6,195 research outputs found
Light-cone coordinates based at a geodesic world line
Continuing work initiated in an earlier publication [Phys. Rev. D 69, 084007
(2004)], we construct a system of light-cone coordinates based at a geodesic
world line of an arbitrary curved spacetime. The construction involves (i) an
advanced-time or a retarded-time coordinate that labels past or future light
cones centered on the world line, (ii) a radial coordinate that is an affine
parameter on the null generators of these light cones, and (iii) angular
coordinates that are constant on each generator. The spacetime metric is
calculated in the light-cone coordinates, and it is expressed as an expansion
in powers of the radial coordinate in terms of the irreducible components of
the Riemann tensor evaluated on the world line. The formalism is illustrated in
two simple applications, the first involving a comoving world line of a
spatially-flat cosmology, the other featuring an observer placed on the axis of
symmetry of Melvin's magnetic universe.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figur
Lightcone reference for total gravitational energy
We give an explicit expression for gravitational energy, written solely in
terms of physical spacetime geometry, which in suitable limits agrees with the
total Arnowitt-Deser-Misner and Trautman-Bondi-Sachs energies for
asymptotically flat spacetimes and with the Abbot-Deser energy for
asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes. Our expression is a boundary value of
the standard gravitational Hamiltonian. Moreover, although it stands alone as
such, we derive the expression by picking the zero-point of energy via a
``lightcone reference.''Comment: latex, 7 pages, no figures. Uses an amstex symbo
Gravitational Waves in the Nonsymmetric Gravitational Theory
We prove that the flux of gravitational radiation from an isolated source in
the Nonsymmetric Gravitational Theory is identical to that found in Einstein's
General Theory of Relativity.Comment: 10 Page
Complete null data for a black hole collision
We present an algorithm for calculating the complete data on an event horizon
which constitute the necessary input for characteristic evolution of the
exterior spacetime. We apply this algorithm to study the intrinsic and
extrinsic geometry of a binary black hole event horizon, constructing a
sequence of binary black hole event horizons which approaches a single
Schwarzschild black hole horizon as a limiting case. The linear perturbation of
the Schwarzschild horizon provides global insight into the close limit for
binary black holes, in which the individual holes have joined in the infinite
past. In general there is a division of the horizon into interior and exterior
regions, analogous to the division of the Schwarzschild horizon by the r=2M
bifurcation sphere. In passing from the perturbative to the strongly nonlinear
regime there is a transition in which the individual black holes persist in the
exterior portion of the horizon. The algorithm is intended to provide the data
sets for production of a catalog of nonlinear post-merger wave forms using the
PITT null code.Comment: Revised version, to appear in Phys. Rev. D. July 15 (2001), 41 pages,
11 figures, RevTeX/epsf/psfi
Quantum gravitational optics: Effective Raychaudhuri equation
Vacuum polarization in QED in a background gravitational field induces
interactions which {\it effectively} modify the classical picture of light
rays, as the null geodesics of spacetime. These interactions violate the strong
equivalence principle and affect the propagation of light leading to
superluminal photon velocities. Taking into account the QED vacuum
polarization, we study the propagation of a bundle of rays in a background
gravitational field. To do so we consider the perturbative deformation of
Raychaudhuri equation through the influence of vacuum polarization on photon
propagation. We analyze the contribution of the above interactions to the
optical scalars namely, shear, vorticity and expansion using the Newman-Penrose
formalism.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure, RevTex format, Replaced with the published
versio
Flight Mechanics of a Tail-less Articulated Wing Aircraft
This paper explores the flight mechanics of a Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) without a vertical tail. The key to stability and control of such an aircraft lies in the ability to control the twist and dihedral angles of both wings independently. Specifically, asymmetric dihedral can be used to control yaw whereas antisymmetric twist can be used to control roll. It has been demonstrated that wing dihedral angles can regulate sideslip and speed during a turn maneuver. The role of wing dihedral in the aircraft's longitudinal performance has been explored. It has been shown that dihedral angle can be varied symmetrically to achieve limited control over aircraft speed even as the angle of attack and flight path angle are varied. A rapid descent and perching maneuver has been used to illustrate the longitudinal agility of the aircraft. This paper lays part of the foundation for the design and stability analysis of an agile flapping wing aircraft capable of performing rapid maneuvers while gliding in a constrained environment
Ruled Laguerre minimal surfaces
A Laguerre minimal surface is an immersed surface in the Euclidean space
being an extremal of the functional \int (H^2/K - 1) dA. In the present paper,
we prove that the only ruled Laguerre minimal surfaces are up to isometry the
surfaces R(u,v) = (Au, Bu, Cu + D cos 2u) + v (sin u, cos u, 0), where A, B, C,
D are fixed real numbers. To achieve invariance under Laguerre transformations,
we also derive all Laguerre minimal surfaces that are enveloped by a family of
cones. The methodology is based on the isotropic model of Laguerre geometry. In
this model a Laguerre minimal surface enveloped by a family of cones
corresponds to a graph of a biharmonic function carrying a family of isotropic
circles. We classify such functions by showing that the top view of the family
of circles is a pencil.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures. Minor correction: missed assumption (*) added to
Propositions 1-2 and Theorem 2, missed case (nested circles having nonempty
envelope) added in the proof of Pencil Theorem 4, missed proof that the arcs
cut off by the envelope are disjoint added in the proof of Lemma
1+1+2 Electromagnetic perturbations on non-vacuum LRS class II space-times: Decoupling scalar and 2-vector harmonic amplitudes
We use the covariant and gauge-invariant 1+1+2 formalism of Clarkson and
Barrett \cite{Clarkson2003} to analyze electromagnetic (EM) perturbations on
non-vacuum {\it locally rotationally symmetric} (LRS) class II space-times.
Ultimately, we show how to derive six real decoupled equations governing the
total of six EM scalar and 2-vector harmonic amplitudes. Four of these are new,
and result from expanding the complex EM 2-vector which we defined in
\cite{Burston2007} in terms of EM 2-vector harmonic amplitudes. We are then
able to show that there are four precise combinations of the amplitudes that
decouple, two of these are polar perturbations whereas the remaining two are
axial. The remaining two decoupled equations are the generalized Regge-Wheeler
equations which were developed previously in \cite{Betschart2004}, and these
govern the two EM scalar harmonic amplitudes. However, our analysis generalizes
this by including a full description and classification of energy-momentum
sources, such as charges and currents.Comment: 9 page
1+1+2 Electromagnetic perturbations on general LRS space-times: Regge-Wheeler and Bardeen-Press equations
We use the, covariant and gauge-invariant, 1+1+2 formalism developed by
Clarkson and Barrett, and develop new techniques, to decouple electromagnetic
(EM) perturbations on arbitrary locally rotationally symmetric (LRS)
space-times. Ultimately, we derive 3 decoupled complex equations governing 3
complex scalars. One of these is a new Regge-Wheeler (RW) equation generalized
for LRS space-times, whereas the remaining two are new generalizations of the
Bardeen-Press (BP) equations. This is achieved by first using linear algebra
techniques to rewrite the first-order Maxwell equations in a new complex 1+1+2
form which is conducive to decoupling. This new complex system immediately
yields the generalized RW equation, and furthermore, we also derive a decoupled
equation governing a newly defined complex EM 2-vector. Subsequently, a further
decomposition of the 1+1+2 formalism into a 1+1+1+1 formalism is developed,
allowing us to decompose the complex EM 2-vector, and its governing equations,
into spin-weighted scalars, giving rise to the generalized BP equations
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