Killing vector Definition and 53 Threads

As follow up of this thread in Special and General Relativity subforum, I'd like to better investigate the following topic. Consider the 4d euclidean space in which there are 10 ##\mathbb R##-linear independent KVFs. Their span at each point is 4 dimensional (i.e. at any point they span the...

From this lecture at minute 15:00 onwards, the conditions for spacetime spatially homogenous and isotropic imply the existence of 6 ##\mathbb R##-linear independent spacelike Killing Vector Fields (KVFs) w.r.t. the metric tensor ##g##. The lecturer (Dr. Schuller) claims that such 6 independent...

I'd ask for clarification about the symmetries of (pseudo) Riemannian manifold ##M## of dimension ##n##. The set of smooth vector fields ##\Gamma(TM)## forms a vector space over ##\mathbb R##; the commutator defined as $$[X,Y](f):=X(Y(f)) - Y(X(f))$$ turns it into a (infinite dimensional) Lie...

The question might be a bit weird: which are the current "speculations" about the topology of the Universe as spacetime ? I'm aware of, from the point of view of spacelike hypersurfaces of constant cosmological time, the topology of such "spaces" might be nearly flat on large scale. What about...

Consider ##\mathbb R^2## as the Euclidean plane. Since it is maximally symmetric it has a 3-parameter group of Killing vector fields (KVFs). Pick orthogonal cartesian coordinates centered at point P. Then the 3 KVFs are given by: $$K_1=\partial_x, K_2=\partial_y, K_3=-y\partial_x + x...

What is the math for projecting a Killing vector onto a Schwarzschild field of spacetime? How would you do it?

Once having converted the FLRW metric from comoving coordinates ##ds^2=-dt^2+a^2(t)(dr^2+r^2d\phi^2)## to "conformal" coordinates ##ds^2=a^2(n)(-dn^2+dr^2+r^2d\phi^2)##, is there a way to facilitate solving for general geodesics that would otherwise be difficult, such as cases with motion in...

Hi, reading Carrol chapter 5 (More Geometry), he claims that a maximal symmetric space such as Minkowski spacetime has got ##4(4+1)/2 = 10## indipendent Killing Vector Fields (KVFs). Indeed we can just count the isometries of such spacetime in terms of translations (4) and rotations (6). By...

Hi, reading the Landau book 'The Classical theory of Field - vol 2' a doubt arised to me about the definition of synchronous reference system (a.k.a. synchronous coordinate chart). Consider a generic spacetime endowed with a metric ##g_{ab}## and take the (unique) covariant derivative operator...

For a massless particle let\begin{align*} S[x,e] = \dfrac{1}{2} \int d\lambda e^{-1} \dot{x}^{\mu} \dot{x}^{\nu} g_{\mu \nu}(x) \end{align*}Let ##\xi## be a conformal Killing vector of ##ds^2##, then under a transformation ##x^{\mu} \rightarrow x^{\mu} + \alpha \xi^{\mu}## and ##e \rightarrow e...

Hello, Some doubt arose me reading this thread https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/is-acceleration-absolute-or-relative-revisited.999420/post-6454462 currently closed. Sorry, I have not be able to quote directly from it :frown: Your claim is not , however, asserting that the spacetime...

Hi, I would like to ask for a clarification about the difference between parallel transport vs Lie dragging in the following scenario. Take a vector field ##V## defined on spacetime manifold and a curve ##C## on it. The manifold is endowed with the metric connection (I'm aware of it does exist...

I have been at this exercise for the past two days now, and I finally decided to get some help. I am learning General Relativity using Carrolls Spacetime and Geometry on my own, so I can't really ask a tutor or something. I think I have a solution, but I am really unsure about it and I found 6...

I'm on to section 5.4 of Carroll's book on Schwarzschild geodesics and he says stuff in it which, I think, enlightens me on the use of Killing vectors. I had to go back to section 3.8 on Symmetries and Killing vectors. I now understand the following: A Killing vector satisfies $$...

I'm struggling to get the hang of killing vectors. I ran across a statement that said energy in special relativity with respect to a time translation Killing field ##\xi^{a}## is: $$E = -P_a\xi^{a}$$ What exactly does that mean? Can someone clarify to me?

In a recent thread, the following was posted regarding the "no hair" theorem for black holes: In the arxiv paper linked to, it says the following (p. 2, after Theorem 1.1): "Hawking has shown that in addition to the original, stationary, Killing field, which has to be tangent to the event...

I use the ##(-,+,+,+)## signature. In the Schwarzschild solution $$ds^2=-\left(1-\frac{2m}{r}\right)dt^2+\left(1-\frac{2m}{r}\right)^{-1}dr^2+r^2d\Omega^2$$ with coordinates $$(t,r,\theta,\phi)$$ the timelike Killing vector $$K^a=\delta^a_0=\partial_0=(1,0,0,0)$$ has a norm squared of...

I've been reading up on Killing vectors, and have got on to the topics of homogeneous, isotropic and maximally symmetric space-times. I've read that for an isotropic spacetime, one can construct a set of Killing vector fields ##K^{(i)}##, such that, at some point ##p\in M## (where ##M## is the...

In p.244 of Carroll's "Spacetime and Geometry," the Killing horizon ##\Sigma## of a Killing vector ##\chi## is defined by a null hypersurface on which ##\chi## is null. Then it says this ##\chi## is in fact normal to ## \Sigma## since a null surface cannot have two linearly independent null...

I've read that if a given spacetime possesses a timelike Killing vector, then it is possible to define a unique vacuum state by constructing positive and negative frequency modes with respect to this timelike Killing vector. My question is, what does this mean? Explicitly, how does one use a...

Okay so when there is time-translation symmetry because the metric components do not have any time- dependence, ##\partial_x^0## is a Killing vector. I'm just confused what this means explicitly, since a derivative doesn't make sense without acting on anything really? But by 'spotting the...

I am trying to follow Nakahara's book. From the context, it seems that the author is trying to say if moving a point along a flow always give a isometry, the corresponding vector field X is a Killing vector field. am I right? then the book gives a proof. It only considers a linear approximation...

I'm interested in Killing vector fields and want to ask whether anybody can name me a good textbook or online-source about them, preferably with a general treatment with local coordinates as examples and not at the center of consideration.

I'm trying to do past exam papers in GR but there are some things I don't yet feel comfortable with, so even though I can do some parts of the question I would be very happy if you could check my solution. Thank you! 1. Homework Statement Spacetime is stationary := there exists a coord chart...

I need to prove that $$D_\mu D_\nu \xi^\alpha = - R^\alpha_{\mu\nu\beta} \xi^\beta$$ where D is covariant derivative and R is Riemann tensor. ##\xi## is a Killing vector. I have proved that $$D_\mu D_\nu \xi_\alpha = R_{\alpha\nu\mu\beta} \xi^\beta$$ I can't figure out a way to get the required...

Hello, I am reading through some GR lecture notes and have come across the following: "A spacetime is static if there exists a coordinate chart where: ∂0gμν = 0 g0i = 0 This spacetime admits a Timelike Killing vector X that satisfies: X[α∇βXγ] = 0 " How do I go about proving that this...

Hello everyone How is it possible that a n-dimensional spacetime admits m> n INDEPENDENT Killing vectors where m=n(n+1)/2 if the space is maximally symmetric?

Hi, In general relativity we have no general conservation of energy and momentum. But if there exists a Killing-field we can show that this leads to a symmetry in spacetime and so to a conserved quantity. Thats what the mathematic tells us. But I don't understand what's the meaning of an...

I have a question about the directional derivative of the Ricci scalar along a Killing Vector Field. What conditions are necessary on the connection such that K^\alpha \nabla_\alpha R=0. Is the Levi-Civita connection necessary? I'm not sure about it but I believe since the Lie derivative is...

Homework Statement Suppose v^\mu is a Killing Vector field, the prove that: v^\mu \nabla_\alpha R=0 Homework Equations 1) \nabla_\mu \nabla_\nu v^\beta = R{^\beta_{\mu \nu \alpha}} v^\alpha 2) The second Bianchi Identity. 3) If v^\mu is Killing the it satisfies then Killing equation, viz...

Suppose to have a killing vector that its norm is null, so at the same time is also a null geodesic. Does the metric have special propierty? What can i say about the Killing vector and its proprierties?

Homework Statement How do you find the killing vectors for Minkowski space(or from any metric as well)? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I'm new to GR and I'm going through Carroll's book. I've been alright so far but for some reason I just don't understand what's going on here...

Isometry is the symmetry s.t. g^\prime_{\mu\nu}(x)=g_{\mu\nu}(x) under the transformation x^\mu\to x^{\prime\mu}(x). This means under infinitesimal transformation x^\mu\to x^\mu+\epsilon \xi^\mu(x) where \epsilon is any infinitesimal constant, the vector field \xi^\mu(x) satisfies Killing...

Suppose we have a vector field ##V## defined everywhere on a manifold ##M##. Consider now point ##p \in M##. As a consequence of the existence and uniqueness theorem of differential equations. this implies that ##V## gives rise to a unique local flow $$\theta:(-\epsilon,\epsilon) \times U \to...

Homework Statement Given a manifold [FONT="Times New Roman"]M with metric [FONT="Times New Roman"]gab and associated derivative operator [FONT="Times New Roman"]∇a, let [FONT="Times New Roman"]ξ a be a Killing vector on [FONT="Times New Roman"]M. Prove that [FONT="Times New Roman"]ξ a is an...

Suppose that on a Riemannian manifold (M,g) there is a killing vector such that ##\mathcal{L}_{\xi} g = 0.## How would one then characterize the group of diffeomorphisms ##f: M \to M## such that $$\mathcal{L}_{f^* \xi} (f^*g) = 0?$$ How would one describe them? Do they have a name...

Is it possible to have a space-time with no killing vector? Alternatively, can I define the metric only with the killing vector of the space time?

I am trying to understand why in the definition of a stationary spacetime the Killing vector field has to be timelike. It is required that the metric is time independent, i.e. the time translations x^0 \to x^0 + \epsilon leave the metric unchanged. So the Killing vector is...

I was wondering what the orbits of a Killing vector field are. Do you have any good sources or reading material for this?

hi, i need to calculate the killing vector fields for axial symmetry for a project so i can study the galaxy rotation curves. i am assuming the galaxy to be a flat disk, in addition to being axially symmetric. so i figured that the killing vector fields with respect to which the metric...

Homework Statement I am trying to show that for a vector field Va which satisfies V_{a;b}+V_{b;a} that V_{a;b;c}=V_eR^e_{cba} using just the below identities. Homework Equations V_{a;b;c}-V_{a;c;b}=V_eR^e_{abc}(0) R^e_{abc}+R^e_{bca}+R^e_{cab}=0 (*) V_{a;b}+V_{b;a}=0 (**) The Attempt at a...

Hi. Currently I am self-studying a book on general relativity (Introducing Einstein's Relativity by Ray D'Inverno), I am stuck trying to find a Killing Vector solution to the following problem. ds^2 = (x^2)dx^2 + x(dy)^2 You can easily obtain the metric from the above. Now the question...

In Stephani's "Relativity", section 33.3, equation (33.9), he has the Killing equations for cartesian coordinates as \xi_{a,b}+\xi_{b,a}=0 From there he says upon differentiation, you can get the following three equations \xi_{a,bc}+\xi_{b,ac}=0 \xi_{b,ca}+\xi_{c,ba}=0 \xi_{c,ab}+\xi_{a,cb}=0...

Hi, in my book, it says: ----------------------- Beacause of T^{\mu\nu}{}{}_{;\nu} = 0 and the symmetry of T^{\mu\nu}, it holds that \left(T^{\mu\nu}\xi_\mu\right)_{;\nu} = 0 ----------------------- (here, T^{\mu\nu} ist the energy momentum tensor and \xi_\mu a killing vector. The semicolon...

Hey guys, I'm working on Polchinski's string book, and I have a problem. Around page 152 he uses an identity I'm not sure how to prove. Essentially he wants to compute conformal killing vector fields. So we have the eq for a CKV: P_{ab}=\Delta_a \xi_b+ \Delta_b\xi_a- g_{ab}\Delta_c\xi^c=0...

I'm working my way through D'Inverno's Understanding GR and have reached Chapter 7 with no real problems. I'm stuck though on p101 (and the corresponding problem 7.7). D'inverno sets out two forms of the geodesic equations, one of which is the Lagrangian with the Killing Vectors and then has a...

The metric on S^2 is given by, \displaystyle ds^2=d\theta^2 + sin^2\theta d\phi^2 Here's the answer \displaystyle \xi ^{\mu}_{(1)}\partial _{\mu} = \partial_{\phi} \displaystyle \xi^{\mu}_{(2)}\partial_{\mu} = \ -(cos\phi \partial_{\theta} - cot\theta sin\phi \partial_{\phi})...

Hi, I'm trying to understand isometries, for example between S^2 (two sphere) and SO(3). For this I need to show that the killing vectors for S^2 ds^2={d\theta}^2+sin^2 {\theta} {d\phi}^2. are: R=\frac{d}{d\phi}} S=cos {\phi} \frac{d}{d\theta}}-cot{\theta} sin {\phi} \frac{d}{d\phi}}...

In Carrol's text, he shows that the covariant derivative of the Ricci scalar is zero along a Killing vector. He then goes on to say something about how this intuitively justifies our notion of geometry not changing along a Killing vector. This same informal reasoning would seem to imply that...

Homework Statement I'm currently self-studying Carroll's GR book and get stuck by proving the following identity: K^\lambda \nabla _\lambda R = 0 where K is Killing vector and R is the Ricci ScalarHomework Equations Mr.Carroll said that it is suffice to show this by knowing: \nabla _\mu...