"Learner" wrote in message
oups.com...
Dear All,
I would like to ask you to help me understand the use of "Isotropic
Coordintes" in regard to the Schwarzschild metric.
(1) What exactly is the purpose, or reason why one uses these
coordinates?
(2) Is it possible to derive the deflection of light expression in
these coordinates?

I have read the discussion of these coordinates in "Introduction to
General Relativity" by Adler, Bazin, and Schiffer, which was not
illuminating enough for me. The MTW treatment is not worth mentioning.
Is there a reference where these coordinates are discussed in detail?
Thank you for your help.

Regards,

Learner


Learner,

Foster and Nightingale in their text : 'A Short Course in General
Relativity: Second Edition' briefly discuss isotropic coordinates in Section
4.9. They then briefly use it in problem 5.3 on calculating gravitation
radiation in the far zone.

I think that one of the advantages of isotropic coordinates is that you can
fairly easily switch between spherical coordinates rho, theta, phi and
Cartesian coordinates x,y,z for the spatial part of the metric.

David Park

http://home.earthlink.net/~djmp/