Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 51 2 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Multiplying the matrices gives the Heisenberg group lawDifferentiating at the identity gives all strictly upper-triangular matrices. With , and , the commutator givesThis is the Heisenberg Lie algebra.
The right Maurer-Cartan form isThus the right-invariant coframe of the real Heisenberg group is , , . Under a right translation,we have , , and . All three right-invariant differential forms are preserved.
Every right-invariant Riemannian metric is determined by an arbitrary inner product at the identity. In this coframe its most general expression isEquivalently,Products here are symmetric products. If a pseudo-Riemannian metric tensor is intended, replace positive definiteness by nondegeneracy. Since every right translation preserves the coframe, it is an isometry. The action is faithful, and is a group homomorphism, embedding a copy of into the isometry group.
The one-parameter right translations produce the Killing frame for a right-invariant Heisenberg metric:Their flows are respectively , and . Each preserves , and their Lie brackets of vector fields are , with the other two zero. This explicitly realizes the Heisenberg Lie algebra. These Killing vector fields are left-invariant vector fields; the vector fields dual to the right-invariant coframe are instead , and should not be substituted for these generators.
For the diagonal case, putThe Kaluza-Klein decomposition along a Killing field uses . Completing the square in gives the Heisenberg metric Kaluza-Klein reduction:These depend only on the quotient coordinates and satisfy . For a diagonal indefinite metric tensor, the same expressions hold wherever ; a null Killing vector field cannot be treated with this completed-square decomposition.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 52 3 b iii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
The inverse Kerr metric in ingoing Kerr coordinates gives the raised normal to a surface of constant :On , , so the normal is null and tangent to the horizon. It reduces toA constant linear combination of the two Killing vector fields is again a Killing vector field. Therefore is normal to this null hypersurface, establishing that it is a Killing horizon, with Kerr horizon angular velocityThe second equality uses . This normal calculation proves hypersurface orthogonality on the horizon, rather than merely proving that the proposed vector happens to have zero norm there.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 52 3 b ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
The change to ingoing Kerr coordinates adds functions of to and , and leaves unchanged. Differentiating at fixed therefore gives and . Differentiating at fixed gives and . Hence the two Killing vector fields areThey remain the stationary and axial Killing vector fields; the coordinate change does not mix their generators with .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 52 3 b iv Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
A generator of the Killing horizon is an orbit of . In ingoing Kerr coordinates it has constant and , with . Since the coordinate shifts depend only on , this is also in the limiting Boyer-Lindquist coordinates description.
Thus is the angular velocity of the horizon relative to the nonrotating stationary frame at infinity. The stationary Killing vector field is normalized to unit time translation there, while the axial Killing vector field has -periodic orbits. This normalization makes the Kerr horizon angular velocity physically definite. It describes the rotation of the null generators and the dragging of inertial frames, not a material solid surface rotating through space. In the Schwarzschild black hole limit , .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 52 4 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Fix a classical globally hyperbolic spacetime with metric signature ; in this solution take . A free real Klein-Gordon field can be specified bywhere is its mass, its curvature coupling and the scalar curvature. Global hyperbolicity ensures a well-posed initial-value problem on a Cauchy hypersurface and the existence of retarded and advanced propagators. Thus compactly supported field and normal-derivative data determine a classical solution. This fixes the dynamics, but not a Fock vacuum.
For real solutions with suitable support or falloff, the symplectic form on scalar-field solutions iswith the future unit normal. The field equation makes the current conserved, so this symplectic form is independent of when boundary flux vanishes. Quantize the initial data by the canonical commutation relation: with and the delta function defined relative to , and the two equal-field commutators vanish. Equivalently, construct the field algebra using the causal propagator. A state on that algebra is additional input.
To construct a particle representation, complexify the classical solution space. Its conserved Klein-Gordon inner product isIt is indefinite on all complex solutions. Choose a complete positive-norm subspace and an orthonormal mode basis with , and . Such a choice is encoded by a compatible complex structure on the Klein-Gordon solution space. Its positive subspace gives the one-particle Hilbert space, and the associated bosonic Fock space contains symmetrized many-particle states. The field expansion isThe creation operator adds a particle in mode , the annihilation operator removes one, and the number operator is . For continuous mode labels the sums and Kronecker deltas become integrals and delta functions, or one can work with normalized wave packets.
The ambiguity is precisely that the field equation and global hyperbolicity do not select that positive subspace. A different normalized basis may mix and by a Bogoliubov transformation, and then its annihilation operators mix and . Its Fock vacuum and number operators differ. The Hadamard condition constrains physically acceptable short-distance singularities and allows local renormalization, but it still leaves many states. Hence there is generally no observer-independent particle count on an arbitrary dynamical geometry.
In a stable strictly stationary spacetime, a globally future timelike Killing vector field gives a preferred time translation. Fix its normalization and suitable boundary conditions, and choose positive-frequency solutions satisfying with . The corresponding positive spectral subspace gives the preferred vacuum state in a stationary spacetime. Unitary changes of basis within it leave the vacuum and the particle notion unchanged. This construction assumes a well-defined positive stationary generator; stationarity by itself is insufficient if becomes spacelike, as in a Kerr ergoregion, or if unstable or zero modes obstruct the ground-state construction. It selects a preferred ground state under the stated assumptions, not a unique state among all thermal and excited states.
If the geometry is suitably stationary in the asymptotic past and future, choose those preferred mode spaces separately, giving the in-vacuum and out-vacuum. Propagate the past modes through the intervening region using the field equation and compare them to the future modes using the conserved Klein-Gordon inner product. Adopt the conventionThe canonical identities for a bosonic Bogoliubov transformation read and . Extracting the future annihilation operator with the same inner product givesIn the in-vacuum, only contributes to . Therefore the particle number from Bogoliubov coefficients isNonzero is the production of future particles from the past vacuum. Summing over future modes gives the total expected particle number when that sum is finite. For infinitely many modes, a Hilbert-Schmidt operator is the condition for unitary implementability between these pure bosonic Fock space representations; finite-volume or wave-packet calculations must respect the relevant measures and convergence. Particle production is determined by the negative-frequency mixing, rather than by identifying a single instantaneous vacuum throughout the time-dependent region.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 52 1 b ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Use the standard meaning of static spacetime: a stationary spacetime chart whose time-space components also vanish. The printed static definition needs to inherit the timelike requirement ; without it, the requested timelike conclusion does not follow.
The preceding argument shows that is a timelike Killing vector field. Its metric-dual one-form is . Its exterior derivative satisfiesFor a torsion-free connection, antisymmetrizing the covariant derivative of a one-form gives its exterior derivative. Consequently the Killing vector has hypersurface orthogonality:Geometrically, the hypersurfaces are orthogonal to .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 52 1 b i Solution 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.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 54 3 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
For the Komar integral of a five-dimensional Reissner--Nordstrom metric, use the one-form metrically dual to the stationary Killing vector field: . Its exterior derivative is . The stated orientation gives volume formBecause the squared norm of is , the defining wedge identity for the Hodge star operator givesThus the Komar integral over the positively oriented angular three-sphere issince the unit three-sphere has volume . Write , . Then and . With the normalization specified for the Komar mass,The orientation makes this positive. The problem's coefficient must be retained: it is not the usual dimension-adjusted five-dimensional ADM-normalized Komar coefficient. With that conventional normalization the ADM mass would instead be .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 54 3 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Since , . Substitution into the radial metric cancels the terms. The Ingoing Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates giveThe radial block has determinant , even when . Its coefficients are analytic for every , so this form extends through and also through to . Ordinary angular coordinate singularities are removed by angular charts on the three-sphere. The genuine endpoint is not included in this extension.
The field is an ingoing null tangent. It is future-directed in the original exterior, since its inner product with the future stationary Killing vector field is , and it remains future-directed by continuation. This fixes the time orientation used in the next part.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 54 3 e Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
In the Ingoing Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates, the stationary Killing vector field is with norm . The normal vector to a level set of isAt it equals , which is null there. Thus this null hypersurface is a Killing horizon of . Its surface gravity is fixed by on the horizon. Since there and ,The positive sign follows from the future outer-horizon generator, normalized by the static time at infinity. It vanishes as the two radii approach the extremal limit.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 54 4 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
The Physical-process first law for a rotating black hole, in four-dimensional general relativity with , isIt applies to a small neutral matter influx into an initially stationary, nonextremal black hole that settles to another stationary state. The background surface gravity and angular velocity are and , and are the Killing energy and angular momentum delivered through the event horizon. Other conserved charges are held fixed. The perturbation must be small enough that its horizon generators do not develop caustics, and all equalities below are to first order.
Let be the stationary Killing vector field normalized at infinity, and the axial Killing vector field with -periodic orbits. The horizon generator is . Choose an affine tangent and parameter with zero at the past stationary limiting section, so affine horizon-generator scaling gives, on the background horizonThe background null expansion and null shear vanish, and null twist vanishes for the hypersurface-orthogonal horizon generators. Linearizing the Null Raychaudhuri equation and using the Einstein field equations givesThe quadratic null expansion and null shear terms are second order. With background cross-sectional measure , the first-order area change is . Multiplying the evolution equation by and integrating by parts gives the first-order horizon-area response to matter fluxThe boundary term vanishes: at the past limiting section, and the final stationary boundary condition gives zero expansion in the settled future. Equivalently, assume a sufficiently localized influx with the required late-time decay.
The energy and angular-momentum fluxes have signsThese correspond to the particle conventions and . Their combination isThis proves the requested Physical-process first law of black-hole mechanics. For charged infall the corresponding law contains an additional horizon-potential term ; the energy-minus-angular-momentum version assumes that work term is absent.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 56 3 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The product of the magnetic field with the velocity in this question is the three-dimensional cross product. Fix and write , so . In coordinates , on , prescribe an affine connection by the following Christoffel symbols:with all other Christoffel symbols zero. These are smooth globally in the given Cartesian coordinates. The lower-index symmetry makes this a torsion-free connection. It is the geometrization of the Lorentz force by an affine connection; no condition on the curl of or the divergence of is required for this construction.
An affinely parametrized geodesic, with primes denoting differentiation with respect to , satisfiesOn the branch , use itself as an affine parameter. Dividing the spatial equation by givesConversely, each solution of this equation makes , an affinely parametrized geodesic of the constructed affine connection. Therefore its image is also an unparametrized geodesic. A general change of parameter adds a term proportional to the tangent in the geodesic equation, leaving the curve unchanged. The branch is not a trajectory with time as parameter.
For the metric realization, assume and . Introduce the differential formThen . The global Poincaré lemma on the contractible space supplies a one-form with , equivalently a magnetic vector potential with . An explicit radial-gauge potential for a divergence-free magnetic field isThis is the radial homotopy formula for a closed two-form and is smooth even at the origin. For a constant magnetic field it gives .
Consider the Eisenhart-Duval lift with the Lorentzian metricThe independent one-forms exhibit three positive directions and a two-dimensional block with one positive and one negative direction. Thus the metric is nondegenerate, of signature . Its coefficients do not depend on , and , so is a null Killing vector field. Indeed are constant, so for the Levi-Civita connection and is parallel.
The geodesic Lagrangian for an affine parameter isThe cyclic coordinate gives the conserved quantity . Work at a nonzero value of and rescale the affine parameter to set . This is the essential step in the null Kaluza-Klein reduction of a stationary force: one fixes the momentum along the null isometry and projects its geodesics, rather than dividing by .
The spatial Euler-Lagrange equations, before setting , areSince and , their reduction isEquivalently, after taking as the affine parameter, the term is a total derivative and the reduced Lagrangian is . Its Euler-Lagrange equations give the same sign and factor two.
There is also an explicit converse using null geodesics. For any physical trajectory, setThis makes its five-dimensional tangent null. The conserved momentum of the cyclic coordinate becomesThe quantity in parentheses is conserved, because its derivative is . Hence the equation, as well as the spatial and Euler-Lagrange equations, is satisfied. Every trajectory admits a null geodesic lift with , and every such lift projects to the required trajectory.
Finally, a time-independent gauge transformation is absorbed by . The one-form and the five-dimensional metric are unchanged. These gauge transformations of an Eisenhart-Duval lift alter the reduced Lagrangian only by the total derivative .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 ii Paper 1 35D b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
Apply the product rule for the Lie derivative to :The prescribed transport equation makes this zero, so is a Killing vector field for . This is a conformal rescaling that absorbs the original infinitesimal dilation.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 ii Paper 1 35D c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
In Minkowski spacetime, the dilation field has , so and . On , take , for which . Part (b) gives the explicit Lorentzian metricwith the requested Killing vector field components. The restriction makes the logarithm smooth and the conformal factor nonzero.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 311 4 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Consider a real Klein-Gordon field on a prescribed globally hyperbolic spacetime, obeying with metric signature . A curvature coupling can be included as . A Cauchy hypersurface and compactly supported smooth data determine a unique solution; appropriate falloff can replace compact support. The real solution space has conserved symplectic formConservation follows by integrating the divergence-free current , with no boundary flux. On complex solutions the conserved Klein-Gordon inner product isIt is indefinite on the full complex solution space.
Choose a complete positive-norm mode subspace, with modes satisfyingEquivalently choose a compatible complex structure on the Klein-Gordon solution space. The mode labels may be continuous, in which case sums and Kronecker symbols become integrals and Dirac delta functions. Construct the one-particle Hilbert space from these modes and its bosonic Fock space. Promote the field to the operator-valued distributionFor a foliation with spatial metric determinant , the conjugate momentum density is . Mode completeness gives the equal-time canonical commutation relationsThe Fock vacuum obeys , and counts particles in the chosen mode. For local products and a renormalized stress-energy tensor, physically admissible states are further restricted by the Hadamard condition. The field algebra exists without a preferred Fock vacuum.
A different admissible mode splitting can mix positive and negative norms:Orthonormality imposes the canonical identities for a bosonic Bogoliubov transformationThe same field then hasWithout a preferred notion of positive frequency, a nonstationary spacetime supplies no distinguished mode splitting: particle number and vacuum depend on the choice of modes, although the field equation and field algebra do not. With infinitely many modes the Bogoliubov transformation need not be unitarily implementable; finite total mixing requires a Hilbert-Schmidt operator .
For a stable strictly stationary spacetime, a chosen future globally timelike Killing vector field gives a preferred time translation. Choose modes withWhen the corresponding conserved Killing energy is positive and the spectral problem has suitable boundary conditions and no problematic zero modes, this gives the preferred vacuum state in a stationary spacetime and particles relative to . Positive-frequency mode mixing within that same subspace leaves the Fock vacuum unchanged. Rescaling by a positive constant changes the frequency units but not their sign.
Stationarity alone, if it only means a Killing field timelike near infinity, is insufficient for a global unique particle interpretation. In the Kerr ergoregion, is spacelike, so positive frequency relative to does not automatically select a positive-norm subspace throughout the geometry; superradiance illustrates the difficulty. Additional vacuum and boundary choices remain necessary. The customary stationary answer therefore assumes a suitable timelike stationary flow and a stable positive-energy quantization; it does not assert that every stationary black-hole extension has one globally preferred vacuum.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 309 3 d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
An electromagnetic field tensor obeys the homogeneous Maxwell equations . Together with its invariance under the Killing vector field , Cartan's magic formula gives . The local potential of a closed differential one-form construction, the one-form Poincaré lemma, therefore supplies a scalar field on a sufficiently small contractible neighborhood withFor an explicit local proof, write on a coordinate ball centered at zero and take . Since , differentiating under the integral gives . There need not be a global potential when this closed one-form has nonzero periods. The homogeneous Maxwell equation is essential; an arbitrary invariant two-form would not suffice.
Use proper time for the massive particle, let be its tangent, and assume . The Killing equation makes . The Lorentz force equation then impliesConsequently the local conserved quantity isThe sign follows from contracting in its first argument, exactly as in the source. Adding a constant to merely shifts the conserved quantity. This is a charged-particle conserved quantity from a Killing symmetry.