# Reverse-tracing Einstein's field equation

1. Feb 16, 2008

### TheMan112

How do I rewrite Einsteins famous field equation

$$R_{ab} - \frac{1}{2} g_{ab} R = \frac{8 \pi G}{c^4} T_{ab}$$

into:

$$R_{ab} = \frac{8 \pi G}{c^4} (T_{ab} - \frac{1}{2} g_{ab} T)$$

I've tried experimenting with reverse-tracing the Ricci-scalar, but I just don't get the right equation. The trace from these equations would yield $$R=-T$$. Is this really correct?

2. Feb 17, 2008

### Mentz114

Multiply both sides by $$g^{ab}$$ to get

$$\frac{1}{2}R = \kappa T$$

then substitute back.

3. Feb 17, 2008

### TheMan112

Ok, I insert the expression and get:

$$R_{ab} - \frac{8 \pi G}{c^4} g_{ab} T = \frac{8 \pi G}{c^4} T_{ab}$$

$$R_{ab} = \frac{8 \pi G}{c^4} \left(T_{ab} + g_{ab} T \right)$$

Which as you can see is not entirely right. Have I missed something very obvious?

4. Feb 17, 2008

### smallphi

Take trace of both sides of Einstein eq. Trace of the metric is 4. Trace of Ricci tensor is R. You get

R = - k T

then substitute that back for R and take the metric term on the other side.

5. Feb 17, 2008

### Mentz114

I made a mistake, $$g^{ab}g_{ab} = -1$$.

6. Feb 17, 2008

### country boy

7. Feb 17, 2008

### country boy

Okay, that fixes it.

8. Feb 17, 2008

### smallphi

$$g^{ab}g_{ab} = \delta^a_a = 4$$

9. Feb 17, 2008

### Mentz114

Yes, you're correct. It's |g| = -1.

Last edited: Feb 17, 2008
10. Feb 17, 2008

### TheMan112

How can |g| = abs(g) = -1 ? An absolute value can't be negative. For example a radius cannot be negative.

11. Feb 17, 2008

### smallphi

|g| = 1 only in Special Relativity. In GR, the value of |g| changes with the coordinate system used but it's signature (the signs of the eigenvalues when you diagonalize it) doesn't change, depending on the sign convention it's either (-, +, +, +) or (+, -, -, -).

12. Feb 17, 2008

### TheMan112

Got it right now, thanks everybody.