What Is the Induced Metric on a Spacelike Hypersurface t=const?

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
1 reply · 4K views
Xander314
Messages
4
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Let [itex]g_{\mu\nu}[/itex] be a static metric, [itex]\partial_t g_{\mu\nu}=0[/itex] where t is coordinate time. Show that the metric induced on a spacelike hypersurface [itex]t=\textrm{const}[/itex] is given by
[tex] \gamma_{ij} = g_{ij} - \frac{g_{ti} g_{tj}}{g_{tt}} .[/tex]

Homework Equations


Let [itex]y^i[/itex] be the coordinates on the hypersurface and [itex]x^\mu[/itex] the spacetime coordinates. The induced metric on a generic hypersurface defined by the embedding [itex]x^\mu = X^\mu(y^i)[/itex] is given by
[tex] \gamma_{ij} = g_{\mu\nu} \partial_i X^\mu \partial_j X^\nu .[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


I really don't see how this can work. Since it is a hypersurface of constant coordinate time, the embedding is given by [itex]X^\mu = (t_0, X^i)[/itex] so that [itex]\partial_i X^\mu = (0,\partial_i X^j)[/itex]. Then it immediately follows that
[tex] \gamma_{ij} = g_{kl} \partial_i X^k \partial_j X^l .[/tex]
There are no [itex]g_{ti}[/itex] cross terms in my answer, nor is it clear to me that [itex]\partial_i X^k=\delta_i{}^k[/itex]. What am I doing wrong?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Xander314 said:
What am I doing wrong?

The definition of the induced metric is ##\gamma_{ab} = g_{\mu\nu}\frac{\partial x^{\mu}}{\partial Y^a}\frac{\partial x^{\nu}}{\partial Y^b}## where ##x^{\mu}## are coordinates on space-time and ##Y^a## are coordinates on the hypersurface.
The embedding is ##Y^a = Y^a(x^{\mu})##. So you are doing the differentiation incorrectly.

Here is a very simple example to get you started. Let's compute the induced metric on a 2-sphere in ##\mathbb{R}^3##. The coordinates on the 2-sphere are ##(\theta,\phi)## and the embedding map is ##x = R\sin\theta\cos\phi, y = R\sin\theta\sin\phi, z = R\cos\theta##. Hence [tex]\gamma_{\theta\theta} = g_{xx}\frac{\partial x}{\partial \theta}\frac{\partial x}{\partial \theta} + g_{yy}\frac{\partial y}{\partial \theta}\frac{\partial y}{\partial \theta} + g_{zz}\frac{\partial z}{\partial \theta}\frac{\partial z}{\partial \theta} = R^2 \cos^2\theta \cos^2\phi + R^2 \cos^2\theta \sin^2\phi + R^2 \cos^2\theta = R^2[/tex] and [tex]\gamma_{\phi\phi} = g_{xx}\frac{\partial x}{\partial \phi}\frac{\partial x}{\partial \phi} + g_{yy}\frac{\partial y}{\partial \phi}\frac{\partial y}{\partial \phi} + g_{zz}\frac{\partial z}{\partial \phi}\frac{\partial z}{\partial \phi} = R^2 \sin^2\theta \sin^2 \phi + R^2 \sin^2\theta\cos^2 \phi = R^2 \sin^2 \theta[/tex] A similar calculation shows that ##\gamma_{\theta\phi} = 0##.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: micromass