1,666 research outputs found
Colliding axisymmetric pp-waves
An exact solution is found describing the collision of axisymmetric pp-waves
with M=0. They are impulsive in character and their coordinate singularities
become point curvature singularities at the boundaries of the interaction
region. The solution is conformally flat. Concrete examples are given,
involving an ultrarelativistic black hole against a burst of pure radiation or
two colliding beam- like waves.Comment: 6 pages, REVTeX, some misprints are correcte
Lathe converted for grinding aspheric surfaces
A standard overarm tracing lathe converted by the addition of an independently driven diamond grinding wheel is used for grinding aspheric surfaces. The motion of the wheel is controlled by the lathe air tracer following the template which produces the desired aspheric profile
On the extension of the concept of Thin Shells to The Einstein-Cartan Theory
This paper develops a theory of thin shells within the context of the
Einstein-Cartan theory by extending the known formalism of general relativity.
In order to perform such an extension, we require the general non symmetric
stress-energy tensor to be conserved leading, as Cartan pointed out himself, to
a strong constraint relating curvature and torsion of spacetime. When we
restrict ourselves to the class of space-times satisfying this constraint, we
are able to properly describe thin shells and derive the general expression of
surface stress-energy tensor both in its four-dimensional and in its
three-dimensional intrinsic form. We finally derive a general family of static
solutions of the Einstein-Cartan theory exhibiting a natural family of null
hypersurfaces and use it to apply our formalism to the construction of a null
shell of matter.Comment: Latex, 21 pages, 1 combined Latex/Postscript figure; Accepted for
publication in Classical and Quantum Gravit
Mixmaster Behavior in Inhomogeneous Cosmological Spacetimes
Numerical investigation of a class of inhomogeneous cosmological spacetimes
shows evidence that at a generic point in space the evolution toward the
initial singularity is asymptotically that of a spatially homogeneous spacetime
with Mixmaster behavior. This supports a long-standing conjecture due to
Belinskii et al. on the nature of the generic singularity in Einstein's
equations.Comment: 4 pages plus 4 figures. A sentence has been deleted. Accepted for
publication in PR
An Exact String Theory Model of Closed Time-Like Curves and Cosmological Singularities
We study an exact model of string theory propagating in a space-time
containing regions with closed time-like curves (CTCs) separated from a finite
cosmological region bounded by a Big Bang and a Big Crunch. The model is an
non-trivial embedding of the Taub-NUT geometry into heterotic string theory
with a full conformal field theory (CFT) definition, discovered over a decade
ago as a heterotic coset model. Having a CFT definition makes this an excellent
laboratory for the study of the stringy fate of CTCs, the Taub cosmology, and
the Milne/Misner-type chronology horizon which separates them. In an effort to
uncover the role of stringy corrections to such geometries, we calculate the
complete set of alpha' corrections to the geometry. We observe that the key
features of Taub-NUT persist in the exact theory, together with the emergence
of a region of space with Euclidean signature bounded by time-like curvature
singularities. Although such remarks are premature, their persistence in the
exact geometry is suggestive that string theory theory is able to make physical
sense of the Milne/Misner singularities and the CTCs, despite their
pathological character in General Relativity. This may also support the
possibility that CTCs may be viable in some physical situations, and may be a
natural ingredient in pre-Big-Bang cosmological scenarios.Comment: 37 pages, 4 figures. V2: discussion of computation of metric refined,
references adde
Nuttier (A)dS Black Holes in Higher Dimensions
We construct new solutions of the vacuum Einstein field equations with
cosmological constant. These solutions describe spacetimes with non-trivial
topology that are asymptotically dS, AdS or flat. For a negative cosmological
constant these solutions are NUT charged generalizations of the topological
black hole solutions in higher dimensions. We also point out the existence of
such NUT charged spacetimes in odd dimensions and we explicitly construct such
spaces in 5 and 7 dimensions. The existence of such spacetimes with non-trivial
topology is closely related to the existence of the cosmological constant.
Finally, we discuss the global structure of such solutions and possible
applications in string theory.Comment: latex, 30 pages, added reference
Action functionals for relativistic perfect fluids
Action functionals describing relativistic perfect fluids are presented. Two
of these actions apply to fluids whose equations of state are specified by
giving the fluid energy density as a function of particle number density and
entropy per particle. Other actions apply to fluids whose equations of state
are specified in terms of other choices of dependent and independent fluid
variables. Particular cases include actions for isentropic fluids and
pressureless dust. The canonical Hamiltonian forms of these actions are
derived, symmetries and conserved charges are identified, and the boundary
value and initial value problems are discussed. As in previous works on perfect
fluid actions, the action functionals considered here depend on certain
Lagrange multipliers and Lagrangian coordinate fields. Particular attention is
paid to the interpretations of these variables and to their relationships to
the physical properties of the fluid.Comment: 40 pages, plain Te
Taub--NUT Dyons in Heterotic String Theory
Starting with the Taub--NUT solution to Einstein's equations, together with a
constant dilaton, a dyonic Taub--NUT solution of low energy heterotic string
theory with non--trivial dilaton, axion and gauge fields is constructed
by employing transformations. The electromagnetic dual of this
solution is constructed, using SL(2,\rline) transformations. By an
appropriate change to scaled variables, the extremal limit of the dual solution
is shown to correspond to the low energy limit of an exact conformal field
theory presented previously.Comment: 16 pages (plain TEX), (Revised version has curvature singularities
correctly identified), IASSNS-HEP-94/50, McGill/94-2
Lense-Thirring Precession in Pleba\'nski-Demia\'nski spacetimes
An exact expression of Lense-Thirring precession rate is derived for
non-extremal and extremal Pleba\'nski-Demia\'nski spacetimes. This formula is
used to find the exact Lense-Thirring precession rate in various axisymmetric
spacetimes, like: Kerr, Kerr-Newman, Kerr-de Sitter etc. We also show, if the
Kerr parameter vanishes in Pleba\'nski-Demia\'nski(PD) spacetime, the
Lense-Thirring precession does not vanish due to the existence of NUT charge.
To derive the LT precession rate in extremal Pleba\'nski-Demia\'nski we first
derive the general extremal condition for PD spacetimes. This general result
could be applied to get the extremal limit in any stationary and axisymmetric
spacetimes.Comment: 9 pages, Some special modifications are mad
New Algorithm for Mixmaster Dynamics
We present a new numerical algorithm for evolving the Mixmaster spacetimes.
By using symplectic integration techniques to take advantage of the exact Taub
solution for the scattering between asymptotic Kasner regimes, we evolve these
spacetimes with higher accuracy using much larger time steps than previously
possible. The longer Mixmaster evolution thus allowed enables detailed
comparison with the Belinskii, Khalatnikov, Lifshitz (BKL) approximate
Mixmaster dynamics. In particular, we show that errors between the BKL
prediction and the measured parameters early in the simulation can be
eliminated by relaxing the BKL assumptions to yield an improved map. The
improved map has different predictions for vacuum Bianchi Type IX and magnetic
Bianchi Type VI Mixmaster models which are clearly matched in the
simulation.Comment: 12 pages, Revtex, 4 eps figure
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