Does Komar Mass Include the Energy of Gravitational Field?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether the Komar mass includes the energy of the gravitational field or only the energy of matter. Participants explore this question in the context of different spacetime geometries, specifically Schwarzschild and Reissner-Nordström (RN) spacetimes, discussing the implications of gravitational binding energy and electric field contributions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question if the Komar mass includes only the energy of matter or also the energy of the gravitational field.
  • It is noted that the Komar mass calculated for Schwarzschild spacetime results in the mass of the central star, but this mass is interpreted as being smaller due to the negative contribution from gravitational binding energy.
  • Others argue that the Komar mass for RN spacetime also yields the mass M, suggesting that contributions from electric fields should be included in the total energy of the spacetime.
  • Some participants express confusion about why the Komar mass, which is defined as the total energy of the whole spacetime, equals the mass of the central body.
  • There are claims that the mass of the central body should account for both matter and field energies, leading to a perceived discrepancy in the understanding of mass in general relativity compared to Newtonian physics.
  • Participants discuss the independence of the Komar mass integral from the choice of the spherical surface, raising questions about the energy of the gravitational field between different surfaces.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach consensus on whether the Komar mass includes the energy of the gravitational field or how it relates to the mass of the central body. Multiple competing views remain regarding the interpretation of the Komar mass and its components.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about the definitions of mass and energy in general relativity versus Newtonian physics. The implications of gravitational binding energy and electric field contributions are not fully resolved.

  • #31
wLw said:
here, in section 4

This is a paper on Newtonian gravity, not relativity.
 
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  • #32
but if gravitational filed has no energy how can you explain the gravitational radiation
 
  • #33
wLw said:
if gravitational filed has no energy how can you explain the gravitational radiation

Gravitational radiation is not the same as the "gravitational field" you are talking about, nor is the kind of energy that gravitational radiation carries the same as the kind of "energy" that appears in the Komar mass integral.
 
  • #34
PeterDonis said:
Gravitational radiation is not the same as the "gravitational field" you are talking about, nor is the kind of energy that gravitational radiation carries the same as the kind of "energy" that appears in the Komar mass integral.
in Newton case we have$$\nabla^2\phi=4\pi\rho$$. does the ##\rho## include binding energy or just only matter mass
 
  • #35
wLw said:
does the ρ\rho include binding energy or just only matter mass

In Newtonian physics ##\rho## only includes "matter mass". But that is also true in General Relativity. Look at the Komar mass integral again: the "binding energy" factor is not ##\rho## (or more generally ##\rho + 3p##, which is the "source" factor that comes from the matter). If you have to pick a particular factor in the integral that represents "binding energy", it would be ##\sqrt{g_{tt}}##, the redshift factor. But really "binding energy" is not localized at all; it's a global property of the system--it's the fact that the mass ##M## of the bound system is less than the total mass of all the constituents would be if they were all widely separated from each other.
 
  • #36
PeterDonis said:
In Newtonian physics ##\rho## only includes "matter mass". But that is also true in General Relativity. Look at the Komar mass integral again: the "binding energy" factor is not ##\rho## (or more generally ##\rho + 3p##, which is the "source" factor that comes from the matter). If you have to pick a particular factor in the integral that represents "binding energy", it would be ##\sqrt{g_{tt}}##, the redshift factor. But really "binding energy" is not localized at all; it's a global property of the system--it's the fact that the mass ##M## of the bound system is less than the total mass of all the constituents would be if they were all widely separated from each other.
so the gravitational radiation refers to the energy of outside gravitational filed (generated by body), and the gravitational (no filed ,because it is binding energy)energy in komar mass is binding energy,but both of them are nonlocalizable?,is i right.?
 
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  • #37
wLw said:
so the gravitational radiation refers to the energy of outside gravitational filed (generated by body), and the gravitational (no filed ,because it is binding energy)energy in komar mass is binding energy,but both of them are nonlocalizable?,is i right.?

You are trying to use terminology that is not very suitable. In particular, you are continuing to cling to the concept of "energy of the gravitational field", which is not a good concept. It doesn't help with understanding; it hinders it.

Gravitational waves carry energy because they can do work. For example, if they pass through an object they will heat it up (by a very small amount, but the effect is there). But the waves' ability to do work is not localizable.

Gravitational binding energy of a bound object is there because, in order to take a system consisting of a lot of small, widely separated pieces of matter, and make them into a single bound object like a planet, you need to extract energy from the system (the usual way this happens is for the system to emit electromagnetic radiation that escapes to infinity); or, conversely, if you want to take a single bound object like a planet and make it into a lot of small, widely separated pieces of matter, you need to add energy to (do work on) the system. But, again, this property of the system is not localizable; the transition I just described, in either direction, is a global operation.

I have just described the actual physics of gravitational waves and gravitational binding energy. Using the term "energy of the gravitational field" adds nothing at all to the physics, nor does it help to understand the physics I have described. The best thing you can do is to just forget about the concept altogether and focus on the actual physics.
 
  • #38
ok thank you a lot, i am clearer than before
 
  • #39
wLw said:
thank you a lot

You're welcome!
 
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