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Denoting with $d\xi^m$ and $dx^\mu$ respectively flat and non-inertial coordinates, we have the following relation between the volume elements in the two coordinate systems: $$ d^4 \xi = \sqrt{|\det g_{\mu\nu}|} \,\, d^4 x \equiv \sqrt{|g|}\,\, d^4 x. $$

How is this relation proven?

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    $\begingroup$ Proven almost by definition, since volume elements transform under coordinate transformations by the Jacobian determinant. $\endgroup$
    – ACuriousMind
    Commented Jan 3, 2015 at 14:14
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    $\begingroup$ @ACuriousMind You are absolutely right. I changed the question trying to make it less trivial. $\endgroup$
    – glS
    Commented Jan 3, 2015 at 14:34

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You learned in calculus that for a variable change $x\longrightarrow \bar x$ we have $$d^nx=J\,d^n\bar{x}$$ where $$J=\left|\frac{\partial x}{\partial \bar{x}}\right|$$ Look at the transformation law for the metric under the same coordinate transformation: $$\bar{g}(\bar{x})=\left(\frac{\partial x}{\partial \bar{x}}\right)^Tg(x)\left(\frac{\partial x}{\partial \bar{x}}\right)$$ Taking the determinant, we get $$\bar{g}=gJ^2$$ Then $$\sqrt{g}d^nx=J\sqrt{g}d^n\bar x=J\sqrt{\frac{\bar{g}}{J^2}}d^n\bar x=\sqrt{\bar{g}}d^n\bar x$$ For a flat system we have $g=-1$. Insert a negative to make the root(s) well-defined. Thus $$d^n\xi=\sqrt{-g}d^nx$$

EDIT: Let the components of the metric be $g_{ij}$.The usual transformation rule for a (0,2) tensor is $$\bar{g}_{ij}(\bar x)=g_{mn}(x)\frac{\partial x^m}{\partial\bar x^i}\frac{\partial x^n}{\partial\bar x^j}$$ Denote the matrix with components $\partial x^m/\partial\bar x^i$ by $K$.Then $\bar{g}=K^T gK$. We have to use a transpose because $\partial x^m/\partial\bar x^i=K_{mi}$. Thus $$(K^TgK)_{ij}=(K^T)_{im}g_{mn}K_{nj}=g_{mn}K_{mi}N_{ni}=g_{mn}\frac{\partial x^m}{\partial\bar x^i}\frac{\partial x^n}{\partial\bar x^j}=\bar{g}_{ij}$$ I didn't pay much attention to index placement.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for the answer. Could you also write the explicit form of the expressions? For example, how can we write in component notation your third (V1) equation? $\endgroup$
    – glS
    Commented Jan 4, 2015 at 11:24
  • $\begingroup$ Yeah, it's just the transformation rule for a covariant tensor. $\endgroup$
    – Ryan Unger
    Commented Jan 4, 2015 at 22:06

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