How Is the Komar Mass of a Schwarzschild Geometry Calculated?

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SUMMARY

The Komar mass of a Schwarzschild geometry is calculated using the integral formula \(\frac{1}{4\pi}\int_{S}n^{\alpha}\sigma_{\beta} \nabla_{\alpha} \xi^{\beta}dA\). The discussion clarifies that the surface element \(dA\) is defined as \(dA = \sqrt{g^{(2)}} d^2x\), where \(g^{(2)}\) is the determinant of the induced metric on the surface. The vectors \(n^{\alpha}\) and \(\sigma_{\beta}\) are chosen as \(n = (-\sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{r}}, 0, 0, 0)\) and \(\sigma = (0, \sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{r}}^{-1}, 0, 0)\), leading to the conclusion that the Komar mass evaluates to \(-M\) after integration over the sphere.

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Homework Statement


The Komar mass of a Schwarzschild geometry can be written as \frac{1}{4\pi}\int_{S}n^{\alpha}\sigma_{\beta} \nabla_{\alpha} \xi^{\beta}dA, where n^{\alpha} and \sigma_{\beta} are timelike and spacelike normal vectors respectively. How does one actually go about evaluating this integral?


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The Attempt at a Solution


I've simplified it down to \frac{1}{4\pi}\int_{S}n^{\alpha}\sigma_{\beta} \Gamma^{\beta}_{\alpha t} dA but I have no idea how to continue from there. Wouldn't n^{\alpha}\sigma_{\beta} be zero since they are orthogonal? Also, what is dA? I know it includes factors from the metric but which ones?
 
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mongolianbeef said:
Also, what is dA? I know it includes factors from the metric but which ones?
It's the surface element of the 2-surface you defined, dA = \sqrt{g^{(2)}} d^2x where g^{(2)} is the determinant of induced metric on this surface.

mongolianbeef said:
How does one actually go about evaluating this integral?

So in Schwarzschild, I can choose my vectors n and σ in the obvious way, normalizing them to n2=-1, σ2=+1,
n = (-\sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{r}}, 0, 0, 0)
\sigma = (0, \sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{r}}^{-1}, 0, 0)
Then the 2-surface is just a sphere, with \sqrt{-g^{(2)}} = r^2 \sin(\theta), dA = r^2 d\Omega, so I get
I = \frac{1}{4\pi}\int_{S}n^{\alpha}\sigma_{\beta} \Gamma^{\beta}_{\alpha t} dA = \frac{1}{4\pi}\int_{S}n^{t} g_{rr} \sigma^{r} \Gamma^{r}_{t t} dA = \frac{1}{4\pi}\int_{S} -\sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{r}}(1-\frac{2M}{r})^{-1}(1-\frac{2M}{r})^{-1/2} \frac{M}{r^2} (1-\frac{2M}{r}) dA<br />
<br /> = -\frac{1}{4\pi}\int_{S} \frac{M}{r^2} r^2 d\Omega = -\frac{M}{4\pi}\int_S d\Omega = -M<br />
So maybe there's a sign wrong somewhere, or something, but otherwise it goes like that :)
 

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