979 research outputs found
Timelike and null focusing singularities in spherical symmetry: a solution to the cosmological horizon problem and a challenge to the cosmic censorship hypothesis
Extending the study of spherically symmetric metrics satisfying the dominant
energy condition and exhibiting singularities of power-law type initiated in
SI93, we identify two classes of peculiar interest: focusing timelike
singularity solutions with the stress-energy tensor of a radiative perfect
fluid (equation of state: ) and a set of null singularity
classes verifying identical properties. We consider two important applications
of these results: to cosmology, as regards the possibility of solving the
horizon problem with no need to resort to any inflationary scenario, and to the
Strong Cosmic Censorship Hypothesis to which we propose a class of physically
consistent counter-examples.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX file. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Newtonian and Post-Newtonian approximations of the k = 0 Friedmann Robertson Walker Cosmology
In a previous paper we derived a post-Newtonian approximation to cosmology
which, in contrast to former Newtonian and post-Newtonian cosmological
theories, has a well-posed initial value problem. In this paper, this new
post-Newtonian theory is compared with the fully general relativistic theory,
in the context of the k = 0 Friedmann Robertson Walker cosmologies. It is found
that the post-Newtonian theory reproduces the results of its general
relativistic counterpart, whilst the Newtonian theory does not.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, corrected typo
Simple Analytic Models of Gravitational Collapse
Most general relativity textbooks devote considerable space to the simplest
example of a black hole containing a singularity, the Schwarzschild geometry.
However only a few discuss the dynamical process of gravitational collapse, by
which black holes and singularities form. We present here two types of analytic
models for this process, which we believe are the simplest available; the first
involves collapsing spherical shells of light, analyzed mainly in
Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates; the second involves collapsing spheres
filled with a perfect fluid, analyzed mainly in Painleve-Gullstrand
coordinates. Our main goal is pedagogical simplicity and algebraic
completeness, but we also present some results that we believe are new, such as
the collapse of a light shell in Kruskal-Szekeres coordinates.Comment: Submitted to American Journal of Physic
Falloff of the Weyl scalars in binary black hole spacetimes
The peeling theorem of general relativity predicts that the Weyl curvature
scalars Psi_n (n=0...4), when constructed from a suitable null tetrad in an
asymptotically flat spacetime, fall off asymptotically as r^(n-5) along
outgoing radial null geodesics. This leads to the interpretation of Psi_4 as
outgoing gravitational radiation at large distances from the source. We have
performed numerical simulations in full general relativity of a binary black
hole inspiral and merger, and have computed the Weyl scalars in the standard
tetrad used in numerical relativity. In contrast with previous results, we
observe that all the Weyl scalars fall off according to the predictions of the
theorem.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, published versio
Post-Newtonian Cosmology
Newtonian Cosmology is commonly used in astrophysical problems, because of
its obvious simplicity when compared with general relativity. However it has
inherent difficulties, the most obvious of which is the non-existence of a
well-posed initial value problem. In this paper we investigate how far these
problems are met by using the post-Newtonian approximation in cosmology.Comment: 12 pages, Late
Some notes on the Kruskal - Szekeres completion
The Kruskal - Szekeres (KS) completion of the Schwarzschild spacetime is open
to Synge's methodological criticism that the KS procedure generates "good"
coordinates from "bad". This is addressed here in two ways: First I generate
the KS coordinates from Israel coordinates, which are also "good", and then I
generate the KS coordinates directly from a streamlined integration of the
Einstein equations.Comment: One typo correcte
Integer Partitions and Exclusion Statistics
We provide a combinatorial description of exclusion statistics in terms of
minimal difference partitions. We compute the probability distribution of
the number of parts in a random minimal partition. It is shown that the
bosonic point is a repulsive fixed point for which the limiting
distribution has a Gumbel form. For all positive the distribution is shown
to be Gaussian.Comment: 16 pages, 4 .eps figures include
How to measure spatial distances?
The use of time--like geodesics to measure temporal distances is better
justified than the use of space--like geodesics for a measurement of spatial
distances. We give examples where a ''spatial distance'' cannot be
appropriately determined by the length of a space--like geodesic.Comment: 4 pages, latex, no figure
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