Validation of the Modern Language Aptitude Test

To determine the utility of the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT; Carroll & Sapon, 1959, 2002) to predict foreign (FL) and native language (NL) learning for foreign language students, it was administered to 347 college students in introductory (100- level) foreign language courses along with measures of reading and reading-related skills (e.g., ND; Nelson-Denny Reading Test; Brown, Fishco, & Hanna, 1993). All correlation coefficients between MLAT and ND scores and FL exam grades are significant at the .001 level except for the MLAT Spelling Clues subtest, which is significant at the .05 level. These correlation coefficients range from .13 to .32. In the context of a stepwise multiple regression, MLAT Number Learning is the strongest and only statistically significant predictor of FL students’ exam grades (French, German, and Spanish students combined; p \u3c .001). When considering French, German, and Spanish students’ subtests separately, none of the MLAT subtest scores significantly predict French course exam scores. MLAT Phonetic Script is the only significant predictor of German students’ exam grades (p \u3c .05). The MLAT Number Learning subtest predicts significantly Spanish students’ exam grades (p \u3c .01) and the MLAT Phonetic Script subtest adds an additional 3% of variance in the Spanish students’ exam scores (p \u3c .05). Results of a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) show the composite means of the three MLAT subtests do not differ between students who claim to have a learning disability and those who do not. The MLAT Spelling Clues subtest significantly predicts FL students’ ND Comprehension scores (p \u3c .001), and the Phonetic Script subtest adds an additional 3% of variance in the Comprehension scores (p \u3c .01). MLAT Spelling Clues is the only significant predictor of FL students’ ND Reading Rate scores (p \u3c .001). In general, the MLAT is only modestly to moderately related to relevant FL and NL performance as defined in this study, and educators should be cautious about making judgments based on its scores

A new time-machine model with compact vacuum core

We present a class of curved-spacetime vacuum solutions which develope closed timelike curves at some particular moment. We then use these vacuum solutions to construct a time-machine model. The causality violation occurs inside an empty torus, which constitutes the time-machine core. The matter field surrounding this empty torus satisfies the weak, dominant, and strong energy conditions. The model is regular, asymptotically-flat, and topologically-trivial. Stability remains the main open question.Comment: 7 page

First order perturbations of the Einstein-Straus and Oppenheimer-Snyder models

We derive the linearly perturbed matching conditions between a Schwarzschild spacetime region with stationary and axially symmetric perturbations and a FLRW spacetime with arbitrary perturbations. The matching hypersurface is also perturbed arbitrarily and, in all cases, the perturbations are decomposed into scalars using the Hodge operator on the sphere. This allows us to write down the matching conditions in a compact way. In particular, we find that the existence of a perturbed (rotating, stationary and vacuum) Schwarzschild cavity in a perturbed FLRW universe forces the cosmological perturbations to satisfy constraints that link rotational and gravitational wave perturbations. We also prove that if the perturbation on the FLRW side vanishes identically, then the vacuole must be perturbatively static and hence Schwarzschild. By the dual nature of the problem, the first result translates into links between rotational and gravitational wave perturbations on a perturbed Oppenheimer-Snyder model, where the perturbed FLRW dust collapses in a perturbed Schwarzschild environment which rotates in equilibrium. The second result implies in particular that no region described by FLRW can be a source of the Kerr metric.Comment: LaTeX; 29 page

On Generating Gravity Waves with Matter and Electromagnetic Waves

If a homogeneous plane light-like shell collides head-on with a homogeneous plane electromagnetic shock wave having a step-function profile then no backscattered gravitational waves are produced. We demonstrate, by explicit calculation, that if the matter is accompanied by a homogeneous plane electromagnetic shock wave with a step-function profile then backscattered gravitational waves appear after the collision.Comment: Latex file, 15 pages, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Isotropy, shear, symmetry and exact solutions for relativistic fluid spheres

The symmetry method is used to derive solutions of Einstein's equations for fluid spheres using an isotropic metric and a velocity four vector that is non-comoving. Initially the Lie, classical approach is used to review and provide a connecting framework for many comoving and so shear free solutions. This provides the basis for the derivation of the classical point symmetries for the more general and mathematicaly less tractable description of Einstein's equations in the non-comoving frame. Although the range of symmetries is restrictive, existing and new symmetry solutions with non-zero shear are derived. The range is then extended using the non-classical direct symmetry approach of Clarkson and Kruskal and so additional new solutions with non-zero shear are also presented. The kinematics and pressure, energy density, mass function of these solutions are determined.Comment: To appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Standing gravitational waves from domain walls

We construct a plane symmetric, standing gravitational wave for a domain wall plus a massless scalar field. The scalar field can be associated with a fluid which has the properties of `stiff' matter, i.e. matter in which the speed of sound equals the speed of light. Although domain walls are observationally ruled out in the present era the solution has interesting features which might shed light on the character of exact non-linear wave solutions to Einstein's equations. Additionally this solution may act as a template for higher dimensional 'brane-world' model standing waves.Comment: 4 pages two-column format, no figures, added discussion of physical meaning of solution, added refernces, to be published PR

Carter-like constants of the motion in Newtonian gravity and electrodynamics

For a test body orbiting an axisymmetric body in Newtonian gravitational theory with multipole moments Q_L, (and for a charge in a non-relativistic orbit about a charge distribution with the same multipole moments) we show that there exists, in addition to the energy and angular momentum component along the symmetry axis, a conserved quantity analogous to the Carter constant of Kerr spacetimes in general relativity, if the odd-L moments vanish, and the even-L moments satisfy Q_2L = m (Q_2/m)^L. Strangely, this is precisely the relation among mass moments enforced by the no-hair theorems of rotating black holes. By contrast, if Newtonian gravity is supplemented by a multipolar gravitomagnetic field, whose leading term represents frame-dragging (or if the electrostatic field is supplemented by a multipolar magnetic field), we are unable to find an analogous Carter-like constant. This further highlights the very special nature of the Kerr geometry of general relativity.Comment: 4 page

Matching of spatially homogeneous non-stationary space--times to vacuum in cylindrical symmetry

We study the matching of LRS spatially homogeneous collapsing dust space-times with non-stationary vacuum exteriors in cylindrical symmetry. Given an interior with diagonal metric we prove existence and uniqueness results for the exterior. The matched solutions contain trapped surfaces, singularities and Cauchy horizons. The solutions cannot be asymptotically flat and we present evidence that they are singular on the Cauchy horizons.Comment: LaTeX, 15 pages, 1 figure, submitted for publicatio

On the Covariant Galileon and a consistent self-accelerating Universe

In this paper we show that the flat space Galilean theories with up to three scalars in the equation of motion (the quartic Galileons) are recovered in the decoupling limit of certain scalar theories non-minimally coupled to gravity, the so-called "Slotheonic" theories. These theories are also invariant under the generalized Galilean shifts in curved spacetime. While Galilean self-(derivative)couplings are not explicit in the action, they appear after integrating out gravity. We then argue that Galilean supersymmetric theories may only be found in the context of supergravity. Finally, we discuss on the possibility that Slotheonic theories are the effective four dimensional theories of consistent DGP-like models with self-accelerating cosmological solutions. Moreover, we show that the quartic and cubic Galileon in consistent DGP models cannot be decoupled.Comment: v3: clarifications added; version accepted for publication in PR

Formation of closed timelike curves in a composite vacuum/dust asymptotically-flat spacetime

We present a new asymptotically-flat time-machine model made solely of vacuum and dust. The spacetime evolves from a regular spacelike initial hypersurface S and subsequently develops closed timelike curves. The initial hypersurface S is asymptotically flat and topologically trivial. The chronology violation occurs in a compact manner; namely the first closed causal curves form at the boundary of the future domain of dependence of a compact region in S (the core). This central core is empty, and so is the external asymptotically flat region. The intermediate region surrounding the core (the envelope) is made of dust with positive energy density. This model trivially satisfies the weak, dominant, and strong energy conditions. Furthermore it is governed by a well-defined system of field equations which possesses a well-posed initial-value problem.Comment: 15 pages; accepted to Phys. Rev. D (no modifications