Newtonian gauge

For context, see also scalar-vector-tensor decomposition and cosmological perturbation theory.

In general relativity, Newtonian gauge is a perturbed form of the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker line element. The gauge freedom of general relativity is used to eliminate two scalar degrees of freedom of the metric, so that it can be written as

ds² = − (1 + 2Ψ)dt² + a²(t)(1 − 2Φ)δ_abdx^adx^b,

where the Latin indices a and b are summed over the spatial directions and δ_ab is the Kronecker delta. Conformal Newtonian gauge is the closely related gauge in which

ds² = a²(t)[ − (1 + 2Ψ)dτ² + (1 − 2Φ)δ_abdx^adx^b]

which is related by the simple transformation dt = a(t)dτ. These metrics are perturbed forms of the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker metric. They are called Newtonian gauge because Ψ is the Newtonian gravitational potential of classical Newtonian gravity, which satisfies the Poisson equation $\nabla^2\Psi=4\pi G\rho$ for non-relativistic matter and on scales where the expansion of the universe may be neglected. It includes only scalar perturbations of the metric: by the scalar-vector-tensor decomposition these evolve independently of the vector and tensor perturbations and are the predominant ones affecting the growth of structure in the universe in cosmological perturbation theory. The vector perturbations vanish in cosmic inflation and the tensor perturbations are gravitational waves, which have a negligible effect on physics except for the so-called B-modes of the cosmic microwave background polarization. The tensor perturbation is truly gauge independent, since it is the same in all gauges.

In a universe without anisotropic stress (that is, where the stress-energy tensor is invariant under spatial rotations, or the three principal pressures are identical) the Einstein equation sets Φ = Ψ.

References

• C.-P. Ma and E. Bertshinger (1995). "Cosmological perturbation theory in the synchronous and conformal Newtonian gauges". The Astrophysical Journal 455: 7–25. arXiv:astro-ph/9401007. Bibcode 1995ApJ...455....7M. doi:10.1086/176550. 
• V. F. Mukhanov, H. A. Feldman and R. H. Brandenberger (1992). "Stochastic solution to highly nonlocal actions: the polaron problem". Physics Reports 215 (5–6): 203–333. Bibcode 1992PhR...215..203M. doi:10.1016/0370-1573(92)90044-Z.