Wave Packet Pseudomodes of Variable Coefficient Differential Operators

The pseudospectra of nonselfadjoint linear ordinary differential operators with variable coefficients are considered. It is shown that when a certain winding number or twist condition is satisfied, closely related to Hörmander's commutator condition for partial differential equations, \varepsilon-pseudoeigenfunctions of such operators for exponentially small values of \varepsilon exist in the form of localized wave packets. In contrast to related results of Davies and of Dencker, Sjöstrand, and Zworski, the symbol need not be smooth

Spherically Symmetric Solutions in Higher-Derivative Gravity

Extensions of Einstein gravity with quadratic curvature terms in the action arise in most effective theories of quantised gravity, including string theory. This article explores the set of static, spherically symmetric and asymptotically flat solutions of this class of theories. An important element in the analysis is the careful treatment of a Lichnerowicz-type `no-hair' theorem. From a Frobenius analysis of the asymptotic small-radius behaviour, the solution space is found to split into three asymptotic families, one of which contains the classic Schwarzschild solution. These three families are carefully analysed to determine the corresponding numbers of free parameters in each. One solution family is capable of arising from coupling to a distributional shell of matter near the origin; this family can then match on to an asymptotically flat solution at spatial infinity without encountering a horizon. Another family, with horizons, contains the Schwarzschild solution but includes also non-Schwarzschild black holes. The third family of solutions obtained from the Frobenius analysis is nonsingular and corresponds to `vacuum' solutions. In addition to the three families identified from near-origin behaviour, there are solutions that may be identified as `wormholes', which can match symmetrically on to another sheet of spacetime at finite radius.Comment: 57 pages, 6 figures; version appearing in journal; minor corrections and clarifications to v

Nonzero solutions of perturbed Hammerstein integral equations with deviated arguments and applications

We provide a theory to establish the existence of nonzero solutions of perturbed Hammerstein integral equations with deviated arguments, being our main ingredient the theory of fixed point index. Our approach is fairly general and covers a variety of cases. We apply our results to a periodic boundary value problem with reflections and to a thermostat problem. In the case of reflections we also discuss the optimality of some constants that occur in our theory. Some examples are presented to illustrate the theory.Comment: 3 figures, 23 page

Gravitomagnetic Jets

We present a family of dynamic rotating cylindrically symmetric Ricci-flat gravitational fields whose geodesic motions have the structure of gravitomagnetic jets. These correspond to helical motions of free test particles up and down parallel to the axis of cylindrical symmetry and are reminiscent of the motion of test charges in a magnetic field. The speed of a test particle in a gravitomagnetic jet asymptotically approaches the speed of light. Moreover, numerical evidence suggests that jets are attractors. The possible implications of our results for the role of gravitomagnetism in the formation of astrophysical jets are briefly discussed.Comment: 47 pages, 8 figures; v2: minor improvements; v3: paragraph added at the end of Sec. V and other minor improvements; v4: reference added, typos corrected, sentence added on p. 24; v5: a few minor improvement