha}[/tex] must satisfy the following equation

[tex]\xi_{\mu;\nu} + \xi_{\nu;\mu} = 0 [/tex]

As Atheist mentioned, this equation is called Killing's equation and the solutions Killing vectors.

Quote by Atheist
time-like: A vector v is timelike if [tex] g_{ij} v^{i} v^{j} >0 [/tex].
That depends on the signature of the metric tensor.

Pete
Aug25-04, 05:55 PM   #4
 
Recognitions:
Gold Membership Gold Member
Retired Staff Staff Emeritus

what is a time-like killing vector?


Perfectly true, Pete, but the definition is still good with the appropriate sign in. For newbies, the semicolon in Atheist's definition denotes covariant derivative, so the equation he gives, called Killing's equation, is a differential equation.
Aug25-04, 06:29 PM   #5
 
Recognitions:
Science Advisor Science Advisor
Retired Staff Staff Emeritus
Quote by kurious
What is a time-like killing vector?
Killing vectors are generated by isometries. Isometries are transformations which leave lengths unchanged. For a more technical definition, see.

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Isometry.html

A time-like Killing vector means, roughly speaking, that the distances in the system are unchanged as time increases (i.e by a time translation). Since the distances are defined by the mteric tensor, g_ab, this means that the components of the metric tensor are unchanged by time.

A stationary black hole is an example of a system with a time-like Killing vector.
Thread Closed

Similar Threads for: what is a time-like killing vector?
Thread Forum Replies
killing vector help Differential Geometry 0
Killing vector fields Differential Geometry 3
killing vector in kruskal coordinates Special & General Relativity 4
killing time General Physics 2