Black Holes with Zero Mass

We consider the spacetimes corresponding to static Global Monopoles with interior boundaries corresponding to a Black Hole Horizon and analyze the behavior of the appropriate ADM mass as a function of the horizon radius r_H. We find that for small enough r_H, this mass is negative as in the case of the regular global monopoles, but that for large enough r_H the mass becomes positive encountering an intermediate value for which we have a Black Hole with zero ADM mass.Comment: 10 pages, 2 ps figures, REVTeX, some minor change

Properties of global monopoles with an event horizon

We investigate the properties of global monopoles with an event horizon. We find that there is an unstable circular orbit even if a particle does not have an angular momentum when the core mass is negative. We also obtain the asymptotic form of solutions when the event horizon is much larger than the core radius of the monopole, and discuss if they could be a model of galactic halos.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figure

A simple theorem to generate exact black hole solutions

Under certain conditions imposed on the energy-momentum tensor, a theorem that characterizes a two-parameter family of static and spherically symmetric solutions to Einstein's field equations (black holes), is proved. A discussion on the asymptotics, regularity, and the energy conditions is provided. Examples that include the best known exact solutions within these symmetries are considered. A trivial extension of the theorem includes the cosmological constant {\it ab-initio}, providing then a three-parameter family of solutions.Comment: 14 pages; RevTex; no figures; typos corrected; references adde

Constraining a bulk viscous matter-dominated cosmological model using SNe Ia, CMB and LSS

We present and constrain a cosmological model which component is a pressureless fluid with bulk viscosity as an explanation for the present accelerated expansion of the universe. We study the particular model of a constant bulk viscosity coefficient \zeta_m. The possible values of \zeta_m are constrained using the cosmological tests of SNe Ia Gold 2006 sample, the CMB shift parameter R from the three-year WMAP observations, the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) peak A from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the Second Law of Thermodynamics (SLT). It was found that this model is in agreement with the SLT using only the SNe Ia test. However when the model is submitted to the three cosmological tests together (SNe+CMB+BAO) the results are: 1.- the model violates the SLT, 2.- predicts a value of H_0 \approx 53 km sec^{-1} Mpc^{-1} for the Hubble constant, and 3.- we obtain a bad fit to data with a \chi^2_{min} \approx 400 (\chi^2_{d.o.f.} \approx 2.2). These results indicate that this model is ruled out by the observations.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Work presented in the XI Mexican Workshop on Particles and Fields, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, nov 7-12, 2007. Submitted to AIP Conference Proceedings of this conferenc

Global monopoles in dilaton gravity

We analyse the gravitational field of a global monopole within the context of low energy string gravity, allowing for an arbitrary coupling of the monopole fields to the dilaton. Both massive and massless dilatons are considered. We find that, for a massless dilaton, the spacetime is generically singular, whereas when the dilaton is massive, the monopole generically induces a long range dilaton cloud. We compare and contrast these results with the literature.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, version to appear in Class Quant Gra

On the spin of gravitational bosons

We unearth spacetime structure of massive vector bosons, gravitinos, and gravitons. While the curvatures associated with these particles carry a definite spin, the underlying potentials cannot be, and should not be, interpreted as single spin objects. For instance, we predict that a spin measurement in the rest frame of a massive gravitino will yield the result 3/2 with probability one half, and 1/2 with probability one half. The simplest scenario leaves the Riemannian curvature unaltered; thus avoiding conflicts with classical tests of the theory of general relativity. However, the quantum structure acquires additional contributions to the propagators, and it gives rise to additional phases.Comment: Honorable mention, 2002 Gravity Research Foundation Essay

A general relativistic mass-to-distance ratio for a set of megamaser AGN black holes

In this work we perform a Bayesian statistical fit to estimate the mass-to-distance ratio and the recessional redshift of 10 different black holes hosted at the centre of active galactic nuclei, namely the galaxies NGC 5765b, NGC 6323, UGC 3789, CGCG 074-064, ESO 558-G009, NGC 2960, NGC 6264, NGC 4388, J0437+2456 and NGC 2273. Our general relativistic method makes use of the positions in the sky and frequency shift observations of water megamasers circularly orbiting the central black hole on their accretion disks. This approach also allows us to quantify the gravitational redshift which is not considered in a Newtonian analysis. The gravitational redshift of the megamasers closest to the black hole is found to be within the range 1-6 km/s. The order of the fitted black hole masses corresponds to supermassive black holes and lies on the range $10^6 - 10^7$ M_{sun}Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, 3 table

Vacuum Polarization of a Massless Scalar Field in the Background of a Global Monopole with Finite Core

In this paper we analyze the vacuum polarization effects of a massless scalar field in the background of a global monopole considering a inner structure to it. Specifically we investigate the effect of its structure on the vacuum expectation value of the square of the field operator, , admitting a non-minimal coupling between the field with the geometry: $\xi {\cal{R}}\hat{\Phi}^2$. Also we calculate the corrections on the vacuum expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor, , due to the inner structure of the monopole. In order to develop these analysis, we calculate the Euclidean Green function associated with the system for points in the region outside the core. As we shall see, for specific value of the coupling parameter $\xi$, the corrections caused by the inner structure of the monopole can provide relevant contributions on these vacuum polarizations.Comment: Accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity. Added references. 22 pages, 1 figur