Physics Asked on July 13, 2021
So I recently pondered the following. Let’s say I have an $2$ actions $S_1$ and $S_2$ which differ by a constant:
$$ S_1(dot x_i, x_i) = S_2(dot x_i, x_i) + tilde c$$
Now their equations of motion will be identical in classical mechanics (without General Relativity) upon varying the coordinates $x_i to x_i + delta x_i$. Intuitively, I know this constant term will make a difference in general relativity. Is this hunch correct? What does the constant term $tilde c$ look like in the form of Einstein Field Equations?
$$ G^{mu nu}+ Lambda g^{mu nu}= frac{8 pi G}{c^4} T^{mu nu} $$
Or is there a better way to get the equations of motion in general relativity? Directly from the classical (without General Relativity) action?
An additive constant $tilde{c}$ in the action functional cannot affect the Euler-Lagrange (EL) equations, i.e. in OP's case the EFE.
Such constant $tilde{c}$ renders the action functional non-local unless we can write it as an integral over spacetime.
The cosmological constant term $int!d^4x~sqrt{-g}Lambda$ in the EH action is in contrast a local term that depends on the metric $g$, and affects the EFE.
Correct answer by Qmechanic on July 13, 2021
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