# Number of solutions of the Einstein Field Equations

Is it true that the Einstein Field Equations have an infinite number of solutions when the pressure is zero?

PeterDonis
Mentor
"Pressure is zero" is not an invariant criterion; a solution that has zero pressure in one frame can have nonzero pressure in other frames. So your question as you state it is not well-defined.

It might help if you gave some more context about why you are asking the question.

PAllen
Seems trivially true. All metrics with Weyl curvature and no Ricci curvature have vanishing SET, thus vanishing pressure. In addition to this, there would be an infinite number of configurations of pressureless dust.

PeterDonis
Mentor
All metrics with Weyl curvature and no Ricci curvature have vanishing SET

Yes; but I would expect these to be described as "vacuum" solutions, not "zero pressure" solutions.

there would be an infinite number of configurations of pressureless dust

These are only pressureless in one coordinate chart; in other coordinate charts they are not. Or, for a more physical description, they are only pressureless to comoving observers; they are not pressureless to non-comoving observers. This is the kind of thing I was referring to in my previous post.

PAllen
Yes; but I would expect these to be described as "vacuum" solutions, not "zero pressure" solutions.

These are only pressureless in one coordinate chart; in other coordinate charts they are not. Or, for a more physical description, they are only pressureless to comoving observers; they are not pressureless to non-comoving observers. This is the kind of thing I was referring to in my previous post.
But there is an invariant definition of a pressureless dust solution. See, for example, the criterion of contractions of the Einstein tensor given here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_solution#Dust_model

PeterDonis
Mentor
there is an invariant definition of a pressureless dust solution

I'm not disputing that the solution has an invariant definition. I'm just pointing out, for the OP's benefit, that "pressureless" only correctly describes that solution with respect to comoving observers. That's because the OP did not ask specifically about "pressureless dust" solutions defined as you say; he asked about "pressure zero" solutions, and he probably does not realize the limitations of that description.

Orodruin
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Seems trivially true. All metrics with Weyl curvature and no Ricci curvature have vanishing SET, thus vanishing pressure. In addition to this, there would be an infinite number of configurations of pressureless dust.
Even more trivially, it is true for any differential equation for which a sufficient number of boundary conditions have not been specified.

Dale
PAllen
Even more trivially, it is true for any differential equation for which a sufficient number of boundary conditions have not been specified.
This case is not so obvious by that type of criteria, which is why I made a physical argument. One can sort of argue the SET is over constrained for a pressureless dust solution. You start with arbitrary symmetric tensor fields with 10 functional degrees of freedom. First, by coordinate invariance, they form equivalence classes leaving only 6. Then, vanishing divergence is 4 more conditions. But then 4 conditions need to be satisfied for a pressureless dust solution. Of course, vanishing divergence are differential conditions, which are weaker.

I would be interested if you can add anything in this area.

martinbn
A cosmological solution for dust is not unique, you can choose the initial data in infinitely many ways. The Friedman equations are not overditermined.

PAllen
A cosmological solution for dust is not unique, you can choose the initial data in infinitely many ways. The Friedman equations are not overditermined.
I know that, but I am a little bothered by the counting argument I just gave. Is the flaw just that differential conditions are very weak?

martinbn
Hm, not sure. Are these independent? What are the 4 conditions for dust?

PAllen
Hm, not sure. Are these independent? What are the 4 conditions for dust?
See the earlier link I gave to Wikipedia.

martinbn
See the earlier link I gave to Wikipedia.
I guess what I am confused about is what 4 conditions need to be satisfied? The SET is ##T_{\mu\nu}=\rho u_\mu u_\nu##, why does this impose any restriction on the metric other than the EFE?

PAllen
I guess what I am confused about is what 4 conditions need to be satisfied? The SET is ##T_{\mu\nu}=\rho u_\mu u_\nu##, why does this impose any restriction on the metric other than the EFE?
I’m reasoning directly from the SET as a symmetric tensor field. 4 conditions are given on T itself.

martinbn
Oh, I see. But why do you say 4, the condition for no pressure should be 3 conditions, no?

PAllen