59 research outputs found
Differentially rotating disks of dust: Arbitrary rotation law
In this paper, solutions to the Ernst equation are investigated that depend
on two real analytic functions defined on the interval [0,1]. These solutions
are introduced by a suitable limiting process of Backlund transformations
applied to seed solutions of the Weyl class. It turns out that this class of
solutions contains the general relativistic gravitational field of an arbitrary
differentially rotating disk of dust, for which a continuous transition to some
Newtonian disk exists. It will be shown how for given boundary conditions (i.
e. proper surface mass density or angular velocity of the disk) the
gravitational field can be approximated in terms of the above solutions.
Furthermore, particular examples will be discussed, including disks with a
realistic profile for the angular velocity and more exotic disks possessing two
spatially separated ergoregions.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figures, submitted to 'General Relativity and
Gravitation
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.
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.
Einstein's equations and the chiral model
The vacuum Einstein equations for spacetimes with two commuting spacelike
Killing field symmetries are studied using the Ashtekar variables. The case of
compact spacelike hypersurfaces which are three-tori is considered, and the
determinant of the Killing two-torus metric is chosen as the time gauge. The
Hamiltonian evolution equations in this gauge may be rewritten as those of a
modified SL(2) principal chiral model with a time dependent `coupling
constant', or equivalently, with time dependent SL(2) structure constants. The
evolution equations have a generalized zero-curvature formulation. Using this
form, the explicit time dependence of an infinite number of
spatial-diffeomorphism invariant phase space functionals is extracted, and it
is shown that these are observables in the sense that they Poisson commute with
the reduced Hamiltonian. An infinite set of observables that have SL(2) indices
are also found. This determination of the explicit time dependence of an
infinite set of spatial-diffeomorphism invariant observables amounts to the
solutions of the Hamiltonian Einstein equations for these observables.Comment: 22 pages, RevTeX, to appear in Phys. Rev.
The Geroch group in the Ashtekar formulation
We study the Geroch group in the framework of the Ashtekar formulation. In
the case of the one-Killing-vector reduction, it turns out that the third
column of the Ashtekar connection is essentially the gradient of the Ernst
potential, which implies that the both quantities are based on the ``same''
complexification. In the two-Killing-vector reduction, we demonstrate Ehlers'
and Matzner-Misner's SL(2,R) symmetries, respectively, by constructing two sets
of canonical variables that realize either of the symmetries canonically, in
terms of the Ashtekar variables. The conserved charges associated with these
symmetries are explicitly obtained. We show that the gl(2,R) loop algebra
constructed previously in the loop representation is not the Lie algebra of the
Geroch group itself. We also point out that the recent argument on the
equivalence to a chiral model is based on a gauge-choice which cannot be
achieved generically.Comment: 40 pages, revte
Loewner equations, Hirota equations and reductions of universal Whitham hierarchy
This paper reconsiders finite variable reductions of the universal Whitham
hierarchy of genus zero in the perspective of dispersionless Hirota equations.
In the case of one-variable reduction, dispersionless Hirota equations turn out
to be a powerful tool for understanding the mechanism of reduction. All
relevant equations describing the reduction (L\"owner-type equations and
diagonal hydrodynamic equations) can be thereby derived and justified in a
unified manner. The case of multi-variable reductions is not so
straightforward. Nevertheless, the reduction procedure can be formulated in a
general form, and justified with the aid of dispersionless Hirota equations. As
an application, previous results of Guil, Ma\~{n}as and Mart\'{\i}nez Alonso
are reconfirmed in this formulation.Comment: latex 2e using packages amsmath,amssymb,amsthm, 39 pages, no figure;
(v2) a few typos corrected and accepted for publicatio
Quantization of Midisuperspace Models
We give a comprehensive review of the quantization of midisuperspace models.
Though the main focus of the paper is on quantum aspects, we also provide an
introduction to several classical points related to the definition of these
models. We cover some important issues, in particular, the use of the principle
of symmetric criticality as a very useful tool to obtain the required
Hamiltonian formulations. Two main types of reductions are discussed: those
involving metrics with two Killing vector fields and spherically symmetric
models. We also review the more general models obtained by coupling matter
fields to these systems. Throughout the paper we give separate discussions for
standard quantizations using geometrodynamical variables and those relying on
loop quantum gravity inspired methods.Comment: To appear in Living Review in Relativit
Relational Particle Models. II. Use as toy models for quantum geometrodynamics
Relational particle models are employed as toy models for the study of the
Problem of Time in quantum geometrodynamics. These models' analogue of the thin
sandwich is resolved. It is argued that the relative configuration space and
shape space of these models are close analogues from various perspectives of
superspace and conformal superspace respectively. The geometry of these spaces
and quantization thereupon is presented. A quantity that is frozen in the scale
invariant relational particle model is demonstrated to be an internal time in a
certain portion of the relational particle reformulation of Newtonian
mechanics. The semiclassical approach for these models is studied as an
emergent time resolution for these models, as are consistent records
approaches.Comment: Replaced with published version. Minor changes only; 1 reference
correcte
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