Non-rotational and rotational metric tensors

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between non-rotational and rotational metric tensors and their corresponding stress-energy tensors within the context of General Relativity. Participants explore the implications of rotation on the elements of these tensors, particularly in spherically symmetric bodies of isotropic perfect fluids.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if the metric tensor has rotation (J ≠ 0) and the Einstein tensor metric element functions become non-zero for g_{t φ}, then the corresponding stress-energy tensors T_{t φ} should also become non-zero.
  • Others argue that the Einstein Field Equation relates the Einstein tensor to the stress-energy tensor, not directly to the metric tensor, suggesting a more complex relationship.
  • A participant points out that in Schwarzschild space-time, all members of the stress-energy tensor are zero except at the singularity, despite the metric tensor being non-zero, indicating that the relationship is not straightforward.
  • Another participant notes that off-diagonal terms can appear in the Einstein tensor even if the metric tensor is diagonal, further complicating the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between the metric tensor and the stress-energy tensor, with no consensus reached on whether the presence of rotation in the metric necessarily implies non-zero elements in the stress-energy tensor.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in understanding the relationship between the metric and stress-energy tensors, particularly regarding assumptions about their elements and the implications of rotational versus non-rotational configurations.

Orion1
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General Relativity...

Non-rotational spherically symmetric body of isotropic perfect fluid Einstein tensor metric element functions:
[tex]g_{\mu \nu} = \left( \begin{array}{ccccc} \; & dt & dr & d \theta & d\phi \\ dt & g_{tt} & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ dr & 0 & g_{rr} & 0 & 0 \\ d\theta & 0 & 0 & g_{\theta \theta} & 0 \\ d\phi & 0 & 0 & 0 & g_{\phi \phi} \end{array} \right) \; \; \; \; \; \; J = 0[/tex]

Non-rotational spherically symmetric body of isotropic perfect fluid Stress-Energy tensor metric element functions:
[tex]T_{\mu \nu} = \left( \begin{array}{ccccc} \; & dt & dr & d \theta & d\phi \\ dt & T_{tt} & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ dr & 0 & T_{rr} & 0 & 0 \\ d\theta & 0 & 0 & T_{\theta \theta} & 0 \\ d\phi & 0 & 0 & 0 & T_{\phi \phi} \end{array} \right) \; \; \; \; \; \; J = 0[/tex]

If the metric has rotation [itex](J \neq 0)[/itex] and the Einstein tensor metric element functions become non-zero for [itex]g_{t \phi}[/itex], do the Stress-Energy tensors also become non-zero for the corresponding Stress-Energy tensors [itex]T_{t \phi}[/itex]?

Rotational spherically symmetric body of isotropic perfect fluid Einstein tensor metric element functions:
[tex]g_{\mu \nu} = \left( \begin{array}{ccccc} \; & dt & dr & d \theta & d\phi \\ dt & g_{tt} & 0 & 0 & g_{t \phi} \\ dr & 0 & g_{rr} & 0 & 0 \\ d\theta & 0 & 0 & g_{\theta \theta} & 0 \\ d\phi & g_{t \phi} & 0 & 0 & g_{\phi \phi} \end{array} \right) \; \; \; \; \; \; J \neq 0[/tex]

Rotational spherically symmetric body of isotropic perfect fluid Stress-Energy tensor metric element functions:
[tex]T_{\mu \nu} = \left( \begin{array}{ccccc} \; & dt & dr & d \theta & d\phi \\ dt & T_{tt} & 0 & 0 & T_{t \phi} \\ dr & 0 & T_{rr} & 0 & 0 \\ d\theta & 0 & 0 & T_{\theta \theta} & 0 \\ d\phi & T_{t \phi} & 0 & 0 & T_{\phi \phi} \end{array} \right) \; \; \; \; \; \; J \neq 0[/tex]

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativity#Einstein.27s_equations - General Relativity and Einstein's equations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_conditions#Perfect_fluids - Energy Conditions of perfect fluids
 
Last edited:
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The Einstein Field Equation does not relate the metric tensor to the stress-energy tensor. It relates the Einstein tensor to the stress-energy tensor. The Wikipedia page describes (briefly) what the Einstein tensor is.
 
I could not parse your post well enough to give you a good answer, OP, but it seems, like Peter is interpreting, that you think there is a direct relationship between the non-zero members of the metric tensor with the non-zero members of the stress-energy tensor. This is very false, since, for example, in a Schwarzschild space-time all members of the stress-energy tensor are 0 everywhere (except at the singularity) and yet the metric tensor is non-zero.
 
Also, it is possible to get off-diagonal terms in the Einstein tensor even if the metric tensor is diagonal.
 

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