Schwarzschild Solution using Cartan's Formalism

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the exploration of the Schwarzschild solution using Cartan's formalism, contrasting it with the traditional Christoffel symbol approach. Participants are attempting to derive connection 1-forms and curvature forms, while addressing specific equations and their implications within the context of differential geometry and general relativity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares their equations derived from Cartan's method and expresses confusion regarding the derivation of connection 1-forms, particularly the relationship between certain forms and the coefficients of the basis elements.
  • Another participant attempts to clarify the reasoning behind specific equations, particularly the form of \(\omega_{30}\) and \(\omega_{20}\), suggesting substitutions into earlier equations to simplify the expressions.
  • A participant seeks assistance in calculating the exterior derivative of a specific expression, leading to a discussion about the relationship between different forms and the resulting curvature.
  • There is mention of using a specific function \(H_1(r)\) and its implications on the curvature forms, with one participant noting discrepancies between results obtained through different methods of differentiation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding the derivation of connection 1-forms and the calculations of curvature forms. There is no consensus on the correct approach or interpretation of the equations, indicating ongoing uncertainty and exploration of the topic.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight specific assumptions and dependencies on the definitions of forms and functions, which may affect the outcomes of their calculations. There are unresolved mathematical steps that contribute to the confusion in deriving the desired results.

Oxymoron
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I posted a thread in the Homework section on my attempt to find the Schwarzschild solution using Cartan's method instead of the orthodox Christoffel symbol method. Unfortunately I wasn't getting any help :redface:

Then I was asked to move the thread to this section because I may get more attention, but this might infringe upon the rule that no homework be posted here. So I will keep it brief:

In that thread (which you are welcome to check out - for my working and stuff) I found 4 equations:

\mbox{d}\varepsilon^0 = \frac{}{}\varepsilon^1\wedge\varepsilon^0 = -\omega_{10}\wedge\varepsilon^1 - \omega_{20}\wedge\varepsilon^2 - \omega_{30}\wedge\varepsilon^3 [1]

\mbox{d}\varepsilon^1 = 0 = -\omega_{12}\wedge\varepsilon^2 - \omega_{13}\wedge\varepsilon^3 - \omega_{10}\wedge\varepsilon^0\quad [2]

\mbox{d}\varepsilon^2 = \frac{1}{rH_1(r)}\varepsilon^1\wedge\varepsilon^2 = \omega_{12}\wedge\varepsilon^1 - \omega_{23}\wedge\varepsilon^3 - \omega_{20}\wedge \varepsilon^0\quad [3]

\mbox{d}\varepsilon^3 = \frac{1}{rH_1(r)}\varepsilon^1 \wedge \varepsilon^3 + \frac{\cot\theta}{r}\varepsilon^2 \wedge \varepsilon^3 = \omega_{13}\wedge\varepsilon^1 + \omega_{23}\wedge\varepsilon^2 - \omega_{30}\wedge\varepsilon^0\quad [4]


The problem I am having is that from this information I should be able to find 6 independent connection 1-forms. The advice I have been given is this: "It should be obvious from [4] that \omega_{30} = \Gamma_{300}\varepsilon^0 and substituting this into [1] we have \Gamma_{300} = 0 since it is the sole coefficient of the 2-form basis element \varepsilon^3 \wedge \varepsilon^0" and "Similarly, from [1] we have \omega_{20} = \Gamma_{202}\varepsilon^2"

Unfortunately, this is not obvious to me :redface". And apparently we can put all this together to make

\omega_{10} = \frac{H_0(r)'}{H_1(r)}\varepsilon^0 + \Gamma_{101}\varepsilon^1

If it is possible for anyone to explain to me where they got this connection 1-form from I would be sooo happy and relieved!
 
Last edited:
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EDIT! Equation 1 is meant to read

\mbox{d}\varepsilon^0 = \frac{H_0(r)'}{H_1(r)}\varepsilon^1\wedge\varepsilon^0 = ...
 
Ok I think I am part of the way to understanding it:

From [4], for some unknown reason, we have

\omega_{30} = \Gamma_{300}\varepsilon^0

Similarly from [3], we have

\omega_{20} = \Gamma_{200}\varepsilon^0

Substituting into [1] we have

\frac{H_0(r)'}{H_1(r)}\varepsilon^1 \wedge\varepsilon^0 = -\omega_{10}\wedge\varepsilon^1 - \Gamma_{200}\varepsilon^0\wedge\varepsilon^2 - \Gamma_{300}\varepsilon^0\wedge\varepsilon^3

\frac{H_0(r)'}{H_1(r)}\varepsilon^1 \wedge \varepsilon^0 = -\omega_{10} \wedge \varepsilon^1

\omega_{10} = \frac{H_0(r)'}{H_1(r)}\varepsilon^0

How does this look? Besides for the fact that I don't know why \omega_{30} = \Gamma_{300}\varepsilon^0 :redface:
 
Does anyone know how to calculate this:

\mbox{d}\left(-\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)}\varepsilon^2\right)

I am currently trying to work out the Connection two-forms. I have

\omega_{12} = \frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)}\varepsilon^2

Then from Cartan's second structural equation we have

R_{12} = \mbox{d}\omega_{12} + \omega_{13}\wedge\omega_{32} + \omega_{10}\wedge\omega_{02}

the last two terms vanish and we are left with

R_{12} = \mbox{d}\left(-\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)}\varepsilon^2\right)

I used Maple 10 and tried differentiating this. The peculiar thing is this: If I made

H_1(r) = \frac{1}{\exp\left(-\frac{1}{2}\lambda(r)\right)}

then

R_{12} = \mbox{d}\left(-\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)}\varepsilon^2\right) = \frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)^2}r'\varepsilon^1 \wedge \varepsilon^2

which is the answer I want! BUT if I differentiate manually I keep getting:

\mbox{d}\left(-\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)}\right) = \left(\frac{1}{r^2}\frac{1}{H_1(r)} + \frac{1}{2}\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)}r'\right)\varepsilon^1 \wedge \varepsilon^2 + \left(-\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)}\right)\mbox{d}\varepsilon^2

= \left(\frac{1}{r^2}\frac{1}{H_1(r)} + \frac{1}{2}\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)}r'\right)\varepsilon^1 \wedge \varepsilon^2 - \frac{1}{r^2}\frac{1}{H_1(r)^2}\varepsilon^1 \wedge \varepsilon^2

since \mbox{d}\varepsilon^2 = \frac{1}{rH_1(r)}\varepsilon^1\wedge\varepsilon^2.

=\left(\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)^2}\left[\frac{1}{r} + \frac{1}{2}r' - \frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)}\right]\right)\varepsilon^1\wedge\varepsilon^2

when I really want this bit to look like:

=\left(\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)^2}\left[\frac{1}{r} + r' - \frac{1}{r}\right]\right)\varepsilon^1\wedge\varepsilon^2

Notice the subtle difference? Because then

=\left(\frac{1}{r}\frac{1}{H_1(r)^2}r'\right)\varepsilon^1\wedge\varepsilon^2

Which is the correct answer.

Please help me!
 
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