- #1
Markus Hanke
- 259
- 45
I have a basic question regarding the invariants that can be formed from the Riemann curvature tensor, specifically the Kretschmann scalar. Does this quantity have any physical significance, in the sense that it is connected to anything physically measurable or observable ?
My current understanding of this invariant is that it provides a scalar measure of total curvature effects at a given point; in exterior Schwarzschild space-times this will depend only on the radial coordinate ( due to the symmetries present ), in other space-times it may be a more complicated expression.
Thanks in advance for any clarification you may be able to provide on this.
My current understanding of this invariant is that it provides a scalar measure of total curvature effects at a given point; in exterior Schwarzschild space-times this will depend only on the radial coordinate ( due to the symmetries present ), in other space-times it may be a more complicated expression.
Thanks in advance for any clarification you may be able to provide on this.