Mathematical Definition
The Einstein tensor of a null dust must have the form where is a null vector field. This definition makes sense in the absence of any physical interpretation, but if we place a stress-energy tensor on our spacetime which happens to have the form then Einstein's field equation is trivially satisfied, and in addition, such a stress-energy tensor has a clear physical interpretation in terms of massless radiation. The vector field specifies the direction in which the radiation is moving; the scalar multiplier specifies its intensity.
Read more about this topic: Null Dust Solution
Famous quotes containing the words mathematical and/or definition:
“An accurate charting of the American womans progress through history might look more like a corkscrew tilted slightly to one side, its loops inching closer to the line of freedom with the passage of timebut like a mathematical curve approaching infinity, never touching its goal. . . . Each time, the spiral turns her back just short of the finish line.”
—Susan Faludi (20th century)
“... we all know the wags definition of a philanthropist: a man whose charity increases directly as the square of the distance.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)