Two theorems on energy-momentum conservation

Abstract

The mathematical meaning of the law of conservation of energy-momentum is examined. A distinction is made between the intrinsic properties of the metric tensor (i.e., those properties that are independent of the coordinate system), and the nonintrinsic properties of this tensor (i.e., those properties that depend upon the coordinate system). The covariance of the energy-momentum law is used to demonstrate that if one is given (a) any analytic contravariant energy-momentum tensor density in a given coordinate systemx and (b) an analytic specification of the intrinsic properties of the metric tensor, no matter what these properties may be, one can always choose the nonintrinsic properties of the metric tensor in such manner as to satisfy the law of conservation of energy-momentum in the coordinate systemx and thereby in every coordinate system. This result is proved only in the case where the contravariant components of the energy-momentum tensor density are given. Neither the covariant, nor the mixed energy-momentum tensor densities are considered. Other theorems similar to that described above are also derived. Many of the results obtained are nontrivial even when space-time is flat.