The quality factor of approximate solutions of Einstein's equations
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: The quality factor of approximate solutions of Einstein's equations
zbMATH Open document ID: 0633.53093
DOI: 10.1007/BF00759148
author: Lluis Bel
published in: General Relativity and Gravitation
publication date: 1987-01-01T00:00:00Z
review text: The paper gives a criterion to measure how good an approximate solution of Einstein's field equations is, through the definition of a scalar, a quality factor Q, without knowing the exact solution which is being approximated. The quality factor is defined at a given point and associated to a time-like congruence as it can be identified with the state of motion of the physical frame. Q measures in some sense the quality of an approximate solution for different time-like congruences. An application of the quality factor concept for three different approximate solutions is done, however, the results obtained show that Q cannot be always a reliable test to decide when and where an approximation is acceptable and then whether Q is an interesting quantity to be considered. In any case Q brings some insight into the quality of an approximate solution of Einstein's vacuum equations and towards the definition of a quality factor.
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 53B50
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83C05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 35Q99
zbMATH DE Number: 4030466
zbMATH Keywords: approximate solution
zbMATH Keywords: Einstein's field equations
zbMATH Keywords: time-like congruence
reviewed by: Waldir L. Roque
MaRDI profile type: Publication
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4030466