168 research outputs found
Non-singular radiation cosmological models
In this paper we analyse the possibility of constructing singularity-free
inhomogeneous cosmological models with a pure radiation field as matter
content. It is shown that the conditions for regularity are very easy to
implement and therefore there is a huge number of such spacetimes.Comment: 13 pages, LaTex, ws-mpla, to appear in Modern Physics Letters
A Lorentzian Gromov-Hausdoff notion of distance
This paper is the first of three in which I study the moduli space of
isometry classes of (compact) globally hyperbolic spacetimes (with boundary). I
introduce a notion of Gromov-Hausdorff distance which makes this moduli space
into a metric space. Further properties of this metric space are studied in the
next papers. The importance of the work can be situated in fields such as
cosmology, quantum gravity and - for the mathematicians - global Lorentzian
geometry.Comment: 20 pages, 0 figures, submitted to Classical and quantum gravity,
seriously improved presentatio
The limit space of a Cauchy sequence of globally hyperbolic spacetimes
In this second paper, I construct a limit space of a Cauchy sequence of
globally hyperbolic spacetimes. In the second section, I work gradually towards
a construction of the limit space. I prove the limit space is unique up to
isometry. I als show that, in general, the limit space has quite complicated
causal behaviour. This work prepares the final paper in which I shall study in
more detail properties of the limit space and the moduli space of (compact)
globally hyperbolic spacetimes (cobordisms). As a fait divers, I give in this
paper a suitable definition of dimension of a Lorentz space in agreement with
the one given by Gromov in the Riemannian case.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Classical and Quantum gravity,
seriously improved presentatio
Intrinsic definitions of "relative velocity" in general relativity
Given two observers, we define the "relative velocity" of one observer with
respect to the other in four different ways. All four definitions are given
intrinsically, i.e. independently of any coordinate system. Two of them are
given in the framework of spacelike simultaneity and, analogously, the other
two are given in the framework of observed (lightlike) simultaneity. Properties
and physical interpretations are discussed. Finally, we study relations between
them in special relativity, and we give some examples in Schwarzschild and
Robertson-Walker spacetimes.Comment: 29 pages, 12 figures. New proofs in special relativity and a new open
problem in general relativity (see Remark 5.2). An Appendix has been added,
studying the relative velocities in Schwarzschild, with new figures. Some
spelling erros fixe
Singularity-Free Cylindrical Cosmological Model
A cylindrically symmetric perfect fluid spacetime with no curvature
singularity is shown. The equation of state for the perfect fluid is that of a
stiff fluid. The metric is diagonal and non-separable in comoving coordinates
for the fluid. It is proven that the spacetime is geodesically complete and
globally hyperbolic.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 8 page
Morse index and causal continuity. A criterion for topology change in quantum gravity
Studies in 1+1 dimensions suggest that causally discontinuous topology
changing spacetimes are suppressed in quantum gravity. Borde and Sorkin have
conjectured that causal discontinuities are associated precisely with index 1
or n-1 Morse points in topology changing spacetimes built from Morse functions.
We establish a weaker form of this conjecture. Namely, if a Morse function f on
a compact cobordism has critical points of index 1 or n-1, then all the Morse
geometries associated with f are causally discontinuous, while if f has no
critical points of index 1 or n-1, then there exist associated Morse geometries
which are causally continuous.Comment: Latex, 20 pages, 3 figure
A Causal Order for Spacetimes with Lorentzian Metrics: Proof of Compactness of the Space of Causal Curves
We recast the tools of ``global causal analysis'' in accord with an approach
to the subject animated by two distinctive features: a thoroughgoing reliance
on order-theoretic concepts, and a utilization of the Vietoris topology for the
space of closed subsets of a compact set. We are led to work with a new causal
relation which we call , and in terms of it we formulate extended
definitions of concepts like causal curve and global hyperbolicity. In
particular we prove that, in a spacetime \M which is free of causal cycles,
one may define a causal curve simply as a compact connected subset of \M
which is linearly ordered by . Our definitions all make sense for
arbitrary metrics (and even for certain metrics which fail to be
invertible in places). Using this feature, we prove for a general metric,
the familiar theorem that the space of causal curves between any two compact
subsets of a globally hyperbolic spacetime is compact. We feel that our
approach, in addition to yielding a more general theorem, simplifies and
clarifies the reasoning involved. Our results have application in a recent
positive energy theorem, and may also prove useful in the study of topology
change. We have tried to make our treatment self-contained by including proofs
of all the facts we use which are not widely available in reference works on
topology and differential geometry.Comment: Two small revisions to accomodate errors brought to our attention by
R.S. Garcia. No change to chief results. 33 page
Hyperfast Interstellar Travel in General Relativity
The problem is discussed of whether a traveller can reach a remote object and
return back sooner than a photon would when taken into account that the
traveller can partly control the geometry of his world. It is argued that under
some reasonable assumptions in globally hyperbolic spacetimes the traveller
cannot hasten reaching the destination. Nevertheless, it is perhaps possible
for him to make an arbitrarily long round-trip within an arbitrarily short
(from the point of view of a terrestrial observer) time.Comment: The final version, close to (but better than) what will be published
in Phys. Rev. D. The explanatory part is made more detaile
On the Alexandrov Topology of sub-Lorentzian Manifolds
It is commonly known that in Riemannian and sub-Riemannian Geometry, the
metric tensor on a manifold defines a distance function. In Lorentzian
Geometry, instead of a distance function it provides causal relations and the
Lorentzian time-separation function. Both lead to the definition of the
Alexandrov topology, which is linked to the property of strong causality of a
space-time. We studied three possible ways to define the Alexandrov topology on
sub-Lorentzian manifolds, which usually give different topologies, but agree in
the Lorentzian case. We investigated their relationships to each other and the
manifold's original topology and their link to causality.Comment: 20 page
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