The African Review of Physics (2015) 10:0008 59

A Transformation of de Sitters Metric

Thomas G unther1
Hessenstr. 16, D-59067 Hamm, Germany

Is the method which transforms Schwarzschilds metric into McVitties line element also applicable to de Sitters
metric? With a simple coordinate replacement, one can get McVitties interval from the Schwarzschild metric in
isotropic form. McVitties model interpolates between a space-time, which is generated by a local mass (Schwarzschild
solution) and an expanding global (FLRW) universe. This article presents a similarly generated exact solution of
Einsteins equations with cosmological constant: The line element can be obtained analogously to the construction
of McVitties metric from Schwarzschilds isotropic interval, but it is based on a static transformation of de Sitters
metric. The radial coordinate and its differential is modified by a scale factor a (t). Einsteins empty space equations
with cosmological constant lead to a simple solution for a (t). Additionally, this metric admits a cosmic fluid solution
of Einsteins equations with nonzero stress energy momentum tensor. Suitable functions for density and pressure are
presented in the article. The second section is concerned with a transformation of the line element into a spherical
symmetric but anisotropic form.

1. Line Element and Einsteins Equations method will be used to deduce a new metric from
de Sitters interval. Let q be the radial coordinate
Schwarzschilds solution is a good approximation in an isotropic frame {t, q, , } with time t, incli-
to describe the local geometry of our solar sys- nation and azimuth , further let
tem or the gravitational field of a black hole,
but it is not able to represent the global ge- dq2 = dq 2 + q 2 d2 + q 2 sin2 () d2 (1)
ometry of our expanding universe. The lat-
ter can be appropriately described by the ho- Schwarzschilds metric with respect to the isotropic
mogeneous and isotropic Friedmann-Lematre- frame reads
Robertson-Walker (FLRW) solution. Vice versa,
the standard cosmological picture is not applica- r !2 4
1 4qg

2 2 2 rg
ble for dealing with the field in the vicinity of a ds = r c dt 1 + dq2 (2)
star such as our Sun [1]. 1933 McVittie presented 1 + 4qg 4q
a new solution of Einsteins equations in his arti-
cle The mass-particle in an expanding universe, Where, rg = 2M /c2 , cf. [6]. The coordinate re-
cf. [2]. The McVittie solution has many of the placement operates as follows: Replace the q coor-
features one would expect of a black hole embedded dinate by a (t) q and the dq differential by a (t) dq in
in a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmol- (2). This is different from a coordinate transforma-
ogy [3]. As for example, mentioned by Carrera tion q = aq , since the a
q dt term in dq = a
q dt + ad
q
and Giulini, there is an easy method to deduce is ignored. The coordinate replacement in (2) gives
McVitties metric from the Schwarzschild interval: #2
" rg 4
Write down the Schwarzschild metric for the mass 1

2 4a(t)q 2 2 2 rg
parameter m in isotropic coordinates, add a con- ds = rg c dt a (t) 1 + d 2
1+ 4a (t) q
formal factor a2 (t) to the spatial part, and allow 4a(t)q

the mass parameter m to depend on time. [4]. (3)

Instead of admitting a time dependent mass pa-
rameter, McVitties Metric can be obtained from
the Schwarzschild interval through a coordinate re-
placement, cf. [5]. This coordinate replacement
is introduced in the following. Later, the same
1 dr.thomas.guenther@gmail.com
which is McVitties metric, cf. [2,3,7-9]. Now con-
sider de Sitters solution of Einsteins field equa-
tions with nonzero cosmological constant. de
Sitters model has negligibly small values for
the mass density and pressure in ordinary mat-
ter [10], and thus it is inappropriate to describe
the real universe. But this model approximates the
the line element in some versions of the inflation
The African Review of Physics (2015) 10:0008 60

scenario. [10]. With respect to the coordinates replacement results in

de Sitters interval is given by2
t, r, ,

2 2
1 La2 (t) q 2
 
a (t)
ds2 = c2 dt2 d 2
2ct
 
2 2 2 2 1 + La2 (t) q 2 1 + La2 (t) q 2
ds = c dt a0 exp r2
d (4)
r (8)
The physical unit of the constant L coincides with
the unit of the cosmological constant . Einsteins
p
Where, r = 3/, and a0 is a constant of inte-
gration. de Sitters space is most commonly rep- tensor3 for the metric (8) reduces to
resented in the co-moving frame (Eqn. (4)). But  2
it is also possible to use static coordinate frames. 3 a
Gtt = 2 + 12L
Using the coordinate transformation c a
a 2
2 aa 1 + La2 q 2 + 1 5La2 q 2




Gqq
"  2 # a
r r =

t = t+ ln 1 c2 (1 La2 q 2 )
2c r + 12L
= G = Gqq
 
r exp rc t G (9)
r = r  2
a0 1 rr and Gik = 0 if i 6= k. A detailed calculation of Ein-
steins tensor (9) for the metric (8) is given in [5].
= , =

de Sitters metric (Eqn. (4)) transforms into the 1.1. The empty space solution
static line element
Let L 12 , the interval in Eqn. (8) represents an
"  2 # exact empty space solution of Einsteins equations
2 r 1
ds = 1 c2 dt2 2 2
 2 dr r d
2 in case of
r r
1 r " 1/2 #

(5) a (t) = a0 exp 4L ct (10)
3
Where, d2 = d2 + sin2 d2 . The latter metric
is static but does not have an isotropic form. By
cf. [5]. Here, a0 is a constant of integration. The
introducing another radial coordinate, one gets an
corresponding equations Gik = 0 are not very cum-
isotropic and static intervall. This transformation
bersome, see Einstein tensor (Eqn. (9)). For
is determined up to an arbitrary constant, say L,
L = 12 , the interval (8) reduces to a static line
as
element, which represents the transformed de Sit-
ter solution (7). In case of L < 12
, the metric
2qr L
r= (6) components gik of Eqn. (8) depend on the time
1 + Lq 2
coordinate t. But what happens if the model uni-
verse is not empty, i.e., if there is a nonzero stress
Using the radial coordinate (Eqn. (6)), Eqn. (5)
energy tensor?
transforms into the isotropic and static line ele-
Consider a universe which contains a kind
ment
of cosmic fluid with density (t) and pressure
2 2
1 Lq 2
 
2 2 2 1
ds = c dt d 2 (7)
1 + Lq 2 1 + Lq 2
3 8
The following considerations are based on the lat- Einsteins field equations are Gik = Tik , with
c4
ter interval. Naturally, the above mentioned coor- 1
Gik := Rik R gik gik , cf. [10]. Multiplying Ein-
dinate replacement can be used in Eqn. (7). It 2
steins equations by the contravariant metric tensor
is reasonable to check whether the result is also a 8
gives Gik = 4 Tki , where ki = 1 for i = k,
solution of Einsteins equations. The coordinate c
1
ki = 0 for i 6= k and Gik = Rki Rki ki .
2
Ricci tensor and curvature Pscalar are given by
+ b ab kn a
a a a b b
P


Rnk = kb an
Pa Pa knnk k an
2 r2 + r2 d2 + r2 sin2 d2 , cf. (1).
r2 = d
It is d and R = n k g Rnk .
The African Review of Physics (2015) 10:0008 61

p (t, q). The ansatz in Eqn. (8) again admits an the pressure p is also homogeneous, see Eqn. (13).
exact solution in this case. But in case of H 6= 0, the pressure depends on the
spatial coordinate q. This inhomogeneous pressure
diverges together with the Ricci-scalar
1.2. The cosmic fluid solution
6 1 + La2 q 2
Assume that the stress energy tensor of our cosmic R = 48L + 2H 2 H
c2 1 La2 q 2
fluid has the form
 1
Ttt = c2 ; Trr = T = T = p; and Tki = 0 if i 6= k at q = a L .
(11)
Einsteins equations Gik = 8 i
c4 Tk prescribe the
relation of and p to (Eqn. (9)). Accordingly, we 2. Coordinate Transformation
should assume that the density depends on the
time t and the pressure p depends on t and the In [3] Kaloper Kleban and Martin claimed that
spatial coordinate q. In following, conditions for McVitties metric can be transformed to a metric,
and p are determined. which in the notation corresponding to (3) reads

Theorem 1. (Exact solution of Einsteins equa- 2Hr dr2

tions) Metric (Eqn. (8)) is an exact solution of ds2 = f dt2 p drdt + + r2 d2
1 rg /r 1 rg /r
Einsteins equations with nonzero cosmological con- (16)
stant, if density and pressure p of the cosmic r

Where, f = 1 rg H 2 r2 . For a detailed cal-
fluid are given by culation see [5]. Since (Eqn. (8)) was constructed
1  2 in a way that is similar to the construction of
3H c2 + 12c2 L

= (12) McVitties line element, the question arises if met-
8
ric (Eqn. (8)) can be transformed to an interval of
c2 1 + La2 q 2 similar form as (Eqn. (16)). Indeed it turned out,
p = c2 H (13)
4 1 La2 q 2 that the interval (Eqn. (8)) can be transformed
into a metric, which has the form
Where, H := a/a.

ds2 = gtt dt2 + 2gtr dtdr + grr dr2 r2 d2 (17)
a a

Proof. From H := we get H + H 2 = . Using
a a Now the coordinates are {t, r, , }. Comparing the
this in (Eqn. (9)), Einsteins equations for the in-
g components of (8) and (17) leads to
terval (Eqn. (8)) together with the stress energy
tensor (Eqn. (11)) read aq
r= (18)
3 2 8 1 + La2 q 2
H + 12L = (14)
c2 c2 This equation can be rearranged to get the
transformation for the qcoordinate.
 
2 H + H 2 1 + La2 q 2 + 1 5La2 q 2 H 2



Theorem 2. (Coordinate
transformation) Let
c2 (1 La2 q 2 ) H := a/a
and := 1 4Lr2 . With the trans-
1
8 formation q = 2Lra (1 ) metric (8) takes the
+ 12L = 4 p (15) form
c
Eqns. (14) and (15) can be easily rearranged to dr2 2Hr
ds2 = c2 2 H 2 r2 dt2 2 dtdr r2 d2


(12) and (13). Obviously, (Eqn. (8)) is an exact
solution of Einsteins equations if the functions (19)
and p are given by Eqns. (12) and (13).
 Proof. The components gtt , gtr and grr
of metric (Eqn. (17)) are determined by
The function does not depend on spatial coor- 1
using q = 2Lra (1 ) in (Eqn. (8)).
dinates, see (Eqn. (12)). Hence, the density of the The calculations are given in the appendix.
cosmic material is homogeneous. In case of H = 0, 
The African Review of Physics (2015) 10:0008 62

2.1. The vacuum solution Accordingly, it is

p  
Again let r := 3/. If a (t) is given by (Eqn. q 2
dq = Hq dt dr (A1)
(10)) the Hterm reduces to r a
2

1/2
H = r 4L c Eqn. (18) directly leads to
a r


Thus it is H 2 r2 = c2 r2 /r
2
4Lr2 , and the line = (A2)
element (Eqn. (19)) reads 1 + La2 q 2 q
r2 dr2
 
and together with (Eqn. (A1)) the gqq component
ds2 = 1 2 c2 dt2 (20) of (Eqn. (8)) transforms into
r 1 4Lr2
2 12 2
r 2

2 4Lr 2 2 1
2c
r
dtdr r2 d2 gqq dq = a dq 2 =
1 4Lr2 1 + La2 q 2
 2
r2
 
q 2
Metric in Eqn. (20) is an exact solution of Ein- 2 Hq dt dr =
q r a
steins vacuum equations with nonzero cosmologi-    2
cal constant Rik 21 R gik gik = 0. In case of 2r
Hr dt 1 dr (A3)
4L = r 2
metric (Eqn. (20)) reduces to the line aq
element (Eqn. (5)), which represents the de Sitter The latter expression can be simplified, it is
space-time.
2r 4Lr2 2 4Lr2
1 =1 =
aq (1 ) (1 )
3. Conclusion

1 4Lr2 4Lr2 1 1
The same coordinate replacement, which trans- = = =
(1 ) (1 )
formes Schwarzschilds interval into McVitties
metric, was used to deduce a new line element out Hence, Eqn. (A3) reads
of a slightly modified de Sitter solution. Remark-  2
ably, one gets a new solution of Einsteins field 2 1
gqq dq = Hr dt dr =
equations. The general solution given by Eqns.
(8) and (12) can be regarded as a modification or 
1 2 2Hr

2 2 2
generalization of the de Sitter metric. Quite dif- H r dt + 2 dr dtdr

ferent from the original de Sitter model, which is a
vacuum solution, the introduced metric (Eqn. (8)) (A4)
admits a nonzero stressenergymomentum tensor.
Analogously, we now determine the gtt component
1
APPENDIX A: Coordinate transformation of (Eqn. (8)). From q = 2Lra (1 ) we get
2
1 2 + 1 4Lr2

As above mentioned, Eqn. (18) can be rearranged 1
q2 = =
to get 2Lra 4L2 r2 a2
 
1  p  1 1 1 1 q 1
q= 1 1 4Lr2 = =
2Lra Lra 2Lra La2 La r a
which represents the transformation for the aq
and therewith La2 q 2 = r 1. Correspondingly,
qcoordinate.
Together with the shortcut :=
it is
1 4Lr2 one gets the following derivations:
1 La2 q 2 2 aq
r 2r
= aq = 1
q a 1  p  1 + La2 q 2 r aq
= 1 1 4Lr2 = Hq
t a 2Lra 4Lr2 4Lr2 1
= 1=
and 1 1
2
q 1 2 q 2 1
= q = = = =
r r a 1 4Lr2 r a 1 1
The African Review of Physics (2015) 10:0008 63

and the gtt component of (Eqn. (8)) transforms as urn:nbn:de:hbz:6-46339386471, http://nbn-

2 resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:6-46339386471,
1 La2 q 2

2 ULB M unster (2013).
gtt = c2 = c2 () = c2 2 (A5) [6] L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifschitz, Lehrbuch
1 + La2 q 2
der theoretischen Physik - Klassische
It is clear from Eqn. (18) that g = r2 and Feldtheorie (Verlag Harri Deutsch, Thun
g = r2 sin2 . Finally, with Eqn. (A5) and und Frankfurt am Main, 1997).
(A4) it remains [7] A. M. da Silva, M. Fontanini and D. C. Guar-
iento, How the expansion of the universe
ds2 = c2 2 dt2 determines the causal structure of McVittie
 
1 2Hr spacetimes, arXiv:1212.0155 [gr-qc] (2012).
H 2 r2 dt2 + 2 dr2 dtdr r2 d2
[8] M. Carrera and D. Giulini, The gener-
2 2
r sin () d 2 alization of McVitties model for an in-
homogeneity in a cosmological spacetime,
and we get metric of Eqn. (19). arxiv.org/pdf/0908.3101 (2009).
[9] K. Lake and M. Abdelqader, Phys. Rev. D
References 84, 044045 (2011); arXiv:1106.3666 [gr-qc].
[10] P. J. E. Peebles, Principles of Physical Cos-
[1] R. Gautreau, Phys. Rev. D 29, 2 (1984). mology (Princeton University Press, 1993).
[2] G. C. McVittie, MNRAS 93, 325 (1933).
[3] N. Kaloper, M. Kleban and D. Martin,
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[4] M. Carrera and D. Giulini, Influence of Accepted: 19 June, 2015
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