Einstein's constant or
Einstein's gravitational constant, denoted κ (
kappa), is the coupling
constant appearing in the
Einstein field equation which can be written:
<center><math>G^ = kappa , T^~</math></center>
where
G<sup>αγ</sup> is the
Einstein tensor and
T<sup>αγ</sup> is the
stress-energy tensor.
This equation relates to the
curvature of
space and
time, telling that
stress-energy is what causes the disturbance of
spacetime, thus
gravitation.
Einstein used
Newton's law of universal gravitation in his field equations, and the constant of κ is found to have a value of:
<center><math>kappa , = , - ~</math></center>
N.B.: Writing Einstein's constant depends on how the stress-energy tensor is defined, so the Einstein field equations are always invariant (see details in the section
"About the two possible writings" further).
Calculation
In the following, the value of Einstein's constant will be calculated. To do so, at the beginning a field equation where the
cosmological constant Λ is equal to zero is taken, with a
steady state hypothesis. Then we use the Newtonian approximation with hypothesis of a weak field and low velocities with respect to the speed of light.
The Newton law will arise...
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