Vacuum solution
A vacuum solution is a solution of a field equation in which the sources of the field are taken to be identically zero. That is, such field equations are written without matter interaction (i.e.- set to zero).
Examples
Maxwell's equations
In Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism, a vacuum solution would represent the electromagnetic field in a region of space where there are no electromagnetic sources (charges and electric currents), i.e. where the current 4-vector vanishes:[1]
Einstein field equations
In Einstein's theory of general relativity, a vacuum solution[2] would represent the gravitational field in a region of spacetime where there are no gravitational sources (masses), i.e. where the energy–momentum tensor vanishes:[3]
Black hole vacuum solution
Kasner space
Kasner vacuum solution[4]
Kaluza-Klein theory
In a Kaluza–Klein vacuum (static) field equations[5]
Notes
- ↑ Esposito, S. (1997), "Classical vgr? c solutions of Maxwell's equations and the photon tunneling effect", Physics Letters A, 225 (4-6): 203–209, Bibcode:1997PhLA..225..203E, arXiv:physics/9611018 , doi:10.1016/S0375-9601(96)00872-9, retrieved 2009-07-04
- ↑ Stephani, H. (2003), Exact solutions of Einstein's field equations (PDF), retrieved 2009-07-04
- ↑ Quevedo, H. (1990), "Multipole Moments in General Relativity-Static and Stationary Vacuum Solutions", Fortschritte der Physik, 38 (10): 733, Bibcode:1990ForPh..38..733Q, doi:10.1002/prop.2190381002, retrieved 2009-07-04
- ↑ Chodos, A.; Detweiler, S. (1980), "Where has the fifth dimension gone?", Physical Review D, 21 (8): 2167–2170, Bibcode:1980PhRvD..21.2167C, doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.21.2167
- ↑ Sorkin, R.D. (1983), "Kaluza-klein monopole", Physical Review Letters, 51 (2): 87–90, Bibcode:1983PhRvL..51...87S, doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.51.87
References
- Gott, J.R.; Richard, J. (1985), "Gravitational lensing effects of vacuum strings- Exact solutions", Astrophysical Journal, 288 (Part 1), Bibcode:1985ApJ...288..422G, doi:10.1086/162808
- Friedrich, H.; Nagy, G. (1999), "The initial boundary value problem for Einstein's vacuum field equation" (PDF), Communications in Mathematical Physics, 201 (3): 619–655, Bibcode:1999CMaPh.201..619F, doi:10.1007/s002200050571, retrieved 2009-07-04
- Appelquist, T.; Chodos, A. (1983), "Quantum dynamics of Kaluza-Klein theories", Physical Review D, 28 (4): 772–784, Bibcode:1983PhRvD..28..772A, doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.28.772