Skip to content

Time (in)dependence in general relativity

S. Deser, J. Franklin

gr-qcarXiv:gr-qc/0607020

Abstract

We clarify the conditions for Birkhoff's theorem, that is, time-independence in general relativity. We work primarily at the linearized level where guidance from electrodynamics is particularly useful. As a bonus, we also derive the equivalence principle. The basic time-independent solutions due to Schwarzschild and Kerr provide concrete illustrations of the theorem. Only familiarity with Maxwell's equations and tensor analysis is required.

Create a lesson