Bondian frames to couple matter with radiation

Abstract

A study is presented for the non linear evolution of a self gravitating distribution of matter coupled to a massless scalar field. The characteristic formulation for numerical relativity is used to follow the evolution by a sequence of light cones open to the future. Bondian frames are used to endow physical meaning to the matter variables and to the massless scalar field. Asymptotic approaches to the origin and to infinity are achieved; at the boundary surface interior and exterior solutions are matched guaranteeing the Darmois--Lichnerowicz conditions. To show how the scheme works some numerical models are discussed. We exemplify evolving scalar waves on the following fixed backgrounds: A) an atmosphere between the boundary surface of an incompressible mixtured fluid and infinity; B) a polytropic distribution matched to a Schwarzschild exterior; C) a Schwarzschild- Schwarzschild spacetime. The conservation of energy, the Newman--Penrose constant preservation and other expected features are observed.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures; to appear in General Relativity and Gravitatio