Dynamic Equations of the ADM Formalism

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the corrections needed in the ADM formalism, specifically regarding the calculation of variations in the Hamiltonian density. Key errors included neglecting the derivatives of the metric tensor, leading to incomplete results for terms such as ##\delta (N\gamma^\frac{1}{2}R)## and ##\delta (-N\mathcal{H})##. The Palatini method is highlighted as a shortcut to derive these results efficiently. The author expresses a need for assistance in verifying their calculations and addressing unwanted terms that arise in their work.

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TerryW
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Homework Statement
I have been trying to find my way to reproducing MTW's equation 21.115. I've identified a couple of errors in my earlier postings on this and I've worked on these to get me closer to the answer but I'm still not quite there.
Relevant Equations
MTW's equation 21.115
The main error in my earlier work was forgetting that to obtain ##\delta X## you have to find not only ##\frac {\partial X}{\partial g_{ij}}##, but also ##\big(-\frac {\partial X}{\partial g_{ij,k}}\big)_{,k}## and ##\big(\frac {\partial X}{\partial g_{ij,kl}}\big)_{,kl}##. I also missed a trick when I worked on ##\delta (N\gamma^\frac{1}{2}R)##.

So the results of my reworking are as follows (There are many pages of work producing the results for ##\big(\frac {\partial (-N\mathcal{H})}{\partial g_{ij}}\big)## ,##\big(-\frac {\partial (-N\mathcal{H})}{\partial g_{ij,k}}\big)_{,k}## , ##\big(\frac {\partial (-N\mathcal{H})}{\partial g_{ij,kl}}\big)_{,kl}## and ##\big(\frac {\partial (-N_i\mathcal{H}^i)}{\partial g_{ij}}\big)## ,##\big(-\frac {\partial (-N_i\mathcal{H}^i)}{\partial g_{ij,kl}}\big)_{,kl}## , ##\big(\frac {\partial (-N_i\mathcal{H}^i)}{\partial g_{ij,kl}}\big)_{,kl}##) I'm happy to share these if anyone is interested!

The results for ##\delta (-N\mathcal{H})## are:

A. ##\delta (N\gamma^\frac{1}{2}R) = -N(\gamma^\frac{1}{2})(R^{ij} - \frac{1}{2}g^{ij}R)##

(The Palatini method is a short cut to this result - saves a lot of work)

(i) ##\frac {\partial }{\partial g_{ij}}(-N\gamma^\frac{1}{2}(Tr\pi^2 - \frac{1}{2}(Tr\pi)^2))## produces:

B. ## \frac{1}{2}g^{ij}(-N\gamma^\frac{1}{2}(Tr\pi^2 - \frac{1}{2}(Tr\pi)^2))## and

C. ##-2N\gamma^\frac{1}{2}(Tr|pi^2 - \frac{1}{2}(\pi^{im}\pi_m{}^j - \frac{1}{2}\pi^{ij}Tr\pi)##

(ii) ##\big(-\frac {\partial }{\partial g_{ij,k}}(-N\gamma^\frac{1}{2}(Tr\pi^2 - \frac{1}{2}(Tr\pi)^2))\big)_{,k}## produces:

##(-2N^i\pi^{jk} +N^k\pi^{ij})_{,k}##

This can then be turned into:

E. ##(-2N^i\pi^{jk})_{|k}## which is unwanted plus
more unwanted terms ##+2N^m\Gamma^i{}_{mk}\pi^{jk} +2N^i\Gamma^j{}_{mk}\pi^{mk} +2N^i\Gamma^k{}_{mk}\pi^{mj} ## plus

F. ##(N^k\pi^{ij}))_{|k}## which we do want plus
more unwanted terms ## - N^m\Gamma^i{}_{mk}\pi^{ij} - N^k\Gamma^j{}_{mk}\pi^{im} - N^k\Gamma^k{}_{mk}\pi^{mj} ##

##-N\mathcal{H}## contains no terms in ##g_{ij,kl}##

The results for ##\delta (-N_i\mathcal{H^i})## are:

(i) ##\frac {\partial (-N_i\mathcal{H}^i)}{\partial g_{ij}}## gives:

D. ##-N^j_{|k}\pi^{ik} - N^i_{|k}\pi^{jk}## plus

-E. ##(2N^i\pi^{jk})_{|k}## which cancels E. above plus an unwanted term ##g^{ij}N_l(\pi^{lk})_{|k}##

(ii) ##\big(-\frac {\partial (-N_i\mathcal{H}^i)}{\partial g_{ij,k}}\big)_{,k}## , gives

G. ##(-4N_{|m}\gamma^{\frac{1}{2}}(g^{il}g^{jk} - g^{ij}g^{kl})_{,k}##and a whole raft of unwanted terms

(iii) ##\big(\frac {\partial (-N_i\mathcal{H}^i)}{\partial g_{ij,kl}}\big)_{,kl}## gives

H. ##(-2N\gamma^{\frac{1}{2}}(g^{il}g^{jk} - g^{ij}g^{kl})_{,kl}##

I can work on G and H to produce a term like ## \gamma^{\frac{1}{2}}(N^{ij} - g^{ij}N^{|m}{}_{|m})## but it has an unwanted factor of '6' in it plus another load of unwanted terms.

In summary, I have been able to produce all the terms in MTW 21.115 without the need to mine into the divergence, but I am left with a rogue factor 6 and a whole load of unwanted bits and pieces which do not appear to cancel out in any way.

If there is anyone out there who would be willing to check through any of my workings to help identify where I am going wrong, it would be much appreciated.RegardsTerryW
 
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Hi Mark726,

Many thanks for posting a response to my update on MTW 21.115. Somehow or other I missed the notification at the time and it quickly go buried in the deluge of emails I get daily. I do go back to this from time to time (it's like an itch that just has to be scratched!). I was looking at it only the other day as I happened on a paper which looked as if it might help out. So I will be going back to it at some stage and I'll bear your suggestions in mind. As for enlisting any help, I'm long retired and this is one of my hobbies, so I don't have any handy colleagues or other scientist on hand. Physics Forum members are my only source of support - for which I am always very grateful.

Best wishes TerryW
 

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