FLUCTUATED RICCI TENSOR TO FIRST ORDER

IN METRIC PERTURBATION

Submitted by

ATALABIHARI PAHADASINGH
[Link] 2nd year
Roll no-12102V183007

Utkal University,Vani Vihar

Bhubaneswar,Odisha 751004

Guided by

[Link] Sekhar Pal

PG Department of physics
Utkal university,BBSR

Abstract

Space-time is characterized by some background metric ḡµν . In this study we have made
a fluctuation around the background metric, which is done by adding a weak perturbation
that generates small corrections to the background geometry. This in turn then generates a
correction to the curvature. We have kept terms up to the first order in the corrected curvature.
The fluctuated Einstein’s field equation is derived in the absence of matter.
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the dissertation entitled ”Ricci tensor upto first order in metric perturbation”
submitted by Atalabihari pahadasingh has been carried out under my supervision. This is simply
the work of others.

Dr. Shesansu Sekhar Pal

Dept. of physics
Utkal University
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the project entitled ”metric pertubation” submitted by me is not my
original work. I have adequately cited and provided references in my submission as much as I
could.

Atalabihari pahadasingh
Msc 2nd year
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The project work on metric perturbation theory was very interesting and intellectually enlightening.
I got the opportunity to learn some rigorous mathematical concept and also some advanced topic
in physics which i think would be highly useful in my future.

I express my deepest gratitude to my project supervisor Dr. Shesansu Sekhar Pal for giving
me an opportunity to do the project and extremely grateful for guiding me throughout the project
with extreme care and concern.

Sincerely,
Atalabihari pahadasingh
[Link] 2nd yr
Place:
Date:
Contents
1 Introduction 5

2 General Theory of Relativity 5

2.1 Geometry of Newtonian gravity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 Principle of Equivalence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3 Space-time 8
3.1 Geometry of space-time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.1.1 Light cone and world line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.1.2 Riemannian geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.1.3 Metric tensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.1.4 Riemann tensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.1.5 Ricci tensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.1.6 Geodesics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.1.7 Curvature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

4 Curvature terms upto first order in metric perturbation 16

4.1 Christoffel symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.2 Riemann Tensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.3 Ricci Tensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.3.1 Covariant derivative of the metric tensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3.2 Commutator of two covariant derivatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

5 EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATION 27

6 CONCLUSION 30

7 REFERENCE 31
1 Introduction
In 1905 Albert Einstein determined that laws of physics are same for all non-accelerating observers,
and that the speed of light in vacuum was independent of the motion of all the observers. This
was the special theory of relativity. Einstein then spent 10 years trying to introduce acceleration in
the theory and published his theory of general theory of relativity in 1915. In which he determined
that massive particles cause a distortion in space-time, which is felt to be Gravity.

2 General Theory of Relativity

General relativity (GR), also known as the general theory of relativity or (GTR), is the geometric
theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and the current description of gravita-
tion 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 space-time. In particular, the curvature of space-time 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 partial differential equations.

2.1 Geometry of Newtonian gravity

At the base of classical mechanics is the notion that a body’s motion can be described as a combina-
tion of free (or inertial) motion, and deviations from this free motion. Such deviations are caused
by external forces acting on a body in accordance with Newton’s second law of motion, which
states that the net force acting on a body is equal to that body’s (inertial) mass multiplied by its
acceleration. The preferred inertial motions are related to the geometry of space and time in the
standard reference frames of classical mechanics, objects in free motion move along straight lines

5
at constant speed. In modern parlance, their paths are geodesics, straight world lines in curved
space-time.
Conversely, one might expect that inertial motions, once identified by observing the actual
motions of bodies and making allowances for the external forces (such as electromagnetism or
friction), can be used to define the geometry of space, as well as a time coordinate. However, there is
an ambiguity once gravity comes into play. According to Newton’s law of gravity, and independently
verified by experiments such as that of Eötvös and its successors , there is a universality of free
fall (also known as the weak equivalence principle, or the universal equality of inertial and passive-
gravitational mass): the trajectory of a test body in free fall depends only on its position and
initial speed, but not on any of its material properties. A simplified version of this is embodied
in Einstein’s elevator experiment, for an observer in a small enclosed room, it is impossible to
decide, by mapping the trajectory of bodies such as a dropped ball, whether the room is at rest in
a gravitational field, or in free space aboard a rocket that is accelerating at a rate equal to that of
the gravitational field.
Given the universality of free fall, there is no observable distinction between inertial motion and
motion under the influence of the gravitational force. This suggests the definition of a new class
of inertial motion, namely that of objects in free fall under the influence of gravity. This new class
of preferred motions, too, defines a geometry of space and time in mathematical terms, it is the
geodesic motion associated with a specific connection which depends on the gradient of the gravi-
tational potential. Space, in this construction, still has the ordinary Euclidean geometry. However,
space-time as a whole is more complicated. As can be shown using simple thought experiments
following the free-fall trajectories of different test particles, the result of transporting space-time
vectors that can denote a particle’s velocity (time-like vectors) will vary with the particle’s trajec-
tory; mathematically speaking, the Newtonian connection is not integrable. From this, one can
deduce that space-time is curved. The resulting Newton-Cartan theory is a geometric formulation
of Newtonian gravity using only covariant concepts, i.e. a description which is valid in any desired
coordinate system. In this geometric description, tidal effects the relative acceleration of bodies
in free fall are related to the derivative of the connection, showing how the modified geometry is
caused by the presence of mass.

2.2 Principle of Equivalence

The principle of equivalence of gravitation and inertia tells us how an arbitrary physical system
responds to an external gravitational field.
Einstein pointed out that the gravitational field can be produced by uniformly accelerating
an inertial frame of reference. By this analogy, Einstein proposed the principle of equivalence
which states that ,”In the neighborhood of any point, it is not possible to distinguish between the
gravitational field produced by the attraction of masses and the field produced by accelerating an

6
inertial frame of reference.”
Einstein refined his thought experiment to consider a man inside a large enclosed chest or ele-
vator falling freely in space. While in free fall, the man would consider himself weightless, and any
loose objects that he emptied from his pockets would float alongside him. Then Einstein imagined
a rope attached to the roof of the chamber. A powerful ”being” of some sort begins pulling on the
rope with constant force. The chamber begins to move ”upwards” with a uniformly accelerated
motion. Within the chamber, all of the man’s perceptions are consistent with his being in a uni-
form gravitational field. Einstein asked, ”Ought we to smile at the man and say that he errs in his
conclusion?” Einstein answered no. Rather, the thought experiment provided ”good grounds for
extending the principle of relativity to include bodies of reference which are accelerated with respect
to each other, and as a result we have gained a powerful argument for a generalised postulate of
relativity.”

Through this thought experiment, Einstein addressed an issue that was so well known, scientists
rarely worried about it or considered it puzzling Objects have ”gravitational mass,” which deter-
mines the force with which they are attracted to other objects. Objects also have ”inertial mass,”
which determines the relationship between the force applied to an object and how much it acceler-
ates. Newton had pointed out that, even though they are defined differently, gravitational mass and
inertial mass always seem to be equal. But until Einstein, no one had conceived a good explanation
as to why this should be so. From the correspondence revealed by his thought experiment, Einstein
concluded that ”it is impossible to discover by experiment whether a given system of coordinates is

7
accelerated, or whether the observed effects are due to a gravitational field.” This correspondence
between gravitational mass and inertial mass is the equivalence principle. So generally we conclude
that ” It is impossible by means of any experiment , to distinguish between the frame of a freely
falling body and an inertial frame”. Likewise it is impossible to distinguish between an accelerated
frame of reference and at rest in gravitational field.

3 Space-time
Space-time in physical science, single concept that recognizes the union of space and time, first
proposed by the mathematician Hermann Minkowski in 1908 as a way to reformulate the Einstein’s
special theory of relativity.
Common intuition previously supposed no connection between space and time. Physical space
was held to be a flat, three-dimensional continuum i.e., an arrangement of all possible point locations
to which Euclidean postulates would apply. To such a spatial manifold, Cartesian coordinates
seemed most naturally adapted, and straight lines could be conveniently accommodated. Time was
viewed independent of space as a separate, one-dimensional continuum, completely homogeneous
along its infinite extent. Any “now” in time could be regarded as an origin from which to take
duration past or future to any other time instant. Uniformly moving spatial coordinate systems
attached to uniform time continua represented all unaccelerated motions, the special class of so-
called inertial reference frames. The universe according to this convention was called Newtonian.
In a Newtonian universe, the laws of physics would be the same in all inertial frames, so that one
could not single out one as representing an absolute state of rest.

8
 In the Minkowski universe, the time coordinate of one coordinate system depends on both the
time and space coordinates of another relatively moving system according to a rule that forms
the essential alteration required for Einstein’s special theory of relativity. According to Einstein’s
theory there is no such thing as “simultaneity” at two different points of space, hence no absolute
time as in the Newtonian universe. The Minkowski universe, like its predecessor, contains a distinct
class of inertial reference frames, but now spatial dimensions, mass, and velocities are all relative to
the inertial frame of the observer, following specific laws first formulated by H.A. Lorentz, and later
forming the central rules of Einstein’s theory and its Minkowski interpretation. Only the speed of
light is the same in all inertial frames. Every set of coordinates, or particular space-time event, in
such a universe is described as a “here-now” or a world point. In every inertial reference frame, all
physical laws remain unchanged.
Einstein’s general theory of relativity (1916) again makes use of a four-dimensional space-time,
but incorporates gravitational effects. Gravity is no longer thought of as a force, as in the Newtonian
system, but as a cause of warping of space-time, an effect described explicitly by a set of equations
formulated by Einstein. The result is a curved space-time, as opposed to the flat Minkowski space-
time, where trajectories of particles are straight lines in an inertial coordinate system. In Einstein’s
curved space-time, a direct extension of Riemann’s notion of curved space (1854), a particle follows
a world line, or geodesic, somewhat analogous to the way a billiard ball on a warped surface would
follow a path determined by the warping or curving of the surface. One of the basic tenets of
general relativity is that inside a container following a geodesic of space-time, such as an elevator in
free-fall, or a satellite orbiting the Earth, the effect would be the same as a total absence of gravity.
The paths of light rays are also geodesics of space-time, of a special sort, called null geodesics.”
The speed of light again has the same constant velocity c.
In both Newton’s and Einstein’s theories, the route from gravitational masses to the paths
of particles is rather roundabout. In the Newtonian formulation, the masses determine the total
gravitational force at any point, which by Newton’s third law determines the acceleration of the
particle. The actual path, as in the orbit of a planet, is found by solving a differential equation.
In general relativity, one must solve Einstein’s equations for a given situation to determine the
corresponding structure of space-time, and then solve a second set of equations to find the path of
a particle. However, by invoking the general principle of equivalence between the effects of gravity
and of uniform acceleration, Einstein was able to deduce certain effects, such as the deflection of
light when passing a massive object, such as a star.
The first exact solution of Einstein’s equations, for a single spherical mass, was carried out by
a German astronomer, Karl Schwarzschild (1916). For so-called small masses, the solution does
not differ too much from that afforded by Newton’s gravitational law, but enough to account for
the previously unexplained size of the advance of the perihelion of Mercury. For large masses
the Schwarzschild solution predicts unusual properties. Astronomical observations of dwarf stars

9
eventually led the American physicists J. Robert Oppenheimer and H. Snyder (1939) to postulate
super-dense states of matter. These, and other hypothetical conditions of gravitational collapse,
were borne out in later discoveries of pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes.
A subsequent paper of Einstein (1917) applies the theory of general relativity to cosmology,
and in fact represents the birth of modern cosmology. In it, Einstein looks for models of the entire
universe that satisfy his equations under suitable assumptions about the large-scale structure of
the universe, such as its homogeneity, meaning that space-time looks the same in any part as any
other part (the cosmological principle). Under those assumptions, the solutions seemed to imply
that space-time was either expanding or contracting, and in order to construct a universe that did
neither, Einstein added an extra term to his equations, the so-called “ cosmological constant.” When
observational evidence later revealed that the universe did in fact seem to be expanding, Einstein
withdrew that suggestion. However, closer analysis of the expansion of the universe during the late
1990s once more led astronomers to believe that a cosmological constant should indeed be included
in Einstein’s equations.

3.1 Geometry of space-time

To understand the geometry of space time we will have to study different topics like world line and
light cone.

3.1.1 Light cone and world line

The world line (or world line) of an object is the path that object traces in 4-dimensional space
time. It is an important concept in modern physics, and particularly theoretical physics.
The concept of a ”world line” is distinguished from concepts such as an ”orbit” or a ”trajectory”
(e.g., a planet’s orbit in space or the trajectory of a car on a road) by the time dimension, and
typically encompasses a large area of space-time wherein perceptually straight paths are recalculated
to show their (relatively) more absolute position states to reveal the nature of special relativity or
gravitational interactions.
The idea of world lines originates in physics and was pioneered by Hermann Minkowski. The
term is now most often used in relativity theories (i.e., special relativity and general relativity).
The theory of special relativity puts some constraints on possible world lines. In special relativity
the description of space-time is limited to special coordinate systems that do not accelerate (and so
do not rotate either), called inertial coordinate systems. In such coordinate systems, the speed of
light is a constant. The structure of space-time is determined by a bilinear form which gives a real
number for each pair of events. The bilinear form is sometimes called a space-time metric, but since
distinct events sometimes result in a zero value, unlike metrics in metric spaces of mathematics,
the bilinear form is not a mathematical metric on space-time.

10
 1. light-like curves, having at each point the speed of light. They form a cone in space-time,
dividing it into two parts. The cone is three-dimensional in space-time, appears as a line in drawings
with two dimensions suppressed, and as a cone in drawings with one spatial dimension suppressed.
2. ime-like curves, with a speed less than the speed of light. These curves must fall within a cone
defined by light-like curves. In our definition above: world lines are time-like curves in space-time.
3. space-like curves falling outside the light cone. Such curves may describe, for example, the
length of a physical object. The circumference of a cylinder and the length of a rod are space-like
curves.
At a given event on a world line, space-time (Minkowski space) is divided into three parts.
1. The future of the given event is formed by all events that can be reached through time-like
curves lying within the future light cone.
2. The past of the given event is formed by all events that can influence the event (that is, which
can be connected by world lines within the past light cone to the given event). The light cone at
the given event is formed by all events that can be connected through light rays with the event.
When we observe the sky at night, we basically see only the past light cone within the entire space
time.
3. Elsewhere is the region between the two light cones. Points in an observer’s elsewhere are
inaccessible to her/him only points in the past can send signals to the observer. In ordinary labora-
tory experience, using common units and methods of measurement, it may seem that we look at the
present, but in fact there is always a delay time for light to propagate. For example, we see the Sun
as it was about 8 minutes ago, not as it is ”right now”. Unlike the present in Galilean/Newtonian
theory, the elsewhere is thick; it is not a 3-dimensional volume but is instead a 4-dimensional space-
time region.

11
The shortest distance between two point is the line with least curvature . It is also call geodesic. In
Euclidian geometry , this is a straight line. In this case, the least curvature is no curvature at all.
If we draw geodesics that are perpendicular to the third line , they will be parallel to each other .
We can bend this two dimensional surface into three dimensional surface and gave it the look of a
curved space. But this curvature is extrinsic by nature . The intrinsic geometry is still flat,parallel
lines remain parallel, sum of angles of a triangle is 180 degrees.
But there are other possibility. One possibility for a different geometry supposes that the
parallel geodesics lines are diverging getting further apart . It is as if space was being stretched
between the lines. And further of the line you go, the more space is streached. Hence , the sum of
angle of a triangle is less than 180 degrees. It is hyperbolic geometry. It represents the space with
negative curvature. The best example of this is the surface of a saddle or a potato chip.
Another possibility for a different geometry supposes that the parallel geodesics lines are con-
verging and will eventually meet. It is as if space was being compressed between the lines. And
further of the lines you go, the more the space is compressed. Here the sum of the angles of the
triangle is greater than 180 degrees. This is spherical geometry and it is represent the space with
positive curvature. The best example of this is the surface of a sphere like the earth itself. Here
the curvature is constant throught the surface. The base line is equator, the perpendicular lines
are the longitude and they meet at north pole.
AT any point in n-dimensional space, there are n- independent directions and each line through
a point can have a different curvature. In two dimensional space, there are two curvature, one
positive and one negative. We can construct a surface for each dimension ,each surface has size and
orientation. vectors are used mathematically to represent size and orientation of surface. And for
each surface, we can construct a vector that represent the curvature of the lines through a point
on the surface. multiplying these two vectors creates a mathematical object called tensor.

3.1.2 Riemannian geometry

Euclidean Geometry is the study of flat space. Between every pair of points there is a unique
line segment which is the shortest curve between those two points. These line segments can be
extended to lines. Lines are infinitely long in both directions and for every pair of points on the
line, the segment of the line between them is the shortest curve that can be drawn between them.
Furthermore, if you have a line and a point which isn’t on the line, there is a second line running
through the point, which is parallel to the first line (never hits it). All of these ideas can be
described by drawing on a flat piece of paper. From the laws of Euclidean Geometry, we get the
famous theorems like Pythagorus’ Theorem and all the formulas we learn in trigonometry, like the
law of cosines. In geometry we also learned how to find the circumference and area of a circle.
Now, suppose instead of having a flat piece of paper, we have a curved piece of paper. we might
have a cylinder, or a sphere. we can use a cardboard paper towel roll to study a cylinder and a

12
globe to study a sphere. A shortest curve between any pair of points on such a curved surface
is called a minimal geodesic. We can find a minimal geodesic between two points by stretching a
rubber band between them. The first thing that we will notice is that sometimes there is more
than one minimal geodesic between two points. There are many minimal geodesics between the
north and south poles of a globe. We can also look for lines, which are curves like the ones in
Euclidean space such that between every pair of points on the line, the segment between them is a
minimal geodesic. There are no lines on a sphere! Every time you try to extend a minimal geodesic
it starts to wrap around and it isn’t a minimal geodesic anymore. On a cylinder, some minimal
geodesics can be extended to lines but most of them start to wrap around the cylinder and cannot
be extended. Surfaces like these are harder to study than flat surfaces but there are still theorems
which can be used to estimate the length of the hypotenuse of a triangle, the circumference of a
circle and the area inside the circle. These estimates depend on the amount that the surface is
curved or bent. One of the basic topics in Riemannian Geometry is the study of curved surfaces.

3.1.3 Metric tensor

space time is considered to be smooth. It means there are no abrupt changes. we can always zoom
into a curved space to the point that a small piece that we are looking at is flat. And in flat space,
distance between any two point is defined by pythagrean theorem. We then generalize by adding
coefficient to take into consideration the different scales for lines in different directions and the fact
that the lines no longer cross to form right angles. this is called metric tensor. By extending the
number of dimensions and generalizing the coefficients to be the functions of location the curved
and changing coordinates system are taken into account. This generalized metric tensor is the
foundation for non- euclidian geometry, its geodesics and its curvature at any point.

3.1.4 Riemann tensor

In the mathematical field of differential geometry, the Riemann curvature tensor or Riemann–Christoffel
tensor (after Bernhard Riemann and Elwin Bruno Christoffel) is the most common way used to
express the curvature of Riemannian manifolds. It assigns a tensor to each point of a Rieman-
nian manifold (i.e., it is a tensor field), that measures the extent to which the metric tensor is
not locally isometric to that of Euclidean space. The curvature tensor can also be defined for any
pseudo-Riemannian manifold, or indeed any manifold equipped with an affine connection.
It is a central mathematical tool in the theory of general relativity, the modern theory of gravity,
and the curvature of space time is in principle observable via the geodesic deviation equation. The
curvature tensor represents the tidal force experienced by a rigid body moving along a geodesic in
a sense made precise by the Jacobi equation.
This curvature tensor is given in terms of the Levi-Civita connection ∇∇ by the following
formula:

13
 R(u, v)w = ∇u ∇v w − ∇v ∇u w − ∇[u,v] wR(u, v)w = ∇u ∇v w − ∇v ∇u w − ∇[u,v] w

3.1.5 Ricci tensor

In differential geometry, the Ricci curvature tensor, named after Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro, repre-
sents the amount by which the volume of a narrow conical piece of a small geodesic ball in a curved
Riemannian manifold deviates from that of the standard ball in Euclidean space. As such, it pro-
vides one way of measuring the degree to which the geometry determined by a given Riemannian
metric might differ from that of ordinary Euclidean n-space. The Ricci tensor is defined on any
pseudo-Riemannian manifold, as a trace of the Riemann curvature tensor. Like the metric itself,
the Ricci tensor is a symmetric bilinear form on the tangent space of the manifold .
In relativity theory, the Ricci tensor is the part of the curvature of spacetime that determines the
degree to which matter will tend to converge or diverge in time (via the Raychaudhuri equation).
It is related to the matter content of the universe by means of the Einstein field equation. In
differential geometry, lower bounds on the Ricci tensor on a Riemannian manifold allow one to
extract global geometric and topological information by comparison (cf. comparison theorem) with
the geometry of a constant curvature space form. If the Ricci tensor satisfies the vacuum Einstein
equation, then the manifold is an Einstein manifold, which have been extensively studied (cf. Besse
1987). In this connection, the Ricci flow equation governs the evolution of a given metric to an
Einstein metric; the precise manner in which this occurs ultimately leads to the solution of the
Poincaré conjecture.

14
3.1.6 Geodesics

For geodesics on the Earth, see Geodesics on an ellipsoid. For geodesics in general relativity, see
Geodesics in general relativity. For other uses, see Geodesic (disambiguation).
A geodesic triangle on the sphere. The geodesics are great circle arcs. In differential geometry,
a geodesic is a curve representing in some sense the shortest path between two points in a surface,
or more generally in a Riemannian manifold.
The term ”geodesic” comes from geodesy, the science of measuring the size and shape of Earth.
In the original sense, a geodesic was the shortest route between two points on the Earth’s surface.
For a spherical Earth, it is a segment of a great circle. The term has been generalized to include
measurements in much more general mathematical spaces; for example, in graph theory, one might
consider a geodesic between two vertices/nodes of a graph.
In a Riemannian manifold or submanifold geodesics are characterised by the property of having
vanishing geodesic curvature. More generally, in the presence of an affine connection, a geodesic
is defined to be a curve whose tangent vectors remain parallel if they are transported along it.
Applying this to the Levi-Civita connection of a Riemannian metric recovers the previous notion.
Geodesics are of particular importance in general relativity. Timelike geodesics in general
relativity describe the motion of free falling test particles.

3.1.7 Curvature

In mathematics, curvature is any of several strongly related concepts in geometry. Intuitively, the
curvature is the amount by which a curve deviates from being a straight line, or a surface deviates
from being a plane.
For curves, the canonical example is that of a circle, which has a curvature equal to the reciprocal
of its radius. Smaller circles bend more sharply, and hence have higher curvature. The curvature
at a point of a differentiable curve, is the curvature of its osculating circle, that is the circle that
best approximates the curve near this point. The curvature of a straight line is zero. The curvature
of a curve at a point is normally a scalar quantity, that is, it is expressed by a single real number.
For surfaces (and, more generally for higher-dimensional manifolds), that are embedded in a
Euclidean space, the concept of curvature is more complex, as depending on the choice of a direction
on the surface or manifold. This leads to the concepts of maximal curvature, minimal curvature,
and mean curvature.
For Riemannian manifolds (of dimension at least two) that are not necessarily embedded in a
Euclidean space, one can define the curvature intrinsically, that is without referring to an external
space. See Curvature of Riemannian manifolds for the definition, which is done in terms of lengths
of curves traced on the manifold, and expressed, using linear algebra, by the Riemann curvature
tensor.

15
4 Curvature terms upto first order in metric perturbation
Our aim in this discussion is to derive the curvature terms upto first order in metric perturbation
by applying perturbation to the metric tensor.

Now we start by expanding the generic matrix gµν arround a background metric ḡµν (not nec-
essarily a flat metric).
gµν = ḡµν + τ hµν (1)

Where τ is the dimensionless parameter put by hand to keep the track of the order of perturbation.
we neglect the higher powers of τ as we are obtaining the first order [Link] this assumption
the inverse metric is expanded as
g µν = ḡ µν − τ hµν (2)

Now we can expand all the curvature terms using equation(1)and(2)

4.1 Christoffel symbols

The very first thing that can be obtained from the metric and its derivatives are christoffel symbols.
By defination

1
Γρµν = g ρλ (∂µ gλν + ∂ν gµλ − ∂λ gµν ) (3)
2
Now it can be expanded as

1
Γρµν = (ḡ ρλ − τ hρλ )[∂µ (ḡλν + τ hλν ) + ∂ν (ḡµλ + τ hµλ ) − ∂λ (ḡµν + τ hµν )]
2

Multiplyaing each terms we get

1 1
Γρµν = Γ̄ρµν + τ ḡ ρλ (∂µ hλν + ∂ν hµλ − ∂λ hµν ) − ḡ ρα hαβ [ ḡ λβ (∂µ ḡλµ + ∂ν ḡµλ − ∂λ ḡµν ] (4)
2 2

Here we define the first term as christoffel symbol of the backfground metric

1
Γ̄ρµν = ḡ ρλ (∂µ ḡλν + ∂ν ḡµΓ − ∂λ ḡµν ) (5)
2

Here also we have substituted hρλ = ḡ ρα ḡ λβ hαβ , Now equation (4) becomes

1
Γρµν = Γ̄ρµν + τ ḡ ρλ (∂µ hλν + ∂ν hµλ − ∂λ hµν ) − ḡ ρα hαβ Γ̄βµν
2

16
Where Γ̄βµν = 21 ḡ λβ (∂µ ḡλν + ∂ν ḡµλ − ∂λ ḡµν )
Since α and λ are dummy indices so interchanging α by λ we get

1
Γρµν = Γ̄ρµν + τ ḡ ρλ (∂µ hλν + ∂ν hµλ − ∂λ hµν ) − ḡ ρλ hλβ Γ̄βµν (6)
2

Now rearranging this equation we get

1
Γρµν = Γ̄ρµν + τ ḡ ρλ (∂µ hλν + ∂ν hµλ − ∂λ hµν ) − 2hλβ Γ̄βµν
2

Now adding and subtracting hµβ Γ̄βνλ + hνβ Γ̄βµλ

1
Γρµν = Γ̄ρµν + τ ḡ ρλ [(∂µ hλν + ∂ν hµλ − ∂λ hµν ) + hµβ Γ̄βνλ + hνβ Γ̄βµλ − hµβ Γ̄βνλ − hνβ Γ̄βµλ − 2hλβ Γ̄βµν ]
2

1
= Γ̄ρµν +τ ḡ ρλ [(∂µ hλν −hνβ Γ̄βµλ −hλβ Γ̄βµν )+(∂ν hµλ −hµβ Γ̄βνλ −hλβ Γ̄βµν )−(∂λ hµν −hνβ Γ̄βµλ −hµβ Γ̄βνλ )]
2

Now using the properties of covariant derivative we get

1
Γρµν = Γ̄ρµν + τ ḡ ρλ (5̄µ hλν + 5̄ν hµλ − 5̄λ hµν ) (7)
2

where
5̄µ hλν = ∂µ hλν − hνβ Γ̄βµλ − hλβ Γ̄βµν

5̄ν hµλ = ∂ν hµλ − hµβ Γ̄βνλ − hλβ Γ̄βµν

and
5̄λ hµν = ∂λ hµν − hνβ Γ̄βµλ − hµβ Γ̄βνλ

Now equation (7) can be written as

Γρµν = Γ̄ρµν + τ (Γρµν )L (8)

Where
1
(Γρµν )L = ḡ ρλ (5̄µ hλν + 5̄ν hµλ − 5̄λ hµν ) (9)
2
Here (Γρµν )L is called Linearlized Christoffel symbols.

17
4.2 Riemann Tensor
Riemann tensor is a tensor used to measure the curvature of the Riemannian manifold
It is defined as
µ
Rνρσ = ∂ρ Γµσν + Γµρλ Γλσν − ∂σ Γµρν − Γµσλ Γλρν (10)

We know
Γρµν = Γ̄ρµν + τ (Γρµν )L

⇒ (Γρµν )L = Γρµν − Γ̄ρµν

Define
Γρµν − Γ̄ρµν = δΓρµν

Hence
(Γρµν )L = δΓρµν

Summerising
δΓρµν + Γ̄ρµν = Γρµν (11)

Now writting the Riemann tensor using eq (5) we get

µ
Rνρσ = ∂ρ (δΓµσν + Γ̄µσν ) + (δΓµρλ + Γ̄µρλ )(δΓλσν + Γ̄λσν ) − ∂σ (δΓµρν + Γ̄µρν ) − (δΓµσλ + Γ̄µσλ )(δΓλρν + Γ̄λρν )

µ
⇒ Rνρσ = (∂ρ Γ̄µσν +Γ̄µρλ Γ̄λσν −∂σ Γ̄µρν −Γ̄µσλ Γ̄λρν )+∂ρ δΓµσν +δΓµρλ δΓλσν +δΓµρλ Γ̄λσν +Γ̄µρλ δΓλσν −∂σ δΓµρν −δΓµσλ δΓλρν

−δΓµσλ Γ̄λρν − Γ̄µσλ δΓλρν

Defining the first term in the parenthesis as the Riemann tensor in the background metric we get,

µ
R̄νρσ = ∂ρ Γ̄µσν + Γ̄µρλ Γ̄λσν − ∂σ Γ̄µρν − Γ̄µσλ Γ̄λρν (12)

Now rearranging the terms of the equation we get,

µ
Rνρσ µ
= R̄νρσ +(∂ρ δΓµσν + Γ̄µρλ δΓλσν −δΓµσλ Γ̄λρν )−(∂σ δΓµρν + Γ̄µσλ δΓλρν −δΓµρλ Γ̄λσν )+δΓµρλ δΓλσν −δΓµσλ δΓλρν

Now adding and subtracting Γ̄λρσ δΓµλν in the above equation we get ,

µ
Rνρσ µ
= R̄νρσ + (∂ρ δΓµσν + Γ̄µρλ δΓλσν − δΓµσλ Γ̄λρν − Γ̄λρσ δΓµλν ) − (∂σ δΓµρν + Γ̄µσλ δΓλρν − δΓµρλ Γ̄λσν − Γ̄λρσ δΓµλν )

+δΓµρλ δΓλσν − δΓµσλ δΓλρν

18
 The terms in the parentheses are covariant derivative of a tensor of rank-3 ,

5̄ρ δΓµσν = ∂ρ δΓµσν + Γ̄µρλ δΓλσν − δΓµσλ Γ̄λρν − Γ̄λρσ δΓµλν (13)

5̄σ δΓµρν = ∂σ δΓµρν + Γ̄µσλ δΓλρν − δΓµρλ Γ̄λσν − Γ̄λρσ δΓµλν (14)

µ
Now Rνρσ becomes ,

µ
Rνρσ µ
= R̄νρσ + 5̄σ δΓµρν + 5̄ρ δΓµσν + δΓµρλ δΓλσν − δΓµσλ δΓλρν (15)

We know
(Γµσν )L = δΓµσν

and
(Γµρν )L = δΓµρν

using these two in above equation we get ,

µ
Rνρσ µ
= R̄νρσ + 5̄ρ [τ (Γµσν )L ] − 5̄σ [τ (Γµρν )L ] + τ (Γµρλ )L τ (Γλσν )L − τ (Γµσλ )L τ (Γλρν )L (16)

Neglecting the higher order terms of τ we get ,

µ µ
Rνρσ = R̄νρσ + τ [5̄ρ (Γµσν )L − 5̄σ (Γµρν )L ] (17)

The above equation is the Riemann tensor perturbed upto first order in metric .

Let us define the perturbation term as

µ
(R̄νρσ )L = 5̄ρ (Γµσν )L − 5̄σ (Γµρν )L (18)

Now equation (17) becomes,

µ µ µ
Rνρσ = R̄νρσ + (R̄νρσ )L

µ
Where (R̄νρσ )L is a tensor of rank-4 called Linearized Riemann tensor.

19
4.3 Ricci Tensor
Ricci tensor is defined by the contraction over Riemann tensor
µ
Putting µ = ρ in in Riemann tensorRνρσ we get,

µ
Rνµσ = Rνσ

Now equation (17) becomes,

Rνσ = R̄νσ + τ [5̄µ (Γµσν )L − 5̄σ (Γµµν )L ] (19)

µ
(R̄νρσ )L = 5̄ρ (Γµσν )L − 5̄σ (Γµρν )L
1 1
= 5̄ρ ḡ µλ (5̄σ hλν + 5̄ν hλσ − 5̄λ hσν ) − 5̄σ ḡ µλ (5̄ρ hλν + 5̄ν hλρ − 5̄λ hρν )
2 2
1 µ µ
= [5̄ρ 5̄σ hν + 5̄ρ 5̄ν hσ − 5̄ρ 5̄ hσν − 5̄σ 5̄ρ hµν − 5̄σ 5̄ν hµρ + 5̄σ 5̄ hρν ]
µ µ
2

µ
(R̄νσ )L = (R̄νµσ )L
1 µ µ
= [5̄µ 5̄σ hµν + 5̄µ 5̄ν hµσ − 5̄µ 5̄ hσν − 5̄σ 5̄µ hµν − 5̄σ 5̄ν hµµ + 5̄σ 5̄ hµν ]
2
1 µ
= [5̄µ 5̄σ hµν + 5̄µ 5̄ν hµσ − 5̄µ 5̄ hσν − 5̄σ 5̄ν hµµ ]
2

Therefore Ricci tensor can be written in the form of

1 µ
(R̄νσ )L = [5̄µ 5̄σ hµν + 5̄µ 5̄ν hµσ − 5̄µ 5̄ hσν − 5̄σ 5̄ν hµµ ] (20)
2
Let us discuss some of the important properties regarding Tensor equations to derive the final
expression for the Ricci tensor

20
4.3.1 Covariant derivative of the metric tensor

From the property of the covariant derivative of a covariant tensor of rank-2

5a gbc = ∂a gbc − Γdab gdc − Γddb (21)

1
Γdab gdc = Γab,c = (∂a gbc + ∂b gac − ∂c gab ) (22)
2
1
Γdac gdb = Γac,b = (∂c gab + ∂a gcb − ∂b gac ) (23)
2

Using equation (22) and (23) in equation (21) we get

1 1
5a gbc = ∂a gbc − (∂a gbc + ∂b gac − ∂c gab ) − (∂c gab + ∂a gcb − ∂b gac )
2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1
= ∂a gbc − ∂a gbc − ∂b gac + ∂c gab − ∂c gab − ∂a gcb + ∂b gac
2 2 2 2 2 2
=0

Hence from the above discussion it is clear that the covariant derivative of the metric tensor is Zero.

i.e 5a gbc = 0 (24)

4.3.2 Commutator of two covariant derivatives

The commutation of two covariant derivatives can be written in the form of

[5b , 5c ]Va = 5b 5c Va − 5c 5b Va

5b Va = ∂b Va − Γdab Vd

5c 5b Va = ∂c (5b Va ) − Γeac 5b Ve − Γebc 5e Va

∂c (5b Va ) = ∂c ∂b Va − (∂c Γdab )Vd − Γdab (∂c Vd )

Γeac 5b Ve = Γeac (∂b Ve − Γdbe Vd )

Γebc 5e Va = Γebc (∂e Va − Γdae Vd )

Putting these values we get,

5c 5b Va = ∂c ∂b Va − (∂c Γdab )Vd − Γdab (∂c Vd ) − Γeac (∂b Ve − Γdbe Vd ) − Γebc (∂e Va − Γdae Vd )

Now just replacing b⇔c we get,

5b 5c Va = ∂b ∂c Va − (∂b Γdac )Vd − Γdac (∂b Vd ) − Γeab (∂c Ve − Γdce Vd ) − Γecb (∂e Va − Γdae Vd )

21
 [5b , 5c ]Va = 5b 5c Va − 5c 5b Va

= ∂b ∂c Va − (∂b Γdac )Vd − Γdac (∂b Vd ) − Γeab (∂c Ve − Γdce Vd ) − Γecb (∂e Va − Γdae Vd )

−∂c ∂b Va − (∂c Γdab )Vd − Γdab (∂c Vd ) − Γeac (∂b Ve − Γdbe Vd ) − Γebc (∂e Va − Γdae Vd )

Analysing the above problem and after solving we get,

[5b , 5c ]Va = [∂c (Γdab ) − ∂b (Γdac ) + Γeab Γdce − Γeac Γdbe ]Vd

a .Summarizing we get,
But the term in the parenthesis equals toRdbc

a
[5b , 5c ]Va = Rdbc Vd (25)

If we put Va = ga then equation (25)becomes,

a
[5b , 5c ]ga = Rdbc gd (26)

Now just by replacinga = ρ, b = µ, c = ν, d = σ we get the desired equation as,

ρ
[5µ , 5ν ]gρ = Rσµν gσ (27)

For the metric tensor of rank-2 we get,

[5µ , 5ν ]gλρ = Rσµν

ρ σ
gλσ − Rλµν gλρ (28)

22
Ricci Tensor
Now to get the Finalised expression for the Ricci tensor let us replace µ, σ, ν byP, M, N ,

1 P
(R̄M N )L = [5̄P 5̄N hPM + 5̄P 5̄M hPN − 5̄P 5̄ hN M − 5̄N 5̄M hPP ] (29)
2

We know the commutator of the two covariant derivatives. So by substituting µ, σ, ν by P, N, M

we get,

p
[5P , 5N ]hPM = RλP
P λ λ
N hM − RM P N hλ (30)
⇒ 5P 5N hPM = 5N 5P hPM + RλP
P λ λ P
N hM − RM P N hλ (31)

Now interchanging N by M we get,

p
[5P , 5M ]hPN = RλP
P λ λ
M hN − RN P M hλ (32)
⇒ 5P 5M hPN = 5M 5P hPN + P
RλP λ
M hN − λ
RN P
P M hλ (33)

Replacing P by N we get,

p
[5N , 5M ]hPP = RλP
P λ λ
M hP − RP N M hλ (34)
⇒ 5N 5M hPP = 5M 5N hPP + RλN
P λ λ P
M hP − RP N M hλ (35)

Now Ricci tensor can be written in the form perturbation term given by,

1 P
RM N = R̄M N + τ [5̄P 5̄N hPM + 5̄P 5̄M hPN − 5̄P 5̄ hN M − 5̄N 5̄M hPP ]
2
1
= R̄M N + τ [5̄N 5̄P hPM + RλP
P λ λ P P P λ λ P
N hM − RM P N hλ + 5̄M 5̄P hN + RλP M hN − RN P M hλ
2
P
− 5̄M 5̄N hPP + RλN
P λ λ P
M hP − RP N M hλ − 5̄P 5̄ hN M ]

In the above expression equation (31,33,35)are used

P
As RλP P
M = RλM , RλP N = RλN So by using this in above expression we get,

1 P
RM N = R̄M N + τ [(5̄N 5̄P hPM + 5̄M 5̄P hPN − 5̄M 5̄N hPP − 5̄P 5̄ hN M ) + RλN hλM + RλM hλN
2
λ P λ P P λ λ P
− RM P N hλ − RN P M hλ + RλN M hP − RP N M hλ ]

23
 Again
1
RPλ N M hPλ = (RPλ N M hPλ + RPλ N M hPλ )
2

Now changing the dummy indices λ,P in the 2nd term,

1
RPλ N M hPλ = (RPλ N M hPλ + RλN
P λ
M hP )
2

But
RPλ N M hPλ = −RλN
P λ
M hP

Hence,

1
RPλ N M hPλ = (RPλ N M hPλ − RPλ N M hPλ ) = 0 (36)
2
P
Similarly RλN M =0

By using the properties of Bianchi identity

λ λ λ
RM P N + RN P M + RP N M = 0

Using this in the above equation,

1 P
RM N = R̄M N + τ [(5̄N 5̄P hPM + 5̄M 5̄P hPN − 5̄M 5̄N hPP − 5̄P 5̄ hN M ) + RλN hλM + RλM hλN
2
λ P λ P P λ
− RM P N hλ − RN P M hλ + RλN M hP ]

Now using the properties of Bianchi indices

λ λ λ
−RM P N = −RN P M + RP N M

Hence the above expression can be rewritten in the form of,

1 P
RM N = R̄M N +τ [(5̄N 5̄P hPM +5̄M 5̄P hPN −5̄M 5̄N hPP −5̄P 5̄ hN M )+RλN hλM +RλM hλN −2RN
λ P
P M hλ ]
2
(37)

24
Now

RλN hλM = RλN g λe heM

e
= RN heM
λ
= RN hλM

Hence,
RλN hλM = RN
λ
hλM (38)

RλM hλN = RλM g λe heN

e
= RM heN
λ
= RM hλN

Similarly,
RλM hλN = RM
λ
hλN (39)

Again,

P λ P P e λe
RM N λ hP = RM N λ g h

= ReM N λ hλe

So,
P λ QP
RM N λ hP = RP M N Q h (40)

In the above equation we substituted e=P and λ=Q.

Now,

5̄N 5̄P hPM = 5̄N 5̄P g P e heM

e
= 5̄N 5̄ heM

P
5̄N 5̄P hPM = 5̄N 5̄ hP M (41)

Similarly,
P
5̄M 5̄P hPN = 5̄M 5̄ hP N (42)

25
 Replacing λ by P in equation (37) we get,

1 p P P
RM N = R̄M N +τ [(5̄N 5̄ hP M +5̄M 5̄ hP N −5̄M 5̄N hPP −5̄P 5̄ hN M )+RN
P P
hP M +RM hP N −2RP M N Q hQP ]
2
(43)
Now My finalized form of ricci tensor in terms of first order metric perturbation can be written in

the form of,

1 ¯ P 1
RM N = R̄M N + τ [ (∆)L hM N + (5̄M 5̄ hN )P − 5M 5N hPP ] (44)
2 2
Where,

¯ L hM N = −2RP M N Q hQP + 2R(P hN )P − 5̄M 5̄N hP

(∆) (45)
M P

This operator is called Lichnerowiez operators.

The equation (44) is the linerlized equation of Ricci tensor.

26
5 EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATION
The EFE compare the set of 10 equation in Einstein’s general theory of relativity that describes the
fundamental interactions of gravitation as a result of space-time being curved by mass and energy.
First published by Einstein in 1915 as a tensor equation. EFE relate the space-time curvature with
local energy and momentum within that space-time.

EFE are used to determine the space-time geometry resulting from the presence of mass-energy
and linear momentum i.e they determine the metric tensor of space-time for a given arrangement
of stress energy in space-time. EFE reduced to Newton’s law of gravitation when the gravitation
field is weak.

Mathematical form

The Einstein field equation may be written in the form

1 8πG
Rµν − Rgµν + Λgµν = Tµν (46)
2 C4

Where,
Rµν =Ricci tensor
R=Scalar curvature

27
gµν =Metric tensor
Λ=Cosmological constant
G=Newton’s gravitation constant
C=Speed of light
Tµν =Stress-energy tensor
EFE can be written in more common form,

8πG
Gµν + Λgµν = Tµν (47)
C4

Where,
1
Rµν − Rgµν = Gµν
2
For natural units taking C=1
Now equation (47)can be written as,

Gµν + Λgµν = 8πGTµν (48)

So,
1
Rµν − Rgµν + Λgµν = 8πGTµν (49)
2
Taking trace with respect to the metric tensor of both side of the EFE we get,

D
R− R + ΛD = 8πGT (50)
2

 
D
1− R + ΛD = 8πGT
2

Dividing the coefficient of R in each term we get,

ΛD 8πGT
R+ D
=
1− 2 1− D
2

Multiplying gM N each term we get,

28
 !
1 8πGT − ΛD
RM N − gM N + ΛgM N = 8πGTM N
2 1− D2

Now,
 
8πGT − ΛD
RM N − gM N + ΛgM N = 8πGTM N
2−D

8πGT ΛD
⇒ RM N − gM N + gM N + ΛgM N = 8πGTM N
2−D 2−D

Solving the above equation we get,

2Λ T
RM N + gM N = 8πG[TM N + gM N ]
2−D 2−D

IF TM N = 0 T = 0 then,
2Λ
RM N + gM N = 0
2−D
Now solving for RM N we get,

2Λ
RM N = − gM N
2−D

Solving,

Λ
⇒ RM N = D
gM N
2 −1

But we know that,

gM N = ḡM N + τ hM N

Now the above expression becomes,

Λ
RM N = D
(ḡM N + τ hM N ) (51)
2 −1

29
Now equating equation (51) and (44) we get,

1 ¯ P 1 Λ
R̄M N + τ [ (∆)L hM N + (5̄M 5̄ hN )P − 5M 5N hPP ] = D
(ḡM N + τ hM N ) (52)
2 2 2 −1

Now equating the coefficient other than τ we get,

Λ
R̄M N = D
ḡM N (53)
2 −1

Now equating the coefficient of τ we get the perturbation term in the EFE as,
 
ΛhM N 1 ¯ P 1 P
D
= (∆)L hM N + (5̄M 5̄ hN )P − 5M 5N hP (54)
2 −1
2 2
So my final expression for the Einstein perturbation term is given by
 
2ΛhM N ¯ P 1 P
D
= (∆)L hM N + (5̄M 5̄ hN )P − 5M 5N hP (55)
2 −1
2

6 CONCLUSION
The linearized form of Ricci tensor upto first order in the fluctuated metric has been derived for
any background metric with the help of different properties of the tensor analysis. These equations
have much more practical implementation in the field of general theory of relativity. One of the
most general implementation is to study the energy spectrum of Einstein field equation. In my
study, i have derived the linearlized form of Einstein field equation in the absence of matter. This
linearlized EFE are used primarily in the theory of gravitational radiation so as to detect the
gravitational wave and the source of the radiation.

30
7 REFERENCE
1. Gravitation and cosmology , principle and application of the General Theory of Relativity,
Steven Weinberg:WILEY Publishers

2. Spacetime and geometry ; An introduction to General theory of Relativity , Sean [Link]

: Addison Wesley, 2004

3. Mathematical Methods for physicists, Arfken,Weber and Harris; seventh Edition:Academic

press publisher

4. [Link]

5. [Link] curvature tensor

6. [Link] curvature

7. [Link]

8. [Link] field equations

31