Cylindrical Solutions in Modified f(T) Gravity

We investigate static cylindrically symmetric vacuum solutions in Weyl coordinates in the framework of f(T) theories of gravity, where T is the torsion scalar. The set of modified Einstein equations is presented and the fourth coming equations are established. Specific physical expressions are assumed for the algebraic function f(T) and solutions are obtained. Moreover, general solution is obtained with finite values of u(r) on the axis r = 0, and this leads to a constant torsion scalar. Also, cosmological constant is introduced and its relation to Linet-Tian solution in GR is commented.Comment: 13 pages; Accepted for publication in International Journal of Modern Physics D (IJMPD

Cylindrically and toroidally symmetric solutions with a cosmological constant

Cylindrical-like coordinates for constant-curvature 3-spaces are introduced and discussed. This helps to clarify the geometrical properties, the coordinate ranges and the meaning of free parameters in the static vacuum solution of Linet and Tian. In particular, when the cosmological constant is positive, the spacetimes have toroidal symmetry. One of the two curvature singularities can be removed by matching the Linet-Tian vacuum solution across a toroidal surface to a corresponding region of the dust-filled Einstein static universe. Some other properties and limiting cases of these space-times are also described, together with their generalisation to higher dimensions.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of The Spanish Relativity Meeting (ERE2010), Journal of Physics: Conference Serie

Cylindrically Symmetric Vacuum Solutions in Higher Dimensional Brans-Dicke Theory

Higher dimensional, static, cylindrically symmetric vacuum solutions with and without a cosmological constant in the Brans-Dicke theory are presented. We show that, for a negative cosmological constant and for specific values of the parameters, a particular subclass of these solutions include higher dimensional topological black hole-type solutions with a flat horizon topology. We briefly extend our discussion to stationary vacuum and $\Lambda-$vacuum solutions.Comment: V3: Published Versio

The Levi-Civita spacetime

We consider two exact solutions of Einstein's field equations corresponding to a cylinder of dust with net zero angular momentum. In one of the cases, the dust distribution is homogeneous, whereas in the other, the angular velocity of dust particles is constant [1]. For both solutions we studied the junction conditions to the exterior static vacuum Levi-Civita spacetime. From this study we find an upper limit for the energy density per unit length $\sigma$ of the source equal ${1\over 2}$ for the first case and ${1\over 4}$ for the second one. Thus the homogeneous cluster provides another example [2] where the range of $\sigma$ is extended beyond the limit value ${1\over 4}$ previously found in the literature [3,4]. Using the Cartan Scalars technics we show that the Levi-Civita spacetime gets an extra symmetry for $\sigma={1\over 2}$ or ${1\over 4}$. We also find that the cluster of homogeneous dust has a superior limit for its radius, depending on the constant volumetric energy density $\rho_0$

Measurements of phase changes in crystals using ptychographic x-ray imaging

In a typical X-ray diffraction experiment we are only able to directly retrieve part of the information which characterizes the propagating wave transmitted through the sample: while its intensity can be recorded with the use of appropriate detectors, the phase is lost. Because the phase term which is accumulated when an X-ray beam is transmitted through a slab of material is due to refraction [1, 2], and hence it contains relevant information about the structure of the sample, finding a solution to the “phase problem” has been a central theme over the years. Many authors successfully developed a number of techniques which were able to solve the problem in the past [3, 4, 5, 6], but the interest around this subject also continues nowadays [7, 8]. With this Thesis work, we aim to give a valid contribution to the phase problem solution by illustrating the first application of the ptychographic imaging technique [9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] to measure the effect of Bragg diffraction on the transmitted phase, collected in the forward direction. In particular, we will discuss the experimental methodology which allowed to detect the small phase variations in the transmitted wave when changing the X-ray’s incidence angle around the Bragg condition. Furthermore, we will provide an overview of the theoretical frameworks which can allow to interpret the experimental results obtained. More specifically, we will also discuss a new quasi-kinematic approximation which was recently developed by Gorobtsov and Vartanyants [2] in order to highlight the potential for future applications of the methodology described in this work. In particular, this new theory, used in conjunction with the experimental technique here presented, will permit to investigate further the effects related to the phase of the transmitted beam, thus allowing to study the structure of strained crystals as well as to fully determine the phase of the structure factor

Multiple Photonic Shells Around a Line Singularity

Line singularities including cosmic strings may be screened by photonic shells until they appear as a planar wall.Comment: 6 page

Reparametrization-Invariant Path Integral in GR and "Big Bang" of Quantum Universe

The reparametrization-invariant generating functional for the unitary and causal perturbation theory in general relativity in a finite space-time is obtained. The region of validity of the Faddeev-Popov-DeWitt functional is studied. It is shown that the invariant content of general relativity as a constrained system can be covered by two "equivalent" unconstrained systems: the "dynamic" (with "dynamic" evolution parameter as the metric scale factor) and "geometric" (given by the Levi-Civita type canonical transformation to the action-angle variables where the energy constraint converts into a new momentum). "Big Bang", the Hubble evolution, and creation of matter fields by the "geometric" vacuum are described by the inverted Levi-Civita (LC) transformation of the geomeric system into the dynamic one. The particular case of the LC transformations are the Bogoliubov ones of the particle variables (diagonalizing the dynamic Hamiltonian) to the quasiparticles (diagonalizing the equations of motion). The choice of initial conditions for the "Big Bang" in the form of the Bogoliubov (squeezed) vacuum reproduces all stages of the evolution of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Universe in their conformal (Hoyle-Narlikar) versions.Comment: 21 pages, latex, 4 figures in postscrip

On the Geometry of Surface Stress

We present a fully general derivation of the Laplace--Young formula and discuss the interplay between the intrinsic surface geometry and the extrinsic one ensuing from the immersion of the surface in the ordinary euclidean three-dimensional space. We prove that the (reversible) work done in a general surface deformation can be expressed in terms of the surface stress tensor and the variation of the intrinsic surface metric