Einstein Field Equations

Bianchi identity

Previously, we have defined the Riemann curvture tensor as Rαβμν:=Γαβν,μΓαβμ,ν+ΓασμΓσβνΓασνΓσβν. Substitute Γαμν,σ=12gαβ(gβμ,νσ+gβν,μσgμν,βσ), we have Rαβμν=12gασ(gσν,βμgσμ,βν+gβμ,σνgβν,σμ). Lowering an index, Rαβμν=gαλRλβμν=12(gσν,βμgαμ,βν+gβμ,σνgβν,σμ). Since the metric tensor is symmetric and partial derivatives commute, Rαβμν,λ+Rαβλμ,ν+Rαβνλ,μ=0. Since a manifold is locally flat, if locally the partial derivative is zero, then so is the covariant derivative, i.e. Rγβγδ;ϵ+Rγβϵγ;δ+Rγβδϵ;γ=0

Contraction of Bianchi Identity

Since Riemann tensor is antisymmetric, Rγβγδ;ϵRγβγϵ;δ+Rγβδϵ;γ=0Rβδ;ϵRβϵ;δ+Rγβδϵ;γ=0gβδ(Rβδ;ϵRβϵ;δ+Rγβδϵ;γ)=0Rδδ;ϵRδϵ;δRγδδϵ;γ=0Rδδ;ϵ2Rγϵ;γ=0(Rγϵ12gγϵR);γ=0gβδ(Rγϵ12gγϵR);γ=0(Rγδ12gγδR);γ=0. This is the "equation of motion" for a locally flat manifold.

Hilbert Action

Write down the action as S=VRgd4x. Under general coordinate transformation, δS=Vδ(Rg)d4x

δ(Rg)=δ(gμνRμνg)=(δgμν)Rμνg+gμν(δRμν)g+gμνRμν(δg)=(δgμν)Rμνg+gμν(δRμν)g+R(δg). By δg=12ggμνδgμν, δ(Rg)=(Rμν12gμνR)g(δgμν)+gμνg(δRμν)

By the definitions, the Riemann Tensor is Rαμσν=(Γαμν,σΓαμσ,ν+ΓασγΓγμνΓανγΓγμσ) and the Ricci Tensor is Rμν=Rαμαν=Γαμν,αΓαμα,ν+ΓααγΓγμνΓανγΓγμα. So, δRμν=δΓαμν,αδΓαμα,ν+δΓααγΓγμν+ΓααγδΓγμνδΓανγΓγμαΓανγ(δΓγμα). The covariant derivative of the delta Christoffel symbol is given by (δΓρνσ);μ=(δΓρνσ),μ(δΓρλσ)ΓλνμΓγσμ(δΓρνλ)+(δΓλνσ)Γρλμ. Therefore, (δΓαμα);ν=(δΓαμα),ν(δΓαγα)ΓγμνΓγαν(δΓαμγ)+(δΓγμα)Γαγν, where the first, second and fourth term is the negation of second, third and sixth term of (1) respectively, and (δΓαμν);α=(δΓαμν),α(δΓαγν)ΓγμαΓγνα(δΓαμγ)+(δΓγμν)Γαγα, where the first, second and fourth term is the first, fifth and fourth term of (1) respectively. Also, the third term of (2) and (3) are the same. Thus, (3) minus (2) gives (1) δRμν=(δΓαμν);α(δΓαμα);ν. Hence, gμνδRμνg=gμν((δΓαμν);α(δΓαμα);ν)g=[(gμνδΓαμν);α(gμνδΓαμα);ν]g=(gμνδΓαμνgμαδΓνμν);αg, in which dummy variables αν changed on last line. Define Aα:=gμνδΓαμνgμαδΓνμν. Then, the integral becomes VgμνδRμνgd4x=VAα;αgd4x. By divergence theorem, VgμνδRμνgd4x=Aαnαgd3S. As boundary terms can be eliminated by redefining the Hilbert action, we can take this term to be zero gμνδRμνgd4x=0. So, the invariance of the action yields (Rμν12gμνR)=0, which is definitely zero upon convariant derivative.

The action is called the Hilbert action. We see that Hilbert action defined in this way reproduces the contracted Bianchi identiy, the "equation of motion" of a locally flat manifold.

Einstein-Hilbert Action

We write the whole action together with the matter field Lagrangian, S=V[12KR+LM]gd4x, where LM is some matter fields and K is some constant to make the dimension right. Under general coordinate transformation, δS=Vδ([12KR+LM]g)d4x.

δ(LMg)=1gδ(gLM)δgμν(δgμνg) If we define the stress energy tensor as Tμν:=2gδ(gLM)δgμν, the invariance of the action under general coordinate transformation yields, Rμν12gμνRKTμν=0. This is called the Einstein field equations (EFE). Then, by conservation of energy-momentum, Tμν;ν=0, (Rμν12gμνR);ν=KTμν;ν=0. So, defining the stress energy tensor in this way yields the "equation of motion" of a locally smooth manifold. EFE relates how energy-momentum curves the manifold. We will find K later using Newtonian limit.

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