2,503 research outputs found
Reversible and Irreversible Spacetime Thermodynamics for General Brans-Dicke Theories
We derive the equations of motion for Palatini F(R) gravity by applying an
entropy balance law T dS= \delta Q+\delta N to the local Rindler wedge that can
be constructed at each point of spacetime. Unlike previous results for metric
F(R), there is no bulk viscosity term in the irreversible flux \delta N. Both
theories are equivalent to particular cases of Brans-Dicke scalar-tensor
gravity. We show that the thermodynamical approach can be used ab initio also
for this class of gravitational theories and it is able to provide both the
metric and scalar equations of motion. In this case, the presence of an
additional scalar degree of freedom and the requirement for it to be dynamical
naturally imply a separate contribution from the scalar field to the heat flux
\delta Q. Therefore, the gravitational flux previously associated to a bulk
viscosity term in metric F(R) turns out to be actually part of the reversible
thermodynamics. Hence we conjecture that only the shear viscosity associated
with Hartle-Hawking dissipation should be associated with irreversible
thermodynamics.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure; v2: minor editing to clarify Section III, fixed
typos; v3: fixed typo
Reply to "Can gravitational dynamics be obtained by diffeomorphism invariance of action?"
In a previous work we showed that, in a suitable setting, one can use
diffeomorphism invariance in order to derive gravitational field equations from
boundary terms of the gravitational action. Standing by our results we reply
here to a recent comment questioning their validity.Comment: Accepted for publication in PR
Hawking-like radiation does not require a trapped region
We discuss the issue of quasi-particle production by ``analogue black holes''
with particular attention to the possibility of reproducing Hawking radiation
in a laboratory. By constructing simple geometric acoustic models, we obtain a
somewhat unexpected result: We show that in order to obtain a stationary and
Planckian emission of quasi-particles, it is not necessary to create a trapped
region in the acoustic spacetime (corresponding to a supersonic regime in the
fluid flow). It is sufficient to set up a dynamically changing flow
asymptotically approaching a sonic regime with sufficient rapidity in
laboratory time.Comment: revtex4, 4 pages, 1 figur
Analogue Cosmological Particle Creation: Quantum Correlations in Expanding Bose Einstein Condensates
We investigate the structure of quantum correlations in an expanding Bose
Einstein Condensate (BEC) through the analogue gravity framework. We consider
both a 3+1 isotropically expanding BEC as well as the experimentally relevant
case of an elongated, effectively 1+1 dimensional, expanding condensate. In
this case we include the effects of inhomogeneities in the condensate, a
feature rarely included in the analogue gravity literature. In both cases we
link the BEC expansion to a simple model for an expanding spacetime and then
study the correlation structure numerically and analytically (in suitable
approximations). We also discuss the expected strength of such correlation
patterns and experimentally feasible BEC systems in which these effects might
be detected in the near future.Comment: Reference adde
Theory of gravitation theories: a no-progress report
Already in the 1970s there where attempts to present a set of ground rules,
sometimes referred to as a theory of gravitation theories, which theories of
gravity should satisfy in order to be considered viable in principle and,
therefore, interesting enough to deserve further investigation. From this
perspective, an alternative title of the present paper could be ``why are we
still unable to write a guide on how to propose viable alternatives to general
relativity?''. Attempting to answer this question, it is argued here that
earlier efforts to turn qualitative statements, such as the Einstein
Equivalence Principle, into quantitative ones, such as the metric postulates,
stand on rather shaky grounds -- probably contrary to popular belief -- as they
appear to depend strongly on particular representations of the theory. This
includes ambiguities in the identification of matter and gravitational fields,
dependence of frequently used definitions, such as those of the stress-energy
tensor or classical vacuum, on the choice of variables, etc. Various examples
are discussed and possible approaches to this problem are pointed out. In the
course of this study, several common misconceptions related to the various
forms of the Equivalence Principle, the use of conformal frames and equivalence
between theories are clarified.Comment: Invited paper in the Gravity Research Foundation 2007 special issue
to be published by Int. J. Mod. Phys.
Gravitational dynamics in Bose Einstein condensates
Analogue models for gravity intend to provide a framework where matter and
gravity, as well as their intertwined dynamics, emerge from degrees of freedom
that have a priori nothing to do with what we call gravity or matter. Bose
Einstein condensates (BEC) are a natural example of analogue model since one
can identify matter propagating on a (pseudo-Riemannian) metric with collective
excitations above the condensate of atoms. However, until now, a description of
the "analogue gravitational dynamics" for such model was missing. We show here
that in a BEC system with massive quasi-particles, the gravitational dynamics
can be encoded in a modified (semi-classical) Poisson equation. In particular,
gravity is of extreme short range (characterized by the healing length) and the
cosmological constant appears from the non-condensed fraction of atoms in the
quasi-particle vacuum. While some of these features make the analogue
gravitational dynamics of our BEC system quite different from standard
Newtonian gravity, we nonetheless show that it can be used to draw some
interesting lessons about "emergent gravity" scenarios.Comment: Replaced with published version. 15 pages, no figures, revtex4.
Reference adde
Non-extremal Stringy Black Hole
We construct a four-dimensional BPS saturated heterotic string solution from
the Taub-NUT solution. It is a non-extremal black hole solution since its Euler
number is non-zero. We evaluate its black hole entropy semiclassically. We
discuss the relation between the black hole entropy and the degeneracy of
string states. The entropy of our string solution can be understood as the
microscopic entropy which counts the elementary string states without any
complications.Comment: 18 pages, Late
Intravesical electromotive drug administration of mitomycin-C for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
This article reviews intravesical application of electromotive drug administration (EMDA) for the treatment of bladder cancer and the evidence in support of intravesical passive diffusion chemotherapy in the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Two recently published randomised trials adopting protocols that use EMDA to enhance urothelial transport of intravesical mitomycin-C showed it provided a therapeutical advantage and suggested that intravesical passive diffusion administration of chemothera-peutic drugs may be suboptimal. Further studies are required to demonstrate feasibility and advantage of intravesical EMDA of mitomycin-C in the wider uro-oncological community
Field equations from a surface term
As is well known, in order for the Einstein--Hilbert action to have a well
defined variation, and therefore to be used for deriving field equation through
the stationary action principle, it has to be amended by the addition of a
suitable boundary term. It has recently been claimed that, if one constructs an
action by adding this term to the matter action, the Einstein field equations
can be derived by requiring this action to be invariant under active
transformations which are normal to a null boundary. In this paper we
re-examine this approach both for the case of pure gravity and in the presence
of matter. We show that in the first case this procedure holds for more general
actions than the Einstein-Hilbert one and trace the basis of this remarkable
attribute. However, it is also pointed out the when matter is rigorously
considered the approach breaks down. The reasons for that are thoroughly
discussed.Comment: Typos corrected, minor changes to match published versio
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