The Einstein 3-form G_a and its equivalent 1-form L_a in Riemann-Cartan space

The definition of the Einstein 3-form G_a is motivated by means of the contracted 2nd Bianchi identity. This definition involves at first the complete curvature 2-form. The 1-form L_a is defined via G_a = L^b \wedge #(o_b \wedge o_a). Here # denotes the Hodge-star, o_a the coframe, and \wedge the exterior product. The L_a is equivalent to the Einstein 3-form and represents a certain contraction of the curvature 2-form. A variational formula of Salgado on quadratic invariants of the L_a 1-form is discussed, generalized, and put into proper perspective.Comment: LaTeX, 13 Pages. To appear in Gen. Rel. Gra

Perfect hypermomentum fluid: variational theory and equations of motion

The variational theory of the perfect hypermomentum fluid is developed. The new type of the generalized Frenkel condition is considered. The Lagrangian density of such fluid is stated, and the equations of motion of the fluid and the Weyssenhoff-type evolution equation of the hypermomentum tensor are derived. The expressions of the matter currents of the fluid (the canonical energy-momentum 3-form, the metric stress-energy 4-form and the hypermomentum 3-form) are obtained. The Euler-type hydrodynamic equation of motion of the perfect hypermomentum fluid is derived. It is proved that the motion of the perfect fluid without hypermomentum in a metric-affine space coincides with the motion of this fluid in a Riemann space.Comment: REVTEX, 23 pages, no figure

Wormholes in spacetime with torsion

Analytical wormhole solutions in $U_4$ theory are presented. It is discussed whether the extremely short range repulsive forces, related to the spin angular momentum of matter, could be the ``carrier'' of the exoticity that threads the wormhole throat.Comment: 10 pages revte

Linear Einstein equations and Kerr-Schild maps

We prove that given a solution of the Einstein equations $g_{ab}$ for the matter field $T_{ab}$, an autoparallel null vector field $l^{a}$ and a solution $(l_{a}l_{c}, \mathcal{T}_{ac})$ of the linearized Einstein equation on the given background, the Kerr-Schild metric $g_{ac}+\lambda l_{a}l_{c}$ ($\lambda$ arbitrary constant) is an exact solution of the Einstein equation for the energy-momentum tensor $T_{ac}+\lambda \mathcal{T}_{ac}+\lambda ^{2}l_{(a}\mathcal{T}_{c)b}l^{b}$. The mixed form of the Einstein equation for Kerr-Schild metrics with autoparallel null congruence is also linear. Some more technical conditions hold when the null congruence is not autoparallel. These results generalize previous theorems for vacuum due to Xanthopoulos and for flat seed space-time due to G\"{u}rses and G\"{u}rsey.Comment: 9 pages, accepted by Class. Quant. Gra

Lattice calculations on the spectrum of Dirac and Dirac-K\"ahler operators

We present a matrix technique to obtain the spectrum and the analytical index of some elliptic operators defined on compact Riemannian manifolds. The method uses matrix representations of the derivative which yield exact values for the derivative of a trigonometric polynomial. These matrices can be used to find the exact spectrum of an elliptic operator in particular cases and in general, to give insight into the properties of the solution of the spectral problem. As examples, the analytical index and the eigenvalues of the Dirac operator on the torus and on the sphere are obtained and as an application of this technique, the spectrum of the Dirac-Kahler operator on the sphere is explored.Comment: 11 page

Darboux coordinates for (first order) tetrad gravity

The Hamiltonian form of the Hilbert action in the first order tetrad formalism is examined. We perform a non-linear field redefinition of the canonical variables isolating the part of the spin connection which is canonically conjugate to the tetrad. The geometrical meaning of the constraints written in these new variables is examined.Comment: 12 pages, Latex. Minor presentation changes and some references added. Version to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit

New positive small vacuum region gravitational energy expressions

We construct an infinite number of new holonomic quasi-local gravitational energy-momentum density pseudotensors with good limits asymptotically and in small regions, both materially and in vacuum. For small vacuum regions they are all a positive multiple of the Bel-Robinson tensor and consequently have positive energy.Comment: 4 page

3-dimensional Cauchy-Riemann structures and 2nd order ordinary differential equations

The equivalence problem for second order ODEs given modulo point transformations is solved in full analogy with the equivalence problem of nondegenerate 3-dimensional CR structures. This approach enables an analog of the Feffereman metrics to be defined. The conformal class of these (split signature) metrics is well defined by each point equivalence class of second order ODEs. Its conformal curvature is interpreted in terms of the basic point invariants of the corresponding class of ODEs

Nonsingular, big-bounce cosmology from spinor-torsion coupling

The Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble theory of gravity removes the constraint of general relativity that the affine connection be symmetric by regarding its antisymmetric part, the torsion tensor, as a dynamical variable. The minimal coupling between the torsion tensor and Dirac spinors generates a spin-spin interaction which is significant in fermionic matter at extremely high densities. We show that such an interaction averts the unphysical big-bang singularity, replacing it with a cusp-like bounce at a finite minimum scale factor, before which the Universe was contracting. This scenario also explains why the present Universe at largest scales appears spatially flat, homogeneous and isotropic.Comment: 7 pages; published versio

Maxwell Fields and Shear-Free Null Geodesic Congruences

We study and report on the class of vacuum Maxwell fields in Minkowski space that possess a non-degenerate, diverging, principle null vector field (null eigenvector field of the Maxwell tensor) that is tangent to a shear-free null geodesics congruence. These congruences can be either surface forming (the tangent vectors proportional to gradients) or not, i.e., the twisting congruences. In the non-twisting case, the associated Maxwell fields are precisely the Lienard-Wiechert fields, i.e., those Maxwell fields arising from an electric monopole moving on an arbitrary worldline. The null geodesic congruence is given by the generators of the light-cones with apex on the world-line. The twisting case is much richer, more interesting and far more complicated. In a twisting subcase, where our main interests lie, it can be given the following strange interpretation. If we allow the real Minkowski space to be complexified so that the real Minkowski coordinates x^a take complex values, i.e., x^a => z^a=x^a+iy^a with complex metric g=eta_abdz^adz^b, the real vacuum Maxwell equations can be extended into the complex and rewritten as curlW =iWdot, divW with W =E+iB. This subcase of Maxwell fields can then be extended into the complex so as to have as source, a complex analytic world-line, i.e., to now become complex Lienard-Wiechart fields. When viewed as real fields on the real Minkowski space, z^a=x^a, they possess a real principle null vector that is shear-free but twisting and diverging. The twist is a measure of how far the complex world-line is from the real 'slice'. Most Maxwell fields in this subcase are asymptotically flat with a time-varying set of electric and magnetic moments, all depending on the complex displacements and the complex velocities.Comment: 3