Bounds on the dragging rate and on the rotational mass-energy in slowly and differentially rotating relativistic stars

For relativistic stars rotating slowly and differentially with a positive angular velocity, some properties in relation to the positiveness of the rate of rotational dragging and of the angular momentum density are derived. Also, a new proof for the bounds on the rotational mass-energy is given.Comment: 23 pages, latex. Submitted to J. Math. Phy

Relativistic stars in differential rotation: bounds on the dragging rate and on the rotational energy

For general relativistic equilibrium stellar models (stationary axisymmetric asymptotically flat and convection-free) with differential rotation, it is shown that for a wide class of rotation laws the distribution of angular velocity of the fluid has a sign, say "positive", and then both the dragging rate and the angular momentum density are positive. In addition, the "mean value" (with respect to an intrinsic density) of the dragging rate is shown to be less than the mean value of the fluid angular velocity (in full general, without having to restrict the rotation law, nor the uniformity in sign of the fluid angular velocity); this inequality yields the positivity and an upper bound of the total rotational energy.Comment: 23 pages, no figures, LaTeX. Submitted to J. Math. Phy

Dirichlet Boundary Value Problems of the Ernst Equation

We demonstrate how the solution to an exterior Dirichlet boundary value problem of the axisymmetric, stationary Einstein equations can be found in terms of generalized solutions of the Backlund type. The proof that this generalization procedure is valid is given, which also proves conjectures about earlier representations of the gravitational field corresponding to rotating disks of dust in terms of Backlund type solutions.Comment: 22 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev. D, Correction of a misprint in equation (4

Exact relativistic treatment of stationary counter-rotating dust disks I: Boundary value problems and solutions

This is the first in a series of papers on the construction of explicit solutions to the stationary axisymmetric Einstein equations which describe counter-rotating disks of dust. These disks can serve as models for certain galaxies and accretion disks in astrophysics. We review the Newtonian theory for disks using Riemann-Hilbert methods which can be extended to some extent to the relativistic case where they lead to modular functions on Riemann surfaces. In the case of compact surfaces these are Korotkin's finite gap solutions which we will discuss in this paper. On the axis we establish for general genus relations between the metric functions and hence the multipoles which are enforced by the underlying hyperelliptic Riemann surface. Generalizing these results to the whole spacetime we are able in principle to study the classes of boundary value problems which can be solved on a given Riemann surface. We investigate the cases of genus 1 and 2 of the Riemann surface in detail and construct the explicit solution for a family of disks with constant angular velocity and constant relative energy density which was announced in a previous Physical Review Letter.Comment: 32 pages, 1 figure, to appear in Phys. Rev.

(In)finiteness of Spherically Symmetric Static Perfect Fluids

This work is concerned with the finiteness problem for static, spherically symmetric perfect fluids in both Newtonian Gravity and General Relativity. We derive criteria on the barotropic equation of state guaranteeing that the corresponding perfect fluid solutions possess finite/infinite extent. In the Newtonian case, for the large class of monotonic equations of state, and in General Relativity we improve earlier results

Time-Independent Gravitational Fields

This article reviews, from a global point of view, rigorous results on time independent spacetimes. Throughout attention is confined to isolated bodies at rest or in uniform rotation in an otherwise empty universe. The discussion starts from first principles and is, as much as possible, self-contained.Comment: 47 pages, LaTeX, uses Springer cl2emult styl

Physically Realistic Solutions to the Ernst Equation on Hyperelliptic Riemann Surfaces

We show that the class of hyperelliptic solutions to the Ernst equation (the stationary axisymmetric Einstein equations in vacuum) previously discovered by Korotkin and Neugebauer and Meinel can be derived via Riemann-Hilbert techniques. The present paper extends the discussion of the physical properties of these solutions that was begun in a Physical Review Letter, and supplies complete proofs. We identify a physically interesting subclass where the Ernst potential is everywhere regular except at a closed surface which might be identified with the surface of a body of revolution. The corresponding spacetimes are asymptotically flat and equatorially symmetric. This suggests that they could describe the exterior of an isolated body, for instance a relativistic star or a galaxy. Within this class, one has the freedom to specify a real function and a set of complex parameters which can possibly be used to solve certain boundary value problems for the Ernst equation. The solutions can have ergoregions, a Minkowskian limit and an ultrarelativistic limit where the metric approaches the extreme Kerr solution. We give explicit formulae for the potential on the axis and in the equatorial plane where the expressions simplify. Special attention is paid to the simplest non-static solutions (which are of genus two) to which the rigidly rotating dust disk belongs.Comment: 32 pages, 2 figures, uses pstricks.sty, updated version (October 7, 1998), to appear in Phys. Rev.

Static perfect fluids with Pant-Sah equations of state

We analyze the 3-parameter family of exact, regular, static, spherically symmetric perfect fluid solutions of Einstein's equations (corresponding to a 2-parameter family of equations of state) due to Pant and Sah and "rediscovered" by Rosquist and the present author. Except for the Buchdahl solutions which are contained as a limiting case, the fluids have finite radius and are physically realistic for suitable parameter ranges. The equations of state can be characterized geometrically by the property that the 3-metric on the static slices, rescaled conformally with the fourth power of any linear function of the norm of the static Killing vector, has constant scalar curvature. This local property does not require spherical symmetry; in fact it simplifies the the proof of spherical symmetry of asymptotically flat solutions which we recall here for the Pant-Sah equations of state. We also consider a model in Newtonian theory with analogous geometric and physical properties, together with a proof of spherical symmetry of the asymptotically flat solutions.Comment: 32 p., Latex, minor changes and correction

Nonlinear stability analysis of the Emden-Fowler equation

In this paper we qualitatively study radial solutions of the semilinear elliptic equation $\Delta u + u^n = 0$ with $u(0)=1$ and $u'(0)=0$ on the positive real line, called the Emden-Fowler or Lane-Emden equation. This equation is of great importance in Newtonian astrophysics and the constant $n$ is called the polytropic index. By introducing a set of new variables, the Emden-Fowler equation can be written as an autonomous system of two ordinary differential equations which can be analyzed using linear and nonlinear stability analysis. We perform the study of stability by using linear stability analysis, the Jacobi stability analysis (Kosambi-Cartan-Chern theory) and the Lyapunov function method. Depending on the values of $n$ these different methods yield different results. We identify a parameter range for $n$ where all three methods imply stability.Comment: 12 pages; new reference added; 3 new references added; fully revised versio

Evaluation of urban local-scale aerodynamic parameters: implications for the vertical profile of wind speed and for source areas

Nine methods to determine local-scale aerodynamic roughness length (z0) and zero-plane displacement (zd) are compared at three sites (within 60 m of each other) in London, UK. Methods include three anemometric (single-level high frequency observations), six morphometric (surface geometry) and one reference-based approach (look-up tables). A footprint model is used with the morphometric methods in an iterative procedure. The results are insensitive to the initial zd and z0 estimates. Across the three sites, zd varies between 5 – 45 m depending upon the method used. Morphometric methods that incorporate roughness-element height variability agree better with anemometric methods, indicating zd is consistently greater than the local mean building height. Depending upon method and wind direction, z0 varies between 0.1 and 5 m with morphometric z0 consistently being 2 – 3 m larger than the anemometric z0. No morphometric method consistently resembles the anemometric methods. Wind-speed profiles observed with Doppler lidar provide additional data with which to assess the methods. Locally determined roughness parameters are used to extrapolate wind-speed profiles to a height roughly 200 m above the canopy. Wind-speed profiles extrapolated based on morphometric methods that account for roughness-element height variability are most similar to observations. The extent of the modelled source area for measurements varies by up to a factor of three, depending upon the morphometric method used to determine zd and z0