Kerr Geodesics, the Penrose Process and Jet Collimation by a Black Hole

We re-examine the possibility that astrophysical jet collimation may arise from the geometry of rotating black holes and the presence of high-energy particles resulting from a Penrose process, without the help of magnetic fields. Our analysis uses the Weyl coordinates, which are revealed better adapted to the desired shape of the jets. We numerically integrate the 2D-geodesics equations. We give a detailed study of these geodesics and give several numerical examples. Among them are a set of perfectly collimated geodesics with asymptotes $\rho =\rho_{1}$ parallel to the $z-$ axis, with $\rho_{1}$ only depending on the ratios $\frac{\mathcal{Q}}{E^{2}-1}$ and $\frac{a}{M}$, where $a$ and $M$ are the parameters of the Kerr black hole, $E$ the particle energy and $\mathcal{Q}$ the Carter's constant.Comment: Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics. AA style with 3 EPS figures. Content amended after AA's refereeing. Discussion of geodesics also corrected and expanded earlier. Conclusions amended accordingl

Generalised equilibrium of cosmological fluids in second-order thermodynamics

Combining the second-order entropy flow vector of the causal Israel-Stewart theory with the conformal Killing-vector property of $u_{i}/T$, where $u_{i}$ is the four-velocity of the medium and T its equilibrium temperature, we investigate generalized equilibrium states for cosmological fluids with nonconserved particle number. We calculate the corresponding equilibrium particle production rate and show that this quantity is reduced compared with the results of the previously studied first-order theory. Generalized equilibrium for massive particles turns out to be compatible with a dependence $\rho \propto a ^{-2}$ of the fluid energy density $\rho$ on the scale factor a of the Robertson-Walker metric and may be regarded as a realization of so-called K-matter.Comment: 17 pages, iopfts.tex file, submitted to Class. Quantum Gra

A study of the angular size-redshift relation for models in which Λ\Lambda decays as the energy density

By modifying the Chen and Wu ansatz, we have investigated some Friedmann models in which $\Lambda$ varies as $\rho$. In order to test the consistency of the models with observations, we study the angular size - redshift relation for 256 ultracompact radio sources selected by Jackson and Dodgson. The angular sizes of these sources were determined by using very long-baseline interferometry in order to avoid any evolutionary effects. The models fit the data very well and require an accelerating universe with a positive cosmological constant. Open, flat and closed models are almost equally probable, though the open model provides a comparatively better fit to the data. The models are found to have intermediate density and imply the existence of dark matter, though not as much as in the canonical Einstein-de Sitter model.Comment: LaTex, 15 pages including 2 figures (Revised version appeared in CQG

Scaling dependence on the fluid viscosity ratio in the selective withdrawal transition

In the selective withdrawal experiment fluid is withdrawn through a tube with its tip suspended a distance S above a two-fluid interface. At sufficiently low withdrawal rates, Q, the interface forms a steady state hump and only the upper fluid is withdrawn. When Q is increased (or S decreased), the interface undergoes a transition so that the lower fluid is entrained with the upper one, forming a thin steady-state spout. Near this transition the hump curvature becomes very large and displays power-law scaling behavior. This scaling allows for steady-state hump profiles at different flow rates and tube heights to be scaled onto a single similarity profile. I show that the scaling behavior is independent of the viscosity ratio.Comment: 33 Pages, 61 figures, 1 tabl

Qualitative Viscous Cosmology

The Full (non--truncated) Israel--Stewart theory of bulk viscosity is applied to dissipative FRW spacetimes. Dimensionless variables and dimensionless equations of state are used to write the Einstein--thermodynamic equations as a plane autonomous system and the qualitative behaviour of this system is determined. Entropy production in these models is also discussed.Comment: 13 pages, REVTeX, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Temperature Evolution Law of Imperfect Relativistic Fluids

The first-order general relativistic theory of a generic dissipative (heat-conducting, viscous, particle-creating) fluid is rediscussed from a unified covariant frame-independent point of view. By generalizing some previous works in the literature, we derive a formula for the temperature variation rate, which is valid both in Eckart's (particle) and in the Landau-Lifshitz (energy) frames. Particular attention is paid to the case of gravitational particle creation and its possible cross-effect with the bulk viscosity mechanism.Comment: 14 pages, no figure, revte

Dissipative cosmological solutions

The exact general solution to the Einstein equations in a homogeneous Universe with a full causal viscous fluid source for the bulk viscosity index $m=1/2$ is found. We have investigated the asymptotic stability of Friedmann and de Sitter solutions, the former is stable for $m\ge 1/2$ and the latter for $m\le 1/2$. The comparison with results of the truncated theory is made. For $m=1/2$, it was found that families of solutions with extrema no longer remain in the full case, and they are replaced by asymptotically Minkowski evolutions. These solutions are monotonic.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX 2.09, 1 figure. To be published in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Entropy-Corrected Holographic Dark Energy

The holographic dark energy (HDE) is now an interesting candidate of dark energy, which has been studied extensively in the literature. In the derivation of HDE, the black hole entropy plays an important role. In fact, the entropy-area relation can be modified due to loop quantum gravity or other reasons. With the modified entropy-area relation, we propose the so-called ``entropy-corrected holographic dark energy'' (ECHDE) in the present work. We consider many aspects of ECHDE and find some interesting results. In addition, we briefly consider the so-called ``entropy-corrected agegraphic dark energy'' (ECADE).Comment: 11 pages, 2 tables, revtex4; v2: references adde

Generation of Bianchi type V cosmological models with varying Λ\Lambda-term

Bianchi type V perfect fluid cosmological models are investigated with cosmological term $\Lambda$ varying with time. Using a generation technique (Camci {\it et al.}, 2001), it is shown that the Einstein's field equations are solvable for any arbitrary cosmic scale function. Solutions for particular forms of cosmic scale functions are also obtained. The cosmological constant is found to be decreasing function of time, which is supported by results from recent type Ia supernovae observations. Some physical aspects of the models are also discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, submitted to CJ

Cosmological particle production, causal thermodynamics, and inflationary expansion

Combining the equivalence between cosmological particle creation and an effective viscous fluid pressure with the fact that the latter represents a dynamical degree of freedom within the second-order Israel-Stewart theory for imperfect fluids, we reconsider the possibility of accelerated expansion in fluid cosmology. We find an inherent self-limitation for the magnitude of an effective bulk pressure which is due to adiabatic (isentropic) particle production. For a production rate which depends quadratically on the Hubble rate we confirm the existence of solutions which describe a smooth transition from inflationary to noninflationary behavior and discuss their interpretation within the model of a decaying vacuum energy density. An alternative formulation of the effective imperfect fluid dynamics in terms of a minimally coupled scalar field is given. The corresponding potential is discussed and an entropy equivalent for the scalar field is found.Comment: 16 pages, revtex file, submitted to Phys. Rev.