[Physics] What are the units of the quantities in the Einstein field equation

dimensional analysisgeneral-relativityunits

The Einstein field equations (EFE) may be written in the form:

$$R_{\mu\nu}-\frac {1}{2}g_{\mu\nu}R+g_{\mu\nu}\Lambda=\frac {8\pi G}{c^4}T_{\mu\nu}$$
where the units of the gravitational constant $G$ are $\mathrm{\frac{N\,m^2}{kg^2}}$ and the units of the speed of light are $\mathrm{\frac{m}{s}}$.

What are the units of the Ricci curvature tensor $R_{\mu\nu}$, the scalar curvature $R$, the metric tensor $g_{\mu\nu}$, the cosmological constant $\Lambda$ and the stress-energy tensor $T_{\mu\nu}$?

Best Answer

The metric tensor is unitless. That can be seen from the fact that $g_{\mu\nu}v^\mu v^\nu$ gives the square of the four-vector length of $v$, and thus has the unit of $v^2$.

The scalar curvature is a contraction of the Ricci tensor. A contraction doesn't change the units. Also the Ricci tensor is a contraction of the Riemann tensor.

The Riemann tensor is made of coordinate derivatives of the connection coefficients, which are made of coordinate derivatives of the metric. Since each coordinate derivative adds a unit $m^{-1}$, the Ricci tensor and curvature scalar have both unit $\mathrm{m}^{-2}$.

The cosmological constant then of course also has to have the unit $\mathrm m^{-2}$, so that the units match.

$T$, the stress-energy tensor, has the unit of energy density, or pressure (both are actually the same unit, if you look closer), that is, $\mathrm J/\mathrm m^3$ or $\mathrm N/\mathrm m^2$.

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