Geodesic Equations for the Wormhole Metric

Dr. R. Herman

Physics & Physical Oceanography, UNCW

February 14, 2018

The Wormhole Metric
Morris and Thorne wormhole metric: [M. S. Morris, K. S. Thorne,
Wormholes in spacetime and their use for interstellar travel: A tool
for teaching general relativity, Am. J. Phys. 56, 395-412, 1988.]

ds 2 = −c 2 dt 2 + dr 2 + (b 2 + r 2 )(dθ2 + sin2 θ dφ2 )

Embedding ds 2 = −dt 2 + dr 2 + (b 2 + r 2 )(dθ2 + sin2 θ dφ2 )
Consider 2D slices (t =const, θ = π/2). Then, (c = 1) becomes

dΣ2 = dr 2 + (b 2 + r 2 ) dφ2 .

Compare to cylindrical coordinate line element (ρ(r ), ψ, z(r ))

"   2 #
2
dz dρ
dS 2 = dρ2 + ρ2 dψ 2 + dz 2 = + dr 2 + ρ2 (r ) dφ2 .
dr dr

Then, ρ2 = r 2 + b 2 and z
2 ψ
b2

dz
= 2 . z
dr b + r2 ρ = b cosh
b
Integrating, z = bsinh−1 br , or ρ
b
z
ρ = b cosh .
b
Lagrangian
Begin with metric ds 2 = gαβ dx α dx β . Then, (c = 1)
Z 1r
dx α dx β
τAB = −gαβ dλ.
0 dλ dλ

Euler-Lagrange Equations ⇒ Geodesic Equations

 
d ∂L ∂L
− γ = 0.
dλ ∂ ẋ γ ∂x

dx γ
where γ = 0, 1, 2, 3, ẋ γ = , and
dλ
r
dx α dx β dτ
L(x γ , ẋ γ ) = −gαβ = .
dλ dλ dλ
Geodesic Equations
The Key Equations

d 2x α β
α dx dx
γ
+ Γ βγ = 0,
dτ 2 dτ dτ
or in terms of the four-velocity:
du α
+ Γαβγ u β u γ = 0.
dτ

Here the Christoffel Symbols are given by

 
δ 1 ∂gαβ ∂gαγ ∂gβγ
gαδ Γβγ = + −
2 ∂x γ ∂x β ∂x α

where Γδβγ = Γδγβ .

Wormhole Geodesics via Lagrangian
Begin with the proper time,

dτ 2 = −ds 2 = dt 2 − dr 2 − (b 2 + r 2 )(dθ2 + sin2 θ dφ2 ),

Write the Lagrangian,

v
u 2  2
u dt  2  2 !
dr dθ dφ
L=t − − (b 2 + r 2 ) + sin2 θ ,
dλ dλ dλ dλ

Apply the Euler-Lagrange equation for each variable: t, r , θ, φ.

dt
Example - time variable t, ṫ ≡ dλ
:
 
d ∂L ∂L
− = 0.
dλ ∂ ṫ ∂t
Time Equation
Lagrangian:
h i1/2
L = ṫ 2 − ṙ 2 − (b 2 + r 2 )(θ̇2 + sin2 θφ̇2 )

d d
Geodesic Equation for t: [Recall that L dτ = dλ ]
 
d ∂L ∂L
=
dλ ∂ ṫ ∂t
 
d 2
dt
= 0
dλ 2
L dλ
 
d dt
L = 0
dτ dτ

d 2t
= 0.
dτ 2
Radial Equation
Lagrangian:
h i1/2
L = ṫ 2 − ṙ 2 − (b 2 + r 2 )(θ̇2 + sin2 θφ̇2 )

Geodesic Equation for r :

 
d ∂L ∂L
=
dλ ∂ ṙ ∂r
"   2 #
dθ 2
 
d 1 dr 1 dφ
L − = − (2r ) + sin2 θ
dτ L dλ 2L dλ dλ

" 2 2 #
d 2r

dθ dφ
=r + sin2 θ .
dτ 2 dτ dτ
The θ-Equation
Lagrangian:
h i1/2
L = ṫ 2 − ṙ 2 − (b 2 + r 2 )(θ̇2 + sin2 θφ̇2 )

Geodesic Equation for θ:

 
d ∂L ∂L
=
dλ ∂ θ̇ ∂θ
 2 "  2 #
b + r 2 dθ

d 1 2 dφ
L − = − (b + r 2 ) 2 sin θ cos θ
dτ L dλ 2L dλ

   2
d 2 2 dθ 2 2 dφ
(b + r ) = (b + r ) sin θ cos θ .
dτ dτ dτ
The φ-Equation
Lagrangian:
h i1/2
L = ṫ 2 − ṙ 2 − (b 2 + r 2 )(θ̇2 + sin2 θφ̇2 )

Geodesic Equation for φ:

 
∂Ld ∂L
=
dλ
∂ φ̇ ∂φ
 2 2

d b +r dφ
L − sin2 θ = 0
dτ L dλ
 
d 2 2 dφ
2
(b + r ) sin θ = 0.
dτ dτ
Set of Geodesic Equations

d 2t
= 0
dτ 2 " 2 2 #
d 2r

dθ dφ
= r + sin2 θ
dτ 2 dτ dτ
   2
d 2 2 dθ 2 2 dφ
(b + r ) = (b + r ) sin θ cos θ
dτ dτ dτ
 
d 2 2 2 dφ
(b + r ) sin θ = 0.
dτ dτ

I Solve for geodesics (t(τ ), r (τ ), θ(τ ), φ(τ )).

d 2x α β dx γ
I Read off Christoffel Symbols, dτ 2
= −Γαβγ dx
dτ dτ
Christoffel Symbols
Start with general Geodesic Equation:

d 2x α β
α dx dx
γ
= −Γβγ
dτ 2 dτ dτ

d 2t
= 0
dτ 2 " 2 2 #
d 2r

dθ 2 dφ
= r + sin θ
dτ 2 dτ dτ

Read off the coefficients:

I Γtβγ = 0.
I Γrθθ = −r , Γrφφ = −r sin2 θ.
Christoffel Symbols (cont’d)

d 2x α β
α dx dx
γ
= −Γβγ
dτ 2 dτ dτ

   2
d 2 2 dθ 2 2 dφ
(b + r ) = (b + r ) sin θ cos θ
dτ dτ dλ
2
 2
d θ dr dθ dφ
(b 2 + r 2 ) 2 + 2r = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin θ cos θ
dτ dτ dτ dλ
2
d 2θ

2r dr dθ dφ
= − 2 + sin θ cos θ .
dτ 2 b + r 2 dτ dτ dλ

r
I Γθθr = b 2 +r 2
= Γθr θ , Γθφφ = − sin θ cos θ.
I Note: Γθθr and Γθr θ contribute equally, thus there is no 2.
Christoffel Symbols (cont’d)

d 2x α β
α dx dx
γ
= −Γβγ
dτ 2 dτ dτ

 
d 2 2 2 dφ
(b + r ) sin θ = 0.
dτ dτ
d 2φ dr dφ
(b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θ = −2r sin2 θ
dτ dτ dτ
dθ dφ
−2(b 2 + r 2 ) sin θ cos θ
.
dτ dτ
d 2φ 2r dr dφ dθ dφ
= − 2 − 2 cot θ .
dτ b + r 2 dτ dτ dτ dτ

I Γφφr = r
b 2 +r 2
= Γφr φ , Γφφθ = cot θ.
Christoffel Symbols from Metric
The Christoffel symbols are defined by
 
1 ∂gαβ ∂gαγ ∂gβγ
gαδ Γδβγ = + − .
2 ∂x γ ∂x β ∂x α

For the wormhole metric,

ds 2 = −dt 2 + dr 2 + (b 2 + r 2 )(dθ2 + sin2 θ dφ2 ).

 
−1 0 0 0
 0 1 0 0 
gµν =  0 0 b2 + r 2
,
0 
2 2 2
0 0 0 (b + r ) sin θ
or, gtt = −1, grr = 1, gθθ = b 2 + r 2 , gφφ = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θ.
Christoffel Symbols Γtβγ
The nonzero metric elements are
gtt = −1, grr = 1, gθθ = b 2 + r 2 , gφφ = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θ.
Let α = t and x α = t, then
 
1 ∂gtβ ∂gtγ ∂gβγ
gtδ Γδβγ = + − .
2 ∂x γ ∂x β ∂t

Since the gtµ is nonzero and constant for µ = t,

 
t 1 ∂gtβ ∂gtγ ∂gβγ
gtt Γβγ = + −
2 ∂x γ ∂x β ∂t
 
t 1 ∂gtt ∂gtt ∂gtt
gtt Γtt = + − = 0. (1)
2 ∂t ∂t ∂t

So, Γtαβ = 0 for all α and β.

Christoffel Symbols Γrαβ
The metric elements are
gtt = −1, grr = 1, gθθ = b 2 + r 2 , gφφ = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θ.
Let α = r and x α = r , then
 
1 ∂gr β ∂gr γ ∂gβγ
gr δ Γδβγ = + − .
2 ∂x γ ∂x β ∂r

Thus, δ = r and either β = γ = θ or β = γ = φ. So, we have

 
1 ∂gr θ ∂gr θ ∂gθθ
grr Γrθθ = + − .
2 ∂θ ∂θ ∂r
 
r 1 ∂gr φ ∂gr φ ∂gφφ
grr Γφφ = + − .
2 ∂φ ∂φ ∂r
Therefore, since grr = 1,

Γrθθ = −r , Γrφφ = −r sin2 θ.

Christoffel Symbols Γθαβ
The metric elements are
gtt = −1, grr = 1, gθθ = b 2 + r 2 , gφφ = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θ.
Let α = θ and x α = θ, then
 
1 ∂gθβ ∂gθγ ∂gβγ
gθδ Γδβγ = + − .
2 ∂x γ ∂x β ∂θ

Thus, δ = θ. We take β = θ or β = φ due to symmetry. So, we

have  
1 ∂gθθ ∂gθγ ∂gθγ
gθθ Γθθγ = + − .
2 ∂x γ ∂θ ∂θ
 
θ 1 ∂gθφ ∂gθγ ∂gφγ
gθθ Γφγ = + − .
2 ∂x γ ∂φ ∂θ
Nonzero terms occur for γ = r in first and γ = φ in second
equation.
Christoffel Symbols Γθαβ (cont’d)
Since gθθ = b 2 + r 2 and gφφ = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θ, we have
 
θ 1 ∂gθθ ∂gθr ∂gθr
gθθ Γθr = + − .
2 ∂r ∂θ ∂θ
1 ∂gθθ
(b 2 + r 2 )Γθθr = =r
2 ∂r
r
Γθθr = = Γθr θ .
b + r2
2

and
 
1 ∂gθφ ∂gθφ ∂gφφ
gθθ Γθφφ = + − .
2 ∂φ ∂φ ∂θ
1 ∂gφφ
(b 2 + r 2 )Γθφφ = − = −(b 2 + r 2 ) sin θ cos θ
2 ∂θ
Γθφφ = − sin θ cos θ.
Christoffel Symbols Γφαβ
The metric elements are
gtt = −1, grr = 1, gθθ = b 2 + r 2 , gφφ = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θ.
Let α = φ and x α = φ, then
 
1 ∂gφβ ∂gφγ ∂gβγ
gφδ Γδβγ = + − .
2 ∂x γ ∂x β ∂φ

Thus, δ = φ and we take β = φ due to symmetry. So, we have

 
1 ∂gφφ ∂gφγ ∂gφγ
gφφ Γφφγ = + −
2 ∂x γ ∂φ ∂φ
1 ∂gφφ
= .
2 ∂x γ
Since gφφ = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θ, then γ = r or γ = θ.
Christoffel Symbols Γφαβ (cont’d)
Since gφφ = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θ, we have

1 ∂gφφ
gφφ Γφφr = .
2 ∂r
(b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θΓφφr = r sin2 θ
1 ∂gφφ
gφφ Γφφθ = .
2 ∂θ
(b 2 + r 2 ) sin2 θΓφφθ = (b 2 + r 2 ) sin θ cos θ

Therefore, we have
r
Γφφr = = Γφr φ , Γφφθ = cot θ = Γφθφ .
b2 + r 2
Wormhole Metric and Geodesic Equations

ds 2 = −dt 2 + dr 2 + (b 2 + r 2 )(dθ2 + sin2 θ dφ2 ).

d 2t
= 0
dτ 2 " 2 2 #
d 2r

dθ 2 dφ
= r + sin θ
dτ 2 dτ dτ
   2
d 2 2 dθ 2 2 dφ
(b + r ) = (b + r ) sin θ cos θ
dτ dτ dτ
 
d 2 2 2 dφ
(b + r ) sin θ = 0.
dτ dτ
r
Christoffel Symbols Γrθθ = −r , Γrφφ = −r sin2 θ, Γθθr = b 2 +r 2
= Γθr θ ,
Γθφφ = − sin θ cos θ, Γφφr = r
b 2 +r 2
= Γφr φ , Γφφθ = cot θ = Γφθφ .
Maple Routine