# Defining proper distance in GR.

At page 234 in Landau and Lifshitz' Classical Theory of Fields the proper time element is defined through the line element by ##ds^2 = c^2 d\tau^2##, then for a stationary observer, setting ##dx^i=0## for ##i=1,2,3##. One then obtains the relation
$$c^2 d\tau^2 = g_{00}(dx^{0})^2.$$

He then goes on to define the spatial proper distance ##dl^2## and notes that in SR ##dl^2## can be defined as the spatial distance between two events infinitesimally separated, but with the same coordinate time, i.e. by setting ##dx^0 = 0## in the line-element. He claims that this is not possible in GR because the proper time in a gravitational field may have a different dependence on ##x^0## at different points in space.
He then goes on to define ##dl^2## by sending and reflecting back a light ray from/to a stationary observer.

I remember naively doing exactly this when I started learning about GR, but getting the wrong answer. I never really understood why it was not allowed and I'm not sure if I understand what the author is saying here, so I wondered if someone could elaborate on why we can not define the proper distance in this way as one did in SR.

PS: I know it's become common to completely ignore the notion of a line-element and just work
with tensors, i.e. the metric tensor. But I would like to understand it in both ways.

## Answers and Replies

PAllen
At page 234 in Landau and Lifshitz' Classical Theory of Fields the proper time element is defined through the line element by ##ds^2 = c^2 d\tau^2##, then for a stationary observer, setting ##dx^i=0## for ##i=1,2,3##. One then obtains the relation
$$c^2 d\tau^2 = g_{00}(dx^{0})^2.$$

He then goes on to define the spatial proper distance ##dl^2## and notes that in SR ##dl^2## can be defined as the spatial distance between two events infinitesimally separated, but with the same coordinate time, i.e. by setting ##dx^0 = 0## in the line-element. He claims that this is not possible in GR because the proper time in a gravitational field may have a different dependence on ##x^0## at different points in space.
He then goes on to define ##dl^2## by sending and reflecting back a light ray from/to a stationary observer.

I remember naively doing exactly this when I started learning about GR, but getting the wrong answer. I never really understood why it was not allowed and I'm not sure if I understand what the author is saying here, so I wondered if someone could elaborate on why we can not define the proper distance in this way as one did in SR.

PS: I know it's become common to completely ignore the notion of a line-element and just work
with tensors, i.e. the metric tensor. But I would like to understand it in both ways.

You can define a distance with the line element. If you have two events with spacelike separation that you consider to be simultaneous, you can define the proper distance between them as the integrated line element (with the right sign) along them for the geodesic connecting them. If they are 'near by', this will be unique. In general, in GR, it will not always be unique - there can be multiple geodesics. You can adopt a convention of smallest length.

However, the real issue becomes relating this to measurements. What you typically have in physical scenario is two world lines. So to execute the above, you have to decide which pairs of events on the world lines you consider simultaneous. Radar distance solves this by jointly providing a simultaneity choice and distance measurement that can be readily carried out of substantial distances, by one of the world lines.

For reasonably nearby world lines, a 'ruler distance' is typically defined, and presumed to predict the result of using a reasonable implementation of a ruler. The definition is to find a spacelike geodesic 4-orthogonal to the tangent of one of the world lines at some event that intersects the other world line. Then, the proper length of this geodesic segment is the ruler distance between them per the first world line at the chosen time along the first world line.

You can define a distance with the line element. If you have two events with spacelike separation that you consider to be simultaneous, you can define the proper distance between them as the integrated line element (with the right sign) along them for the geodesic connecting them. If they are 'near by', this will be unique. In general, in GR, it will not always be unique - there can be multiple geodesics. You can adopt a convention of smallest length.

However, the real issue becomes relating this to measurements. What you typically have in physical scenario is two world lines. So to execute the above, you have to decide which pairs of events on the world lines you consider simultaneous. Radar distance solves this by jointly providing a simultaneity choice and distance measurement that can be readily carried out of substantial distances, by one of the world lines.

For reasonably nearby world lines, a 'ruler distance' is typically defined, and presumed to predict the result of using a reasonable implementation of a ruler. The definition is to find a spacelike geodesic 4-orthogonal to the tangent of one of the world lines at some event that intersects the other world line. Then, the proper length of this geodesic segment is the ruler distance between them per the first world line at the chosen time along the first world line.

The author seems to be defining distance and spatial geometry by what you call "radar distance". He then obtains that

$$dl^2 = (g_{ij} - \frac{g_{0i}g_{0j}}{g_{00}}) dx^i dx^j \equiv \gamma_{ij}dx^i dx^j$$

where he calls ##\gamma_{ij}## the spatial metric. I guess my question is what is wrong with the following argument?:

The spacetime interval between two infinitesimally close events are

$$ds^2 = g_{00}(dx^0)^2 + 2g_{i0}dx^0 dx^i + g_{ij} dx^i dx^j$$

and for a stationary observer (##dx^0 = 0##), ##ds^2 = dl^2## so that

$$dl^2 = 2g_{i0}dx^0 dx^i + g_{ij} dx^i dx^j.$$

PAllen
The problem is that what you propose is physically meaningless. A line of constant coordinate time would typically have no meaning for an observer following world line of constant coordinate position. Thus, the only physically plausible alternative to radar distance that I know of is the ruler distance definition I gave.

The problem is that what you propose is physically meaningless. A line of constant coordinate time would typically have no meaning for an observer following world line of constant coordinate position. Thus, the only physically plausible alternative to radar distance that I know of is the ruler distance definition I gave.

I think I agree; it would only make sense if the worldline was parametrized by ##x^0##. But then on the other hand does it make sense to set ##dx^i = 0## to find a relation between the proper-time interval and ##dx^0## like Landau did?
Can you check out the derivation of the proper length in Landau's book? You can find it here

http://archive.org/details/TheClassicalTheoryOfFields

at page 234. If so would you say that the derivation is sensible?

PAllen
I think I agree; it would only make sense if the worldline was parametrized by ##x^0##. But then on the other hand does it make sense to set ##dx^i = 0## to find a relation between the proper-time interval and ##dx^0## like Landau did?
Can you check out the derivation of the proper length in Landau's book? You can find it here

http://archive.org/details/TheClassicalTheoryOfFields

at page 234. If so would you say that the derivation is sensible?

No, it would only make sense if the line of constant coordinate time was a geodesic, and it was 4-orthogonal to the world line of constant coordinate position. Neither of these is likely to be true.

Proper time is different because it gives the time read by a clock following the constant coordinate position world line, always. No assumptions or restriction, as long as it is actually a world line (timelike path).

His derivation looks fine to me. He is only defining it for an 'infinitesimal' distance, in which case it is not hard to show that there is no difference between radar and ruler distance. He describes the issues I allude to for integrating it, but makes no suggestion other than for case of a static metric.

No, it would only make sense if the line of constant coordinate time was a geodesic, and it was 4-orthogonal to the world line of constant coordinate position. Neither of these is likely to be true.

If the worldline of an observer is (affinely) parametrized by ##x^0##, then ##x^0## is proportional to that observers proper time. Setting ##dx^0 = 0## would then be equivalent with setting the proper-time interval to zero, which is physically meaningfull. Why would it have to be a geodesic and four orthogonal to constant coordinate worldlines?

Proper time is different because it gives the time read by a clock following the constant coordinate position world line, always. No assumptions or restriction, as long as it is actually a world line (timelike path).

I thought it was just the time read by a clock following a worldline in general. Why does it have to be a constant position-coordinate world line? Can not the observer use coordinates for which the "spatial coordinates" need not be constant along the world line? Wouldn't that correspond to a coordinate system with a coordinate basis for which ##\vec{e_0} \cdot \vec{e_i} \neq 0## which is allowed?

His derivation looks fine to me. He is only defining it for an 'infinitesimal' distance, in which case it is not hard to show that there is no difference between radar and ruler distance. He describes the issues I allude to for integrating it, but makes no suggestion other than for case of a static metric.

WannabeNewton
I thought it was just the time read by a clock following a worldline in general.
Yes this is true. And in the comoving coordinates associated with the observer described by the worldline (in which the observer is of course at constant spatial coordinates-naturally the origin of the comoving coordinates), the proper time read by said clock is just the coordinate time of said coordinates, by construction.

PAllen
If the worldline of an observer is (affinely) parametrized by ##x^0##, then ##x^0## is proportional to that observers proper time. Setting ##dx^0 = 0## would then be equivalent with setting the proper-time interval to zero, which is physically meaningfull. Why would it have to be a geodesic and four orthogonal to constant coordinate worldlines?
It would have to be a geodesic if you wanted to integrate along it - else it would have no meaning as a distance. If you are looking only at infinitesimals, all you need is 4-orthogonal. That says it s consistent with local Lorentz simultaneity. In general coordinates in GR a spatial coordinate will not be 4-orthogonal to the time coordinate at some point. You can tell easily: if the metric at that point has no off diagonal elements, then you meet the locally orthogonal condition.
I thought it was just the time read by a clock following a worldline in general. Why does it have to be a constant position-coordinate world line? Can not the observer use coordinates for which the "spatial coordinates" need not be constant along the world line? Wouldn't that correspond to a coordinate system with a coordinate basis for which ##\vec{e_0} \cdot \vec{e_i} \neq 0## which is allowed?

I was answering as to why don't have to worry about anything except g00 to talk about the rate of proper time along the time coordinate, while for distance you have to worry about othogonality, even for infinitesimals.

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Yes this is true. And in the comoving coordinates associated with the observer described by the worldline (in which the observer is of course at constant spatial coordinates-naturally the origin of the comoving coordinates), the proper time read by said clock is just the coordinate time of said coordinates, by construction.
It would have to be a geodesic if you wanted to integrate along it - else it would have no meaning as a distance. If you are looking only at infinitesimals, all you need is 4-orthogonal. That says it s consistent with local Lorentz simultaneity. In general coordinates in GR a spatial coordinate will not be 4-orthogonal to the time coordinate at some point. You can tell easily: if the metric at that point has no off diagonal elements, then you meet the locally orthogonal condition.

But exactly what in the argument is wrong and why?; If the worldline of an observer is parametrized by ##x^0## then for that observer, ##dx^0 = 0## is equivalent with ##d\tau = 0## regardless of whether the spatial coordinates are time-orthogonal or not. Thus the spacetime interval between two infinitesimaly separated events which for the observer in question happens at the same proper time is

$$ds^2 = g_{00} \times 0^2 + 2 g_{i0} dx^i \times 0 + g_{ij}dx^i dx^j$$

and this we call proper length.. But it's not.

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PAllen
But exactly what in the argument is wrong and why?; If the worldline of an observer is parametrized by ##x^0## then for that observer, ##dx^0 = 0## is equivalent with ##d\tau = 0## regardless of whether the spatial coordinates are time-orthogonal or not. Thus the spacetime interval between two infinitesimaly separated events which for the observer in question happens at the same proper time is

$$ds^2 = g_{00} \times 0^2 + 2 g_{i0} dx^i \times 0 + g_{ij}dx^i dx^j$$

and this we call proper length.. But it's not.

The issue is proper length for who? At least infinitesimally, the formula you give will be proper length for 'someone' but not, in general, for the observer who follows a line of constant coordinate position. For this observer, their local simultaneity will have to be 4-orthogonal to the world line of constant coordinate position. This will not be a line of constant time coordinate unless the metric at that point has no off diagonal elements.

WannabeNewton