Stress Energy Tensor - Confusion about signs and metrics

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on deriving Friedmann's Equations from the Einstein Field Equations, specifically focusing on the stress-energy tensor components. The user, Allday, is utilizing the FLRW metric with signature (-,+,+,+) and is seeking clarification on the stress-energy tensor for a perfect fluid, particularly the spatial indices 'ii'. The correct form for the stress-energy tensor is established as T_{\alpha \beta} = (\rho + P) u_{\alpha} u_{\beta} + P g_{\alpha \beta}, leading to the conclusion that T_{ii} = P a^2 when considering the metric's influence on raised and lowered indices.

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Allday
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Hi everyone. I'm working on deriving Friedmanns Equations from the Einstein Field Equations. I've got the '00' components worked out but I'm having some trouble with the spatial indices 'ii' of the stress energy tensor ## T_{ii} ##. I'm the FLRW metric with c=1 and signature (-,+,+,+) so that ##g_{\mu \nu} = (-1,a^2,a^2,a^2) ##. My question is what is the stress energy tensor for a perfect fluid and how does it change with raised and lowered indices. I know how the metric operates to raise and lower indices but I don't know what to start with for ## T_{ii} ##. For example, I've seen

$$ T^{\alpha \beta} = diag(\rho,P,P,P) $$

but also the same thing for ## T^{\alpha}_{\beta} ##. The trouble comes in with factors of the scale factor ## a ## when I try to calculate the diagonal spatial components for Einsteins Field Equations. For example if ## T^{\alpha \beta} = diag(\rho,P,P,P) ## then ## T_{ii} ## gets two factors from the metric meaning ## T_{ii} = P a^4 ##. Is that correct? Any help would be appreciated.

thanks,
Allday
 
Last edited:
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Thanks yenchin, those notes do help. It seems I want to use the form
$$ T_{\alpha \beta} = (\rho + P) u_{\alpha} u_{\beta} + P g_{\alpha \beta} $$
along with the fact that the spatial components of ##u_{\alpha} ## are zero so that with my choice of metric sign convention
$$ T_{i i} = P a^2 $$
 

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