310 research outputs found
Can a circulating light beam produce a time machine?
In a recent paper, Mallett found a solution of the Einstein equations in
which closed timelike curves (CTC's) are present in the empty space outside an
infinitely long cylinder of light moving in circular paths around an axis. Here
we show that, for physically realistic energy densities, the CTC's occur at
distances from the axis greater than the radius of the visible universe by an
immense factor. We then show that Mallett's solution has a curvature
singularity on the axis, even in the case where the intensity of the light
vanishes. Thus it is not the solution one would get by starting with Minkowski
space and establishing a cylinder of light.Comment: 5 pages, RevTe
Non-marginally bound inhomogeneous dust collapse in higher dimensional space-time
We investigate the occurrence and nature of a naked singularity in the
gravitational collapse of an inhomogeneous dust cloud described by a
self-similar higher dimensional Tolman-Bondi space-time. Bound, marginally
bound and unbound space-times are analyzed. The degree of inhomogeneity of the
collapsing matter necessary to form a naked singularity is given.Comment: 5 pages, RevTeX 4, no figures, 2 tables, Accepted in IJMP
The study of gravitational collapse model in higher dimensional space-time
We investigate the end state of the gravitational collapse of an
inhomogeneous dust cloud in higher dimensional space-time. The naked
singularities are shown to be developing as the final outcome of non-marginally
bound collapse. The naked singularities are found to be gravitationally strong
in the sense of Tipler .Comment: 6 Latex pages, No figure, Revtex styl
Superluminal travel requires negative energies
I investigate the relationship between faster-than-light travel and
weak-energy-condition violation, i.e., negative energy densities. In a general
spacetime it is difficult to define faster-than-light travel, and I give an
example of a metric which appears to allow superluminal travel, but in fact is
just flat space. To avoid such difficulties, I propose a definition of
superluminal travel which requires that the path to be traveled reach a
destination surface at an earlier time than any neighboring path. With this
definition (and assuming the generic condition) I prove that superluminal
travel requires weak-energy-condition violation.Comment: 5 pages, RevTeX, 2 figures with epsf. This paper now contains all the
material of gr-qc/6805003 and gr-qc/9806091 since these became a single
article in Phys. Rev. Let
Chronology Protection and Non-Naked Singularity
We test the chronology protection conjecture in classical general relativity
by investigating finitely vicious space-times. First we present singularity
theorems in finitely vicious space-times by imposing some restrictions on the
chronology violating sets. In the theorems we can refer to the location of an
occurring singularity and do not assume any asymptotic conditions such as the
existence of null infinities. Further introducing the concept of a non-naked
singularity, we show that a restricted class of chronology violations cannot
arise if all occurring singularities are the non-naked singularities. Our
results suggest that the causal feature of the occurring singularities is the
key to prevent the appearance of causality violation.Comment: 17 pages including 3 eps figures. Accepted for publication in
Classical and Quantum Gravit
The Ori-Soen time machine
Ori and Soen have proposed a spacetime which has closed causal curves on the
boundary of a region of normal causality, all within a region where the weak
energy condition (positive energy density) is satisfied. I analyze the causal
structure of this spacetime in some simplified models, show that the Cauchy
horizon is compactly generated, and argue that any attempt to build such a
spacetime with normal matter might lead to singular behavior where the
causality violation would otherwise take place.Comment: 5 pages, RevTeX, 7 figures with epsf, miscellaneous clarifications in
v2, minor updates to correspond to version to appear in PR
Gravitational Collapse of Perfect Fluid in Self-Similar Higher Dimensional Space-Times
We investigate the occurrence and nature of naked singularities in the
gravitational collapse of an adiabatic perfect fluid in self-similar higher
dimensional space-times. It is shown that strong curvature naked singularities
could occur if the weak energy condition holds. Its implication for cosmic
censorship conjecture is discussed. Known results of analogous studies in four
dimensions can be recovered.Comment: 11 Pages, Latex, no figures, Accepted in Int. J. Mod. Phys.
Charged black holes in Vaidya backgrounds: Hawking's Radiation
In this paper we propose a class of embedded solutions of Einstein's field
equations describing non-rotating Reissner-Nordstrom-Vaidya and rotating
Kerr-Newman-Vaidya black holes.Comment: 30 pages, latex file, no figure
Naked Singularities in the Charged Vaidya-deSitter Spacetime
We study the occurrence of naked singularities in the spherically symmetric
collapse of a charged null fluid in an expanding deSitter background - a piece
of charged Vaidya-deSitter spacetime. The necessary conditions for the
formation of a naked singularity are found. The results for the uncharged
solutions can be recovered from our analysis.Comment: 8 pages, latex, no figure
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