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Tetrad (general Relativity)
A frame field in general relativity (also called a tetrad or vierbein) is a set of four pointwise-orthonormal vector fields, one timelike and three spacelike, defined on a Lorentzian manifold that is physically interpreted as a model of spacetime. The timelike unit vector field is often denoted by \vec_0 and the three spacelike unit vector fields by \vec_1, \vec_2, \, \vec_3. All tensorial quantities defined on the manifold can be expressed using the frame field and its dual coframe field. Frame were introduced into general relativity by Albert Einstein in 1928 and by Hermann Weyl in 1929.Hermann Weyl "Elektron und Gravitation I", ''Zeitschrift Physik'', 56, p330–352, 1929. The index notation for tetrads is explained in tetrad (index notation). Physical interpretation Frame fields of a Lorentzian manifold always correspond to a family of ideal observers immersed in the given spacetime; the integral curves of the timelike unit vector field are the worldlines of these observe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
General Relativity
General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity and Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics. General relativity generalizes special relativity and refines Newton's law of universal gravitation, providing a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space and time or four-dimensional spacetime. In particular, the ' is directly related to the energy and momentum of whatever matter and radiation are present. The relation is specified by the Einstein field equations, a system of second order partial differential equations. Newton's law of universal gravitation, which describes classical gravity, can be seen as a prediction of general relativity for the almost flat spacetime geometry around stationary mass distributions. Some predictions of general relativity, however, are beyond Newton's law of universal gravitat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Test Particles
In physical theories, a test particle, or test charge, is an idealized model of an object whose physical properties (usually mass, charge, or size) are assumed to be negligible except for the property being studied, which is considered to be insufficient to alter the behavior of the rest of the system. The concept of a test particle often simplifies problems, and can provide a good approximation for physical phenomena. In addition to its uses in the simplification of the dynamics of a system in particular limits, it is also used as a diagnostic in computer simulations of physical processes. Classical gravity The easiest case for the application of a test particle arises in Newtonian gravity. The general expression for the gravitational force between any two point masses m_1 and m_2 is: :F = -G \frac, where \mathbf_1 and \mathbf_2 represent the position of each particle in space. In the general solution for this equation, both masses rotate around their center of mass R, in this ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Linear
Linearity is the property of a mathematical relationship (''function'') that can be graphically represented as a straight line. Linearity is closely related to '' proportionality''. Examples in physics include rectilinear motion, the linear relationship of voltage and current in an electrical conductor (Ohm's law), and the relationship of mass and weight. By contrast, more complicated relationships are ''nonlinear''. Generalized for functions in more than one dimension, linearity means the property of a function of being compatible with addition and scaling, also known as the superposition principle. The word linear comes from Latin ''linearis'', "pertaining to or resembling a line". In mathematics In mathematics, a linear map or linear function ''f''(''x'') is a function that satisfies the two properties: * Additivity: . * Homogeneity of degree 1: for all α. These properties are known as the superposition principle. In this definition, ''x'' is not necessarily a real ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
First-order Approximation
In science, engineering, and other quantitative disciplines, order of approximation refers to formal or informal expressions for how accurate an approximation is. Usage in science and engineering In formal expressions, the ordinal number used before the word order refers to the highest power in the series expansion used in the approximation. The expressions: a ''zeroth-order approximation'', a ''first-order approximation'', a ''second-order approximation'', and so forth are used as fixed phrases. The expression a ''zero-order approximation'' is also common. Cardinal numerals are occasionally used in expressions like an ''order-zero approximation'', an ''order-one approximation'', etc. The omission of the word ''order'' leads to phrases that have less formal meaning. Phrases like first approximation or to a first approximation may refer to ''a roughly approximate value of a quantity''. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Einstein Summation Convention
In mathematics, especially the usage of linear algebra in Mathematical physics, Einstein notation (also known as the Einstein summation convention or Einstein summation notation) is a notational convention that implies summation over a set of indexed terms in a formula, thus achieving brevity. As part of mathematics it is a notational subset of Ricci calculus; however, it is often used in physics applications that do not distinguish between tangent and cotangent spaces. It was introduced to physics by Albert Einstein in 1916. Introduction Statement of convention According to this convention, when an index variable appears twice in a single term and is not otherwise defined (see Free and bound variables), it implies summation of that term over all the values of the index. So where the indices can range over the set , : y = \sum_^3 c_i x^i = c_1 x^1 + c_2 x^2 + c_3 x^3 is simplified by the convention to: : y = c_i x^i The upper indices are not exponents but are indices of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coordinate Basis
In mathematics and mathematical physics, a coordinate basis or holonomic basis for a differentiable manifold is a set of basis vector fields defined at every point of a region of the manifold as :\mathbf_ = \lim_ \frac , where is the displacement vector between the point and a nearby point whose coordinate separation from is along the coordinate curve (i.e. the curve on the manifold through for which the local coordinate varies and all other coordinates are constant). It is possible to make an association between such a basis and directional derivative operators. Given a parameterized curve on the manifold defined by with the tangent vector , where , and a function defined in a neighbourhood of , the variation of along can be written as :\frac = \frac\frac = u^ \frac f . Since we have that , the identification is often made between a coordinate basis vector and the partial derivative operator , under the interpretation of vectors as operators acting on functions. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dirac Equation In Curved Spacetime
In mathematical physics, the Dirac equation in curved spacetime is a generalization of the Dirac equation from flat spacetime (Minkowski space) to curved spacetime, a general Lorentzian manifold. Mathematical formulation Spacetime In full generality the equation can be defined on M or (M,\mathbf) a pseudo-Riemannian manifold, but for concreteness we restrict to pseudo-Riemannian manifold with signature (- + + +). The metric is referred to as \mathbf, or g_ in abstract index notation. Frame fields We use a set of vierbein or frame fields \ = \, which are a set of vector fields (which are not necessarily defined globally on M). Their defining equation is :g_e_\mu^a e_\nu^b = \eta_. The vierbein defines a local rest frame, allowing the constant Gamma matrices to act at each spacetime point. In differential-geometric language, the vierbein is equivalent to a section of the frame bundle, and so defines a local trivialization of the frame bundle. Spin connection To wr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coordinate Chart
In topology, a branch of mathematics, a topological manifold is a topological space that locally resembles real ''n''-dimensional Euclidean space. Topological manifolds are an important class of topological spaces, with applications throughout mathematics. All manifolds are topological manifolds by definition. Other types of manifolds are formed by adding structure to a topological manifold (e.g. differentiable manifolds are topological manifolds equipped with a differential structure). Every manifold has an "underlying" topological manifold, obtained by simply "forgetting" the added structure. However, not every topological manifold can be endowed with a particular additional structure. For example, the E8 manifold is a topological manifold which cannot be endowed with a differentiable structure. Formal definition A topological space ''X'' is called locally Euclidean if there is a non-negative integer ''n'' such that every point in ''X'' has a neighborhood which is homeomorphic t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lorentz Force
In physics (specifically in electromagnetism) the Lorentz force (or electromagnetic force) is the combination of electric and magnetic force on a point charge due to electromagnetic fields. A particle of charge moving with a velocity in an electric field and a magnetic field experiences a force of \mathbf = q\,\mathbf + q\,\mathbf \times \mathbf (in SI unitsIn SI units, is measured in teslas (symbol: T). In Gaussian-cgs units, is measured in gauss (symbol: G). See e.g. )The -field is measured in amperes per metre (A/m) in SI units, and in oersteds (Oe) in cgs units. ). It says that the electromagnetic force on a charge is a combination of a force in the direction of the electric field proportional to the magnitude of the field and the quantity of charge, and a force at right angles to the magnetic field and the velocity of the charge, proportional to the magnitude of the field, the charge, and the velocity. Variations on this basic formula describe the magnetic force on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Electrovacuum Solution
In general relativity, an electrovacuum solution (electrovacuum) is an exact solution of the Einstein field equation in which the only nongravitational mass–energy present is the field energy of an electromagnetic field, which must satisfy the (curved-spacetime) ''source-free'' Maxwell equations appropriate to the given geometry. For this reason, electrovacuums are sometimes called (source-free) ''Einstein–Maxwell solutions''. Definition In general relativity, the geometric setting for physical phenomena is a Lorentzian manifold, which is interpreted as a curved spacetime, and which is specified by defining a metric tensor g_ (or by defining a frame field). The Riemann curvature tensor R_ of this manifold and associated quantities such as the Einstein tensor G^, are well-defined. In general relativity, they can be interpreted as geometric manifestations (curvature and forces) of the gravitational field. We also need to specify an electromagnetic field by defining an electr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pressure
Pressure (symbol: ''p'' or ''P'') is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. Gauge pressure (also spelled ''gage'' pressure)The preferred spelling varies by country and even by industry. Further, both spellings are often used ''within'' a particular industry or country. Industries in British English-speaking countries typically use the "gauge" spelling. is the pressure relative to the ambient pressure. Various units are used to express pressure. Some of these derive from a unit of force divided by a unit of area; the SI unit of pressure, the pascal (Pa), for example, is one newton per square metre (N/m2); similarly, the pound-force per square inch (psi) is the traditional unit of pressure in the imperial and U.S. customary systems. Pressure may also be expressed in terms of standard atmospheric pressure; the atmosphere (atm) is equal to this pressure, and the torr is defined as of this. Manometric u ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hydrostatic Equilibrium
In fluid mechanics, hydrostatic equilibrium (hydrostatic balance, hydrostasy) is the condition of a fluid or plastic solid at rest, which occurs when external forces, such as gravity, are balanced by a pressure-gradient force. In the planetary physics of Earth, the pressure-gradient force prevents gravity from collapsing the planetary atmosphere into a thin, dense shell, whereas gravity prevents the pressure-gradient force from diffusing the atmosphere into outer space. Hydrostatic equilibrium is the distinguishing criterion between dwarf planets and small solar system bodies, and features in astrophysics and planetary geology. Said qualification of equilibrium indicates that the shape of the object is symmetrically ellipsoid, where any irregular surface features are consequent to a relatively thin solid crust. In addition to the Sun, there are a dozen or so equilibrium objects confirmed to exist in the Solar System. Mathematical consideration For a hydrostatic fluid on Ear ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
