178 research outputs found
On the Energy-Momentum Density of Gravitational Plane Waves
By embedding Einstein's original formulation of GR into a broader context we
show that a dynamic covariant description of gravitational stress-energy
emerges naturally from a variational principle. A tensor is constructed
from a contraction of the Bel tensor with a symmetric covariant second degree
tensor field and has a form analogous to the stress-energy tensor of the
Maxwell field in an arbitrary space-time. For plane-fronted gravitational waves
helicity-2 polarised (graviton) states can be identified carrying non-zero
energy and momentum.Comment: 10 pages, no figure
Quantum phase shift and neutrino oscillations in a stationary, weak gravitational field
A new method based on Synge's world function is developed for determining
within the WKB approximation the gravitationally induced quantum phase shift of
a particle propagating in a stationary spacetime. This method avoids any
calculation of geodesics. A detailed treatment is given for relativistic
particles within the weak field, linear approximation of any metric theory. The
method is applied to the calculation of the oscillation terms governing the
interference of neutrinos considered as a superposition of two eigenstates
having different masses. It is shown that the neutrino oscillations are not
sensitive to the gravitomagnetic components of the metric as long as the spin
contributions can be ignored. Explicit calculations are performed when the
source of the field is a spherical, homogeneous body. A comparison is made with
previous results obtained in Schwarzschild spacetime.Comment: 14 pages, no figure. Enlarged version; added references. In the
Schwarzschild case, our results on the non-radial propagation are compared
with the previous work
Time transfer and frequency shift to the order 1/c^4 in the field of an axisymmetric rotating body
Within the weak-field, post-Newtonian approximation of the metric theories of
gravity, we determine the one-way time transfer up to the order 1/c^4, the
unperturbed term being of order 1/c, and the frequency shift up to the order
1/c^4. We adapt the method of the world-function developed by Synge to the
Nordtvedt-Will PPN formalism. We get an integral expression for the
world-function up to the order 1/c^3 and we apply this result to the field of
an isolated, axisymmetric rotating body. We give a new procedure enabling to
calculate the influence of the mass and spin multipole moments of the body on
the time transfer and the frequency shift up to the order 1/c^4. We obtain
explicit formulas for the contributions of the mass, of the quadrupole moment
and of the intrinsic angular momentum. In the case where the only PPN
parameters different from zero are beta and gamma, we deduce from these results
the complete expression of the frequency shift up to the order 1/c^4. We
briefly discuss the influence of the quadrupole moment and of the rotation of
the Earth on the frequency shifts in the ACES mission.Comment: 17 pages, no figure. Version 2. Abstract and Section II revised. To
appear in Physical Review
Covariant Calculation of General Relativistic Effects in an Orbiting Gyroscope Experiment
We carry out a covariant calculation of the measurable relativistic effects
in an orbiting gyroscope experiment. The experiment, currently known as Gravity
Probe B, compares the spin directions of an array of spinning gyroscopes with
the optical axis of a telescope, all housed in a spacecraft that rolls about
the optical axis. The spacecraft is steered so that the telescope always points
toward a known guide star. We calculate the variation in the spin directions
relative to readout loops rigidly fixed in the spacecraft, and express the
variations in terms of quantities that can be measured, to sufficient accuracy,
using an Earth-centered coordinate system. The measurable effects include the
aberration of starlight, the geodetic precession caused by space curvature, the
frame-dragging effect caused by the rotation of the Earth and the deflection of
light by the Sun.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, to be submitted to Phys. Rev.
Direction of light propagation to order G^2 in static, spherically symmetric spacetimes: a new derivation
A procedure avoiding any integration of the null geodesic equations is used
to derive the direction of light propagation in a three-parameter family of
static, spherically symmetric spacetimes within the post-post-Minkowskian
approximation. Quasi-Cartesian isotropic coordinates adapted to the symmetries
of spacetime are systematically used. It is found that the expression of the
angle formed by two light rays as measured by a static observer staying at a
given point is remarkably simple in these coordinates. The attention is mainly
focused on the null geodesic paths that we call the "quasi-Minkowskian light
rays". The vector-like functions characterizing the direction of propagation of
such light rays at their points of emission and reception are firstly obtained
in the generic case where these points are both located at a finite distance
from the centre of symmetry. The direction of propagation of the
quasi-Minkowskian light rays emitted at infinity is then straightforwardly
deduced. An intrinsic definition of the gravitational deflection angle relative
to a static observer located at a finite distance is proposed for these rays.
The expression inferred from this definition extends the formula currently used
in VLBI astrometry up to the second order in the gravitational constant G.Comment: 19 pages; revised introduction; added references for introduction;
corrected typos; published in Class. Quantum Gra
A generalized lens equation for light deflection in weak gravitational fields
A generalized lens equation for weak gravitational fields in Schwarzschild
metric and valid for finite distances of source and observer from the light
deflecting body is suggested. The magnitude of neglected terms in the
generalized lens equation is estimated to be smaller than or equal to 15 Pi/4
(m/d')^2, where m is the Schwarzschild radius of massive body and d' is
Chandrasekhar's impact parameter. The main applications of this generalized
lens equation are extreme astrometrical configurations, where 'Standard
post-Newtonian approach' as well as 'Classical lens equation' cannot be
applied. It is shown that in the appropriate limits the proposed lens equation
yields the known post-Newtonian terms, 'enhanced' post-post-Newtonian terms and
the Classical lens equation, thus provides a link between these both essential
approaches for determining the light deflection.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure
Non-metric chaotic inflation
We consider inflation within the context of what is arguably the simplest
non-metric extension of Einstein gravity. There non-metricity is described by a
single graviscalar field with a non-minimal kinetic coupling to the inflaton
field , parameterized by a single parameter . We discuss the
implications of non-metricity for chaotic inflation and find that it
significantly alters the inflaton dynamics for field values , dramatically changing the qualitative behaviour in this regime.
For potentials with a positive slope non-metricity imposes an upper bound on
the possible number of e-folds. For chaotic inflation with a monomial
potential, the spectral index and the tensor-to-scalar ratio receive small
corrections dependent on the non-metricity parameter. We also argue that
significant post-inflationary non-metricity may be generated.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur
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