Momentum density 2026-10-06
Momentum density is momentum per unit physical volume. In a local orthonormal tetrad of the measuring observer it is . A perfect fluid in general relativity moving at a small velocity relative to that observer has to first order. For isotropic background photons, , so the factor is rather than . Integrating the kinetic stress-energy tensor gives .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 312 2 i Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Use a local orthonormal tetrad and units in which the speed of light is one. A particle has four-momentum and moves with velocity . Thus its energy density contributes , its momentum density contributes , and its momentum flux contributes . Integrating the phase-space distribution function gives the kinetic stress-energy tensor. The measure is the future mass-shell Lorentz-invariant phase-space measure, so the same expression transforms as a spacetime stress-energy tensor; fixed state-counting or polarization factors are understood to be included in .
Define . The photon momentum measure is , so every component of the kinetic stress-energy tensor has a radial factor . An isotropic background has and . HenceThis radiation pressure equation of state requires isotropy and masslessness, not a thermal spectrum.
The distribution perturbation is . Assume finite energy density and endpoint behavior at zero and infinity, as for the Planck photon distribution. Integration by parts then givesConsequently the perturbed energy density and momentum density areSince , the photon angular temperature moments give and .
The sign of anisotropic stress must be specified. Direct kinetic integration gives the conventional trace-free spatial stress . The PDF uses the opposite sign, , equivalently . With that convention, all requested moments areTaking the spatial trace also givesThe angular temperature description assumes is independent of photon energy; independent spectral distortions would require additional energy-dependent moments.
Photon angular temperature moments 2026-10-06
Let and with comoving energy . If vanishes at both integration endpoints, integration by parts gives . The kinetic stress-energy tensor then gives , , , and . If is used, the last expression changes sign. Frequency independence of is essential to this common temperature description.
Relativistic kinetic theory 2026-10-06
Relativistic kinetic theory describes particles by a scalar phase-space distribution function on the future mass shell. Its Boltzmann equation uses geodesic streaming and a collision operator. Integrating its momentum moments supplies a kinetic stress-energy tensor and particle-number currents. An orthonormal tetrad makes the local momentum integrals identical in form to those of special relativity.