Collisions of rigidly rotating disks of dust in General Relativity

We discuss inelastic collisions of two rotating disks by using the conservation laws for baryonic mass and angular momentum. In particular, we formulate conditions for the formation of a new disk after the collision and calculate the total energy loss to obtain upper limits for the emitted gravitational energy.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figure

Non-existence of stationary two-black-hole configurations: The degenerate case

In a preceding paper we examined the question whether the spin-spin repulsion and the gravitational attraction of two aligned sub-extremal black holes can balance each other. Based on the solution of a boundary value problem for two separate (Killing-) horizons and a novel black hole criterion we were able to prove the non-existence of the equilibrium configuration in question. In this paper we extend the non-existence proof to extremal black holes.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure

Non-existence of stationary two-black-hole configurations

We resume former discussions of the question, whether the spin-spin repulsion and the gravitational attraction of two aligned black holes can balance each other. To answer the question we formulate a boundary value problem for two separate (Killing-) horizons and apply the inverse (scattering) method to solve it. Making use of results of Manko, Ruiz and Sanabria-G\'omez and a novel black hole criterion, we prove the non-existence of the equilibrium situation in question.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures; Contribution to Juergen Ehlers Memorial Issue (GeRG journal

Differentially rotating disks of dust

We present a three-parameter family of solutions to the stationary axisymmetric Einstein equations that describe differentially rotating disks of dust. They have been constructed by generalizing the Neugebauer-Meinel solution of the problem of a rigidly rotating disk of dust. The solutions correspond to disks with angular velocities depending monotonically on the radial coordinate; both decreasing and increasing behaviour is exhibited. In general, the solutions are related mathematically to Jacobi's inversion problem and can be expressed in terms of Riemann theta functions. A particularly interesting two-parameter subfamily represents Baecklund transformations to appropriate seed solutions of the Weyl class.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures. To appear in "General Relativity and Gravitation". Second version with minor correction

The interior of axisymmetric and stationary black holes: Numerical and analytical studies

We investigate the interior hyperbolic region of axisymmetric and stationary black holes surrounded by a matter distribution. First, we treat the corresponding initial value problem of the hyperbolic Einstein equations numerically in terms of a single-domain fully pseudo-spectral scheme. Thereafter, a rigorous mathematical approach is given, in which soliton methods are utilized to derive an explicit relation between the event horizon and an inner Cauchy horizon. This horizon arises as the boundary of the future domain of dependence of the event horizon. Our numerical studies provide strong evidence for the validity of the universal relation \Ap\Am = (8\pi J)^2 where \Ap and \Am are the areas of event and inner Cauchy horizon respectively, and $J$ denotes the angular momentum. With our analytical considerations we are able to prove this relation rigorously.Comment: Proceedings of the Spanish Relativity Meeting ERE 2010, 10 pages, 5 figure

Analytical approximation of the exterior gravitational field of rotating neutron stars

It is known that B\"acklund transformations can be used to generate stationary axisymmetric solutions of Einstein's vacuum field equations with any number of constants. We will use this class of exact solutions to describe the exterior vacuum region of numerically calculated neutron stars. Therefore we study how an Ernst potential given on the rotation axis and containing an arbitrary number of constants can be used to determine the metric everywhere. Then we review two methods to determine those constants from a numerically calculated solution. Finally, we compare the metric and physical properties of our analytic solution with the numerical data and find excellent agreement even for a small number of parameters.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, 3 table

General relativistic gravitational field of a rigidly rotating disk of dust: Solution in terms of ultraelliptic functions

In a recent paper we presented analytic expressions for the axis potential, the disk metric, and the surface mass density of the global solution to Einstein's field equations describing a rigidly rotating disk of dust. Here we add the complete solution in terms of ultraelliptic functions and quadratures.Comment: 5 pages, published in 1995 [Phys. Rev. Lett. 75 (1995) 3046

The Post-Newtonian Approximation of the Rigidly Rotating Disc of Dust to Arbitrary Order

Using the analytic, global solution for the rigidly rotating disc of dust as a starting point, an iteration scheme is presented for the calculation of an arbitrary coefficient in the post-Newtonian (PN) approximation of this solution. The coefficients were explicitly calculated up to the 12th PN level and are listed in this paper up to the 4th PN level. The convergence of the series is discussed and the approximation is found to be reliable even in highly relativistic cases. Finally, the ergospheres are calculated at increasing orders of the approximation and for increasingly relativistic situations.Comment: 19 pages, 2 tables, 4 figures Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.