Relativistic applications of symbolic mathematical computation

ABSTRACT

The formulation of problems in relativistic mechanics requires a vast amount of tedious algebraic manipulation and symbolic differentiation. Such problems are well suited to symbolic mathematical computation, using one of the computer languages designed for this purpose. A method is described whereby a digital computer can be used to derive the field equations and the equations of the geodesics that describe the trajectories of bodies in space. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated by using it to derive the field equations and the equations of the trajectory of a body which is moving in a spherically symmetric static field. It should be understood, however, that the method is not restricted to the study of gravitational models of this type. Indeed, the full advantage of the method will only be realized in applications to more complex cosmological situations.

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