I Covariant Derivative Rank 2 Contravariant Tensor

Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on the computation of the covariant derivative of a rank 2 contravariant tensor, specifically the stress-energy tensor, using the Christoffel symbols. Participants emphasize the necessity of knowing all components of the tensor and the corresponding Christoffel symbols to ensure the conservation equation holds true. There is confusion regarding the correct metric and the notation used for the gravitational potential, with participants clarifying that standard notation typically includes a negative sign. The conversation highlights the importance of precise definitions and calculations in general relativity, as errors in these areas can lead to incorrect conclusions about the tensor's properties. Overall, the thread underscores the complexities involved in tensor calculus within the framework of general relativity.
Bishal Banjara
Messages
93
Reaction score
3
TL;DR
Though, we are familiar with covariant derivative of contravariant tensor of index 1 it is perhaps that we don't have it with index 2. I want a clarification on it.
IMG_20220922_172217.jpg
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You simply have to put the "correction" with the Christoffel symbol for each index on the tensor components:
$$\mathrm{D}_j A^{kl}=\partial_j A^{kl} + {\Gamma^k}_{ij} A^{il} + {\Gamma^l}_{il} A^{ki}.$$
 
  • Like
Likes Bishal Banjara
Bishal Banjara said:
Having text and equations in images is not permitted here at PF. Please type your text directly in the post and use the LaTeX support to type equations directly. (A LaTeX Guide link appears at the bottom left of the post window.)
 
I have got one of the stress energy momentum tensor component $$T_{rr}=-\frac{\Phi^2}{2\pi\mathcal{G}r^2 \left(1+2\Phi\right)^2,} where, \phi=2GM/r$$, how could I solve the covariant derivative following this rule to check whether that tensor is conserved? or, how to abstract/specify the Christoffel's other than $${\tau_{rr}}^r$$?
 
Last edited:
Without specifying the other components of ##T_{ab}##? You can't, since you need to show that$$\begin{eqnarray*}
0&=&\nabla_aT^{ab}\\
&=&\partial_aT^{ab}+\Gamma^a_{ad}T^{db}+\Gamma^b_{ad}T^{da}\end{eqnarray*}$$for all ##b##, which ends up requiring you to know all the components of ##T##, or else that all Christoffel symbols that multiply an unknown element are zero. I tend to suspect the latter would lead you into a contradiction if you only know one element of ##T##, although I haven't tried to prove it.
 
  • Like
Likes vanhees71
@lbix, sure, the rest components are $$T_{tt}=\frac{\phi^2}{2\pi{G}r^2(1+2\phi)^2}, T_{\theta\theta}=\frac{\phi^2}{2\pi{G}r^2(1+2\phi)^3} and T_{\phi\phi}=\frac{\phi^2 cosec^2\theta}{2\pi{G}r^2(1+2\phi)^3}$$
 
And the off diagonals are zero? Then just grind through the maths.
 
yes, all others off diagonal components are zero.
 
  • #10
I felt a bit confusion here, regarding the expression of Christoffel's and other components.
 
  • #11
Bishal Banjara said:
I felt a bit confusion here, regarding the expression of Christoffel's and other components.
In order to compute the Christoffel symbols, you need the metric. What is the metric?
 
  • #12
$$\begin{eqnarray*}
0&=&\nabla_aT^{ab}\\
&=&\partial_aT^{ab}+\Gamma^a_{ad}T^{db}+\Gamma^b_{ad}T^{da}\end{eqnarray*}$$. I meant for these christoffels and components.
 
  • #13
Bishal Banjara said:
$$\begin{eqnarray*}
0&=&\nabla_aT^{ab}\\
&=&\partial_aT^{ab}+\Gamma^a_{ad}T^{db}+\Gamma^b_{ad}T^{da}\end{eqnarray*}$$. I mean these christoffels and components.
That formula doesn't tell you the values of the Christoffel symbols. You need their values in order to compute the covariant derivative of ##T_{ab}##.
 
  • Like
Likes PeroK
  • #14
$$g_{tt}=-(1+2GM/r)^{-1}, g_{rr}=(1+2GM/r), g_{\theta\theta}=r^2 and g_{\phi\phi}=r^2{sin^2\theta}$$
 
  • #15
Bishal Banjara said:
I felt a bit confusion here, regarding the expression of Christoffel's and other components.
I find it helpful to write out the sums explicitly. Thus$$\begin{eqnarray*}
0&=&\partial_aT^{ab}+\Gamma^a_{ad}T^{db}+\Gamma^b_{ad}T^{da}\\
&=&\sum_a\partial_aT^{ab}\\
&&+\sum_a\sum_d\Gamma^a_{ad}T^{db}\\
&&+\sum_a\sum_d\Gamma^b_{ad}T^{da}\end{eqnarray*}$$where there is no implied summation over repeated indices in the second line (there is in the first). There is one free index, so this us four equations, one for each ##b##. Doing the ##b=r## case, you have$$\begin{eqnarray*}
0&=&\sum_a\partial_aT^{ar}\\
&&+\sum_a\sum_d\Gamma^a_{ad}T^{dr}\\
&&+\sum_a\sum_d\Gamma^r_{ad}T^{da}\\
&=&\partial_rT^{rr}\\
&&+\sum_a\Gamma^a_{ar}T^{rr}\\
&&+\sum_a\Gamma^r_{aa}T^{aa}\end{eqnarray*}$$Again there is no implied summation. We have used the fact that ##T^{ab}=0\ \forall\ a\neq b## to drop summation terms that are obviously zero in order to go from the first line to the second.

I should note that putting the summation signs in has absolutely no effect except that I personally find it useful as a way of tracking what is being summed over and what is not.
 
  • Informative
Likes Bishal Banjara
  • #16
Ibix said:
Again there is no implied summation. We have used the fact that ##T^{ab}=0\ \forall\ a\neq b## to drop summation terms that are obviously zero in order to go from the first line to the second.
??
 
  • #17
Is there a question in your last post @Bishal Banjara, or was that an accidental post?
 
  • #18
how to define $${\tau^r}_{aa}, T^{aa}$$?
To be frank it is truly accidental post but roaming here and there I came to same point.
 
  • #19
What's ##\tau^r_{aa}##? Do you mean the Christoffel symbol usually denoted ##\Gamma^r_{aa}##?
 
  • #20
yes..
 
  • #21
Then I don't understand what the problem is. You know how to calculate the Christoffel symbols, correct? And you've already stated the components of the stress-energy tensor. You have everything you need...
 
  • #22
According to the information I had given, what are those values I have to insert for those christoffels and components you just mentioned?
 
  • #23
Does this $$T_{aa}=T_{tt}$$ and so on..?
 
  • #24
No - ##a## is a dummy index so you will never see it outside a summation. Thus$$\begin{eqnarray*}
&&\sum_a\Gamma^a_{ar}T^{rr}\\
&=&\Gamma^t_{tr}T^{rr}+\Gamma^r_{rr}T^{rr}+\Gamma^\theta_{\theta r}T^{rr}+\Gamma^\phi_{\phi r}T^{rr}
\end{eqnarray*}$$and similarly for the other sum.
 
  • Informative
Likes Bishal Banjara
  • #25
Bishal Banjara said:
$$g_{tt}=-(1+2GM/r)^{-1}, g_{rr}=(1+2GM/r), g_{\theta\theta}=r^2 and g_{\phi\phi}=r^2{sin^2\theta}$$
You need to check your computations; this metric does not give an Einstein tensor that corresponds to the stress-energy tensor you have posted.
 
  • #26
Please specify...what have you obtained? So that I could recheck mine. I had followed the same procedure as Sean Carroll's book.
 
  • #27
Bishal Banjara said:
Please specify...what have you obtained?
[Edit--this was wrong, see post #30 for correction.]

In terms of ##M## instead of ##\phi##, which is the more usual notation, I get the following from Maxima for the Einstein tensor (note that these are the mixed components):

$$
G^t{}_t = - \frac{4M^2}{r^2 \left( r + 2M \right)^2}
$$

$$
G^r{}_r = \frac{4M^2}{r^2 \left( r - 2M \right) \left( r + 2M \right)}
$$

$$
G^\theta{}_\theta = G^\phi{}_\phi = - \frac{4M^2 \left( r - M \right)}{r \left( r - 2M \right)^2 \left( r + 2M \right)^2}
$$

Lowering an index on each component (which is simple because the metric is diagonal) then gives

$$
G_{tt}= \frac{4M^2 \left( r - 2M \right)}{r^3 \left( r + 2M \right)^2}
$$

$$
G_{rr} = \frac{4M^2}{r^3 \left( r - 2M \right)}
$$

$$
G_{\theta \theta} = - \frac{4M^2 r \left( r - M \right)}{\left( r - 2M \right)^2 \left( r + 2M \right)^2}
$$

$$
G_{\phi \phi} = - \frac{4M^2 r \left( r - M \right) \sin^2 \theta}{\left( r - 2M \right)^2 \left( r + 2M \right)^2}
$$
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
Likes PeroK
  • #28
PeterDonis said:
In terms of ##M## instead of ##\phi##, which is the more usual notation, I get the following from Maxima for the Einstein tensor (note that these are the mixed components):

$$
G^t{}_t = - \frac{4M^2}{r^2 \left( r + 2M \right)^2}
$$

$$
G^r{}_r = \frac{4M^2}{r^2 \left( r - 2M \right) \left( r + 2M \right)}
$$

$$
G^\theta{}_\theta = G^\phi{}_\phi = - \frac{4M^2 \left( r - M \right)}{r \left( r - 2M \right)^2 \left( r + 2M \right)^2}
$$
Are you sure? I get$$\begin{eqnarray*}
G^t{}_t=G^r{}_r&=&-\frac{4M^2}{r^2(r+2M)^2}\\
G^\theta{}_\theta=G^\phi{}_\phi&=&\frac{4M^2}{r(r+2M)^3}
\end{eqnarray*}$$From your index lowering, it looks to me like your ##g_{tt}## is ##-(1-2M/r)## where I believe @Bishal Banjara specified ##-(1+2M/r)^{-1}## in #14.
 
  • Like
Likes PeroK
  • #29
Ibix said:
From your index lowering, it looks to me like your ##g_{tt}## is ##-(1-2M/r)## where I believe @Bishal Banjara specified ##-(1+2M/r)^{-1}## in #14.
Ah, you're right, I misread the metric. I'll have to re-do the computation in Maxima.
 
  • #30
Ibix said:
Are you sure? I get$$\begin{eqnarray*}
G^t{}_t=G^r{}_r&=&-\frac{4M^2}{r^2(r+2M)^2}\\
G^\theta{}_\theta=G^\phi{}_\phi&=&\frac{4M^2}{r(r+2M)^3}
\end{eqnarray*}$$
Yes, with the correct metric from #14, that's what I get from Maxima. Lowering an index on each then gives

$$
G_{tt}= \frac{4M^2}{r \left( r + 2M \right)^3}
$$

$$
G_{rr}= - \frac{4M^2}{r^3 \left( r + 2M \right)}
$$

$$
G_{\theta \theta} = \frac{4M^2 r}{\left( r + 2M \right)^3}
$$

$$
G_{\phi \phi} = \frac{4M^2 r \sin^2 \theta}{\left( r + 2M \right)^3}
$$

This still doesn't look like what the OP posted.
 
  • Informative
Likes Bishal Banjara

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
2K