I What's the underlying frame of the Einstein's Field Equation?

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The discussion centers on the coordinate systems used to set up and solve Einstein's Field Equations (EFE) in General Relativity (GR). It clarifies that the EFE can be solved in any coordinate system, as the equations are generally covariant, meaning they maintain their form across different frames. The conversation emphasizes that the solutions to the EFE yield the metric of the spacetime, which is Lorentzian rather than Euclidean. Additionally, it highlights the importance of boundary conditions and symmetry in solving the EFE, particularly when modeling extended regions like the solar system. Overall, the discussion underscores the flexibility and complexity involved in applying GR to real-world scenarios.
  • #181
Orodruin said:
What would be measured by a radar measurement’s round trip time (multiplied by c/2) would be
$$
\int \sqrt{-\frac{g_{rr}}{g_{tt}}} dr = \int g_{rr} dr.
$$
Did you get that formula from the metric ## ds^2 = g_{tt}\, (c\,dt)^2 - g_{rr}\,dr^2##, by setting ##ds^2 = 0## for the light-like path?
 
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  • #182
Pyter said:
Did you get that formula from the metric ## ds^2 = g_{tt}\, (c\,dt)^2 - g_{rr}\,dr^2##, by setting ##ds^2 = 0## for the light-like path?
Yes. What you want is to integrate dt to obtain the global time difference.

Note: It is ##ds^2 = g_{tt} dt^2 + g_{rr} dr^2##. The signs are included in the metric components.
 
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  • #183
Orodruin said:
Note: It is ##ds^2 = g_{tt} dt^2 + g_{rr} dr^2##. The signs are included in the metric components.
Right. But not ##c^2##, I guess? Otherwise either the RHS of the line element is not dimensionally correct, or ##g_{tt}## has a dimension different from ##g_{rr}##.
 
  • #184
Pyter said:
Right. But not ##c^2##, I guess? Otherwise either the RHS of the line element is not dimensionally correct, or ##g_{tt}## has a dimension different from ##g_{rr}##.
I always use units with ##c = 1##. It is just more ... natural.
 
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  • #185
Orodruin said:
Yes. What you want is to integrate dt to obtain the global time difference.

Note: It is ##ds^2 = g_{tt} dt^2 + g_{rr} dr^2##. The signs are included in the metric components.
So for the round-trip coordinate time ##\Delta t## of the complete null path ##ds=0## from the spaceship hovering at fixed ##(\theta, \phi, r_1)## to the star surface at ##(\theta, \phi, r_0)## and back we get the value of that integral multiplied by 2.
 
  • #186
Yes
 
  • #187
Orodruin said:
I always use units with ##c = 1##. It is just more ... natural.
Of course, I was talking about MKS units.
 

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