Wald General Relativity: On the homogenous cosmology, Page 178

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a statement made by Wald in his text on general relativity regarding the solutions for the parameters \( p_{\alpha} \) in a homogeneous cosmology context. Participants are examining the conditions under which two of the \( p_{\alpha} \) can be positive and one negative, as well as the implications of having two negative and one positive.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions Wald's assertion that solutions must have two positive \( p_{\alpha} \) and one negative, suggesting that having two negative and one positive does not lead to a contradiction.
  • Another participant references equations (7.2.58) and (7.2.60) to analyze the conditions for \( p_{\alpha} \), indicating that if \( p_3 < 0 \), then both \( p_1 \) and \( p_2 \) must be positive based on their plotted relationships.
  • The same participant notes that if \( p_3 > 0 \), the relationships lead to scenarios where either \( p_1 \) is positive and \( p_2 \) is negative or vice versa.
  • Trivial solutions are mentioned for the case when \( p_3 = 0 \), where either \( p_1 = 1 \) and \( p_2 = 0 \) or the reverse.
  • Several participants express enthusiasm for solving related problems from the chapter, indicating a collaborative atmosphere.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on Wald's statement, as there are competing views regarding the conditions of the solutions for \( p_{\alpha} \). The discussion remains unresolved with differing interpretations of the equations involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific equations and conditions without fully resolving the implications of their findings. The discussion highlights the complexity of the relationships between the parameters \( p_{\alpha} \) and the assumptions underlying Wald's claims.

qinglong.1397
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Hi, everybody. I have some problem with Wald's statement shown in the picture. This is from the last paragraph in Page 178.

He claimed that there are only solutions with two of the p_{\alpha} positive and one negative. But it's easy to find out that if two of the p_{\alpha} are negative while the third positive, there is no contradiction.

Can you guys help me with this? Why should all the solutions have two positive p_{\alpha} and one negative? Thank you:smile:

(The picture is from http://books.google.com/books?id=9S...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false)
 

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Well using (7.2.58) and (7.2.60) we have ##p_2^2 + p_1^2 - p_1 - p_2 + p_1p_2 = 0##. Now if ##p_3 < 0## then ##p_2 > 1 - p_1##. Plot these two and you will find that both ##p_1,p_2 > 0##. If ##p_3 >0## then ##1 - p_1> p_2##; plotting these two again you will find that ##p_1 > 0,p_2 < 0## or vice-versa. Finally if ##p_3 = 0## then either ##p_1 = 1## and ##p_2 = 0## or vice-versa which are just the trivial solutions.
 
WannabeNewton said:
Well using (7.2.58) and (7.2.60) we have ##p_2^2 + p_1^2 - p_1 - p_2 + p_1p_2 = 0##. Now if ##p_3 < 0## then ##p_2 > 1 - p_1##. Plot these two and you will find that both ##p_1,p_2 > 0##. If ##p_3 >0## then ##1 - p_1> p_2##; plotting these two again you will find that ##p_1 > 0,p_2 < 0## or vice-versa. Finally if ##p_3 = 0## then either ##p_1 = 1## and ##p_2 = 0## or vice-versa which are just the trivial solutions.

Thanks! Never thought of this. Great!
 
No problem! Make sure you do the problems at the end of that chapter; some of them are really fun (problems 7.1,7.4, and 7.5 in particular).
 
WannabeNewton said:
No problem! Make sure you do the problems at the end of that chapter; some of them are really fun (problems 7.1,7.4, and 7.5 in particular).

Sure. I'll try to solve all of them before the end of the next week.
 
Awesome, have fun with that!
 
WannabeNewton said:
Awesome, have fun with that!

Hi WannabeNewton, I know it's been late, but I haven't been able to figure out how to solve the problem 7.4. Can you help me out? Thank you!
 

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