Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / iii / Paper 309 / 2 / b / i / Solution

The trace of the electromagnetic stress-energy tensor in four spacetime dimensions isFor its covariant divergence, the source-free Maxwell equations eliminate the derivative of the first factor. Contracting the Bianchi identity ${\nabla }_{[a}{F}_{bc]}=0$ with $F^{ac}$ giveswhich cancels the derivative of the trace term. HenceFor $J^a=T^{ab}{V}_b$, stress-energy conservation and symmetry of $T^{ab}$ now imply