Einstein Field Equations

These equations are the mathematical foundation of general relativity. In the equation [latex]G_{\mu\nu} + \Lambda g_{\mu\nu} = \kappa T_{\mu\nu}[/latex], the left side represents the geometry of spacetime, while the right side represents the matter and energy content within it. The Einstein tensor, [latex]G_{\mu\nu}[/latex], is a specific combination of the Ricci tensor and the scalar curvature, which are derived from the metric tensor [latex]g_{\mu\nu}[/latex]. The metric tensor itself defines all geometric properties of spacetime, such as distance, volume, and curvature. The term [latex]\Lambda[/latex] is the cosmological constant, originally introduced by Einstein to allow for a static universe and now associated with dark energy and cosmic acceleration.

On the right side, the stress-energy tensor, [latex]T_{\mu\nu}[/latex], is a mathematical object that describes the density and flux of energy and momentum in spacetime. It acts as the source of the gravitational field, analogous to how mass is the source of gravity in Newton’s theory. The constant [latex]\kappa = \frac{8\pi G}{c^4}[/latex] is the Einstein gravitational constant, which ensures that the theory’s predictions match Newtonian gravity in the weak-field, low-velocity limit.

Solving these equations is notoriously difficult due to their non-linear nature. The equations show that matter tells spacetime how to curve, and curved spacetime tells matter how to move. This feedback loop is the source of the non-linearity. Only a handful of exact analytical solutions are known, such as the Schwarzschild solution for a spherical mass (a black hole) and the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) metric for a homogeneous, isotropic universe, which forms the basis of modern cosmology.