Why Does the Stress-Energy Tensor Conservation Lead to a Surface Integral?

mason
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Hello I'm trying to self study A First Course in General Relativity (2E) by Schutz and I've come across a problem that I need some advice on.

Here it is:
Use the identity Tμ\nu,\nu=0 to prove the following results for a bounded system (ie. a system for which Tμ\nu=0 outside of a bounded region
a)
\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\intT0\alphad3x=0


Homework Equations


T is a symmetric tensor so Tμ\nu=T\nu μ


The Attempt at a Solution


The Integral is over spatial variables so I brought the integral inside making
\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\intT0\alphad3x
=\int\frac{\partial}{\partial t}T0\alphad3x
=\intT0\alpha,0d3x
and then I would say I use the identity given to say T0\alpha,0=0

In the solution manual though, Schutz says the identity gives us that
T0\alpha,0=-Tj0,j for a reason that completely eludes me and then used gauss' law to convert it to a surface integral, then said that since the region of integration is unbounded the integral can be taken anywhere (ie outside of the bounded region where T=0).

Does anybody know why I can't just say that T0\alpha,0=0 from the identity Tμ\nu,\nu=0 ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hello, Mason. Welcome to PF!

mason said:
Does anybody know why I can't just say that T0\alpha,0=0 from the identity Tμ\nu,\nu=0 ?

Keep in mind the Einstein summation convention: a repeated index denotes summation over that index. So, the left hand side of Tμ\nu,\nu=0 is actually the sum of 4 terms.

In the solution manual though, Schutz says the identity gives us that
T0\alpha,0=-Tj0,j

Note that this equation can't be correct. There is a lone ##\alpha## index on the left, but no ##\alpha## index on the right. Did you copy this equation correctly?
 
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'
This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'
The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
Back
Top