Spherically Symmetric Gravitational Collapse of Perfect Fluids

Formulating a perfect fluid filled spherically symmetric metric utilizing the 3+1 formalism for general relativity, we show that the metric coefficients are completely determined by the mass-energy distribution, and its time rate of change on an initial spacelike hypersurface. Rather than specifying Schwarzschild coordinates for the exterior of the collapsing region, we let the interior dictate the form of the solution in the exterior, and thus both regions are found to be written in one coordinate patch. This not only alleviates the need for complicated matching schemes at the interface, but also finds a new coordinate system for the Schwarzschild spacetime expressed in generalized Painleve-Gullstrand coordinates.Comment: 3 pages, To appear in the proceedings of the eleventh Marcel Grossmann meeting on general relativity (MGXI), 23-29 July, 2006, Berli

Cooperative Beamforming for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Via collaborative beamforming, nodes in a wireless network are able to transmit a common message over long distances in an energy efficient fashion. However, the process of making available the same message to all collaborating nodes introduces delays. In this paper, a MAC-PHY cross-layer scheme is proposed that enables collaborative beamforming at significantly reduced collaboration overhead. It consists of two phases. In the first phase, nodes transmit locally in a random access time-slotted fashion. Simultaneous transmissions from multiple source nodes are viewed as linear mixtures of all transmitted packets. In the second phase, a set of collaborating nodes, acting as a distributed antenna system, beamform the received analog waveform to one or more faraway destinations. This step requires multiplication of the received analog waveform by a complex weight, which is independently computed by each cooperating node, and which allows packets bound to the same destination to add coherently at the destination node. Assuming that each node has access to location information, the proposed scheme can achieve high throughput, which in certain cases exceeds one. An analysis of the symbol error probability corresponding to the proposed scheme is provided.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), Washington, DC, November 26 - 30, 200

Gravitational collapse of plasmas in General Relativity

We provide a covariant derivation of plasma physics coupled to gravitation by utilizing the 3+1 formulation of general relativity, including a discussion of the Lorentz force law. We then reduce the system to the spherically symmetric case and show that all regions of the spacetime can be represented in a single coordinate system, thus revoking the need for junction conditions. We further show that the region exterior to the collapsing region is naturally described by the charged Vaidya spacetime in non-null coordinates.Comment: Talk given at the Spanish Relativity Meeting, Tenerife, September 200

Universal velocity distributions in an experimental granular fluid

We present experimental results on the velocity statistics of a uniformly heated granular fluid, in a quasi-2D configuration. We find the base state, as measured by the single particle velocity distribution $f(c)$, to be universal over a wide range of filling fractions and only weakly dependent on all other system parameters. There is a consistent overpopulation in the distribution's tails, which scale as $f\propto\exp(\mathrm{const.}\times c^{-3/2})$. More importantly, the high probability central region of $f(c)$, at low velocities, deviates from a Maxwell-Boltzmann by a second order Sonine polynomial with a single adjustable parameter, in agreement with recent theoretical analysis of inelastic hard spheres driven by a stochastic thermostat. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Sonine deviations have been measured in an experimental system.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, with minor corrections, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Energy non-equipartition in systems of inelastic, rough spheres

We calculate and verify with simulations the ratio between the average translational and rotational energies of systems with rough, inelastic particles, either forced or freely cooling. The ratio shows non-equipartition of energy. In stationary flows, this ratio depends mainly on the particle roughness, but in nonstationary flows, such as freely cooling granular media, it also depends strongly on the normal dissipation. The approach presented here unifies and simplifies different results obtained by more elaborate kinetic theories. We observe that the boundary induced energy flux plays an important role.Comment: 4 pages latex, 4 embedded eps figures, accepted by Phys Rev

Studies on women's sexuality in China since 1980: A critical review

Over the last 20 years, women's sexuality has become one of the most written about and intensely debated subjects in sexology, sociology, and women's studies in mainland China. From these studies, one can trace the development of academic discourse on women's sexuality through three distinct phases: from a predominantly medical discourse, to the use of survey methods to investigate women's real experiences, and finally to a phase in which Western theories have become increasingly influential. Each phase features a distinct stereotype of woman. The implications of this review for sexual research in China will also be discussed.published_or_final_versio

Gravitational collapse of spherically symmetric plasmas in Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes

We utilize a recent formulation of a spherically symmetric spacetime endowed with a general decomposition of the energy momentum tensor [Phys. Rev. D, 75, 024031 (2007)] to derive equations governing spherically symmetric distributions of electromagnetic matter. We show the system reduces to the Reissner-Nordstrom spacetime in general, spherically symmetric coordinates in the vacuum limit. Furthermore, we show reduction to the charged Vaidya spacetime in non-null coordinates when certain equations of states are chosen. A model of gravitational collapse is discussed whereby a charged fluid resides within a boundary of finite radial extent on the initial hypersurface, and is allowed to radiate charged particles. Our formalism allows for the discussion of all regions in this model without the need for complicated matching schemes at the interfaces between successive regions. As further examples we consider the collapse of a thin shell of charged matter onto a Reissner-Nordstrom black hole. Finally, we reduce the entire system of equations to the static case such that we have the equations for hydrostatic equilibrium of a charged fluid.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Dynamics of inelastically colliding rough spheres: Relaxation of translational and rotational energy

We study the exchange of kinetic energy between translational and rotational degrees of freedom for inelastic collisions of rough spheres. Even if equipartition holds in the initial state it is immediately destroyed by collisions. The simplest generalisation of the homogeneous cooling state allows for two temperatures, characterizing translational and rotational degrees of freedom separately. For times larger than a crossover frequency, which is determined by the Enskog frequency and the initial temperature, both energies decay algebraically like $t^{-2}$ with a fixed ratio of amplitudes, different from one.Comment: 5 pages, RevTeX, 2 eps figures, slightly expanded discussion, new figures with dimensionless units, added references, accepted for publication in PRE as a Rapid Com