Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2015/iii/paper-52/1/b/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 52 1 b i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
In a stationary spacetime chart, take . Its squared length is , so is a timelike vector. Since its components are constant, the Lie derivative of a tensor field obeys . For the Levi-Civita connection,so satisfies the Killing equation.
Conversely, a timelike Killing vector field is nowhere zero. Apply the flow-box theorem to choose coordinates with . The Killing equation then gives , and . Thus local stationarity is equivalent to the existence of a timelike Killing vector field.
New to topics? Read the docs here!