Perfect fluid spheres in general relativity

Abstract

Spherically symmetric perfect fluid distributions in general relativity have been investigated under the assumptions of (i) uniform expansion or contraction and (ii) the validity of an equation of state of the formp=p(ρ) with nonuniform density. An exact solution which is equivalent to a solution found earlier by Wyman is obtained and it is shown that the solution isunique. The boundary conditions at the interface of fluid distribution and the exterior vacuum are discussed and as a consequence the following theorem is established:Uniform expansion or contraction of a perfect fluid sphere obeying an equation of state with nonuniform density is not admitted by the field equations. It is further shown that the Wyman metric is not suitable on physical grounds to represent a cosmological solution.