The interior of axisymmetric and stationary black holes: Numerical and analytical studies

We investigate the interior hyperbolic region of axisymmetric and stationary black holes surrounded by a matter distribution. First, we treat the corresponding initial value problem of the hyperbolic Einstein equations numerically in terms of a single-domain fully pseudo-spectral scheme. Thereafter, a rigorous mathematical approach is given, in which soliton methods are utilized to derive an explicit relation between the event horizon and an inner Cauchy horizon. This horizon arises as the boundary of the future domain of dependence of the event horizon. Our numerical studies provide strong evidence for the validity of the universal relation \Ap\Am = (8\pi J)^2 where \Ap and \Am are the areas of event and inner Cauchy horizon respectively, and $J$ denotes the angular momentum. With our analytical considerations we are able to prove this relation rigorously.Comment: Proceedings of the Spanish Relativity Meeting ERE 2010, 10 pages, 5 figure

Regularized degenerate multi-solitons

We report complex PT-symmetric multi-soliton solutions to the Korteweg de-Vries equation that asymptotically contain one-soliton solutions, with each of them possessing the same amount of finite real energy. We demonstrate how these solutions originate from degenerate energy solutions of the Schrödinger equation. Technically this is achieved by the application of Darboux-Crum transformations involving Jordan states with suitable regularizing shifts. Alternatively they may be constructed from a limiting process within the context Hirota’s direct method or on a nonlinear superposition obtained from multiple Bäcklund transformations. The proposed procedure is completely generic and also applicable to other types of nonlinear integrable systems

Twistor Theory of Higher-Dimensional Black Holes

The correspondence of stationary, axisymmetric, asymptotically flat space-times and bundles over a reduced twistor space has been established in four dimensions. The main impediment for an application of this correspondence to examples in higher dimensions is the lack of a higher-dimensional equivalent of the Ernst potential. This thesis will propose such a generalized Ernst potential, point out where the rod structure of the space-time can be found in the twistor picture and thereby provide a procedure for generating solutions to the Einstein field equations in higher dimensions from the rod structure, other asymptotic data, and the requirement of a regular axis. Examples in five dimensions are studied and necessary tools are developed, in particular rules for the transition between different adaptations of the patching matrix and rules for the elimination of conical singularities.Comment: DPhil Thesis (University of Oxford, submitted February 2012), 119 pages, 15 figure

On self-dual Yang-Mills fields on special complex surfaces

We derive a generalization of the flat space Yang's and Newman's equations for self-dual Yang-Mills fields to (locally) conformally Kahler Riemannian 4-manifolds. The results also apply to Einstein metrics (whose full curvature is not necessarily self-dual). We analyse the possibility of hidden symmetries in the form of Backlund transformations, and we find a continuous group of hidden symmetries only for the case in which the geometry is conformally half-flat. No isometries are assumed

Nonlinear classical and quantum integrable systems with PT -symmetries

A key feature of integrable systems is that they can be solved to obtain exact analytical solutions. In this thesis we show how new models can be found through generalisations of some well known nonlinear partial differential equations including the Korteweg-de Vries, modified Korteweg-de Vries, sine-Gordon, Hirota, Heisenberg and Landau-Lifschitz types with joint parity and time symmetries whilst preserving integrability properties. The first joint parity and time symmetric generalizations we take are extensions to the complex and multicomplex fields, such as bicomplex, quaternionic, coquaternionic and octonionic types. Subsequently, we develop new methods from well-known ones, such as Hirota’s direct method, Bäcklund transformations and Darboux-Crum transformations to solve for these newsystems to obtain exact analytical solutions of soliton and multi-soliton types. Moreover, in agreement with the reality property present in joint parity and time symmetric non-Hermitian quantum systems, we find joint parity and time symmetries also play a key role for reality of conserved charges for the new systems, even though the soliton solutions are complex or multicomplex. Our complex extensions have proved to be successful in helping one to obtain regularized degenerate multi-soliton solutions for the Korteweg-de Vries equation, which has not been realised before. We extend our investigations to explore degenerate multi-soliton solutions for the sine-Gordon equation and Hirota equation. In particular, we find the usual time-delays from degenerate soliton solution scattering are time-dependent, unlike the non-degenerate multi-soliton solutions, and provide a universal formula to compute the exact time-delay values for scattering of N-soliton solutions. Other joint parity and time symmetric extensions of integrable systems we take are of nonlocal nature, with nonlocalities in space and/or in time, of time crystal type. Whilst developing new methods for the construction of soliton solutions for these systems, we xiv find new types of solutions with different parameter dependence and qualitative behaviour even in the one-soliton solution cases. We exploit gauge equivalence between the Hirota system with continuous Heisenberg and Landau-Lifschitz systems to see how nonlocality is inherited from one system to another and vice versa. In the final part of the thesis, we extend some of our investigations to the quantum regime. In particularwe generalize the scheme of Darboux transformations for fully timedependent non-Hermitian quantum systems, which allows us to create an infinite tower of solvable models

A class of third order partial differential equations describing spherical or pseudospherical surfaces

Third order equations, which describe spherical surfaces (ss) or pseudospherical surfaces (pss), of the form $$\nu\,z_{t}-\lambda\,z_{xxt}=A(z,z_{x},z_{xx})\,z_{xxx}+B(z,z_{x},z_{xx})$$ with $\nu$, $\lambda$ $\in$ $\mathbb{R}$, $\nu^2+\lambda^2\neq 0$, are considered. These equations are equivalent to the structure equations of a metric with Gaussian curvature $K=1$ or $K=-1$, respectively. Alternatively they can be seen as the compatibility condition of an associated $\mathfrak{su}(2)$-valued or $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb{R})$-valued linear problem, also referred to as a zero curvature representation. Under certain assumptions we obtain an explicit classification for equations of the considered form that describe ss or pss, in terms of some arbitrary differentiable functions. Several examples of such equations, which describe also a number of already known equations, are provided by suitably choosing the arbitrary functions