scholarly journals Cauchy problems for the conformal vacuum field equations in general relativity

1983 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Friedrich

This note is intended to give a rough survey of the results obtained in the study of twist-free pure radiation fields in general relativity theory. Here we are using the following Definition. A space-time ( V 4 of signature +2) is called a pure radiation field if it contains a distortion-free geodetic null congruence (a so-called ray congruence ), and if it satisfies certain field equations which we will specify below (e.g. Einstein’s vacuum-field equations). A (null) congruence is called twist-free if it is hypersurface-orthogonal (or ‘normal’). The results listed below were obtained by introducing special (‘canonical’) co-ordinates adapted to the ray congruence. Detailed proofs were given by Robinson & Trautman (1962) and by Jordan, Kundt & Ehlers (1961) (see also Kundt 1961). For the sake of completeness we include in our survey the subclass of expanding fields, and make use of some formulae first obtained by Robinson & Trautman.


This is the second of a sequence of papers on the numerical solution of the characteristic initial value problem in general relativity. Although the equations to be integrated have regular coefficients, the nonlinearity leads to the occurrence of singularities after a finite evolution time. In this paper we first discuss some novel techniques for integrating the equations right up to the singularities. The second half of the paper presents as examples the numerical evolution of the Schwarzschild and certain colliding plane wave space‒times.


Universe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laur Järv ◽  
Manuel Hohmann ◽  
Martin Krššák ◽  
Christian Pfeifer

Teleparallel geometry utilizes Weitzenböck connection which has nontrivial torsion but no curvature and does not directly follow from the metric like Levi–Civita connection. In extended teleparallel theories, for instance in f ( T ) or scalar-torsion gravity, the connection must obey its antisymmetric field equations. Thus far, only a few analytic solutions were known. In this note, we solve the f ( T , ϕ ) gravity antisymmetric vacuum field equations for a generic rotating tetrad ansatz in Weyl canonical coordinates, and find the corresponding spin connection coefficients. By a coordinate transformation, we present the solution also in Boyer–Lindquist coordinates, often used to study rotating solutions in general relativity. The result hints for the existence of another branch of rotating solutions besides the Kerr family in extended teleparallel gravities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Metin Gürses ◽  
Yaghoub Heydarzade ◽  
Çetin Şentürk

AbstractThe Kerr–Schild–Kundt (KSK) metrics are known to be one of the universal metrics in general relativity, which means that they solve the vacuum field equations of any gravity theory constructed from the curvature tensor and its higher-order covariant derivatives. There is yet no complete proof that these metrics are universal in the presence of matter fields such as electromagnetic and/or scalar fields. In order to get some insight into what happens when we extend the “universality theorem” to the case in which the electromagnetic field is present, as a first step, we study the KSK class of metrics in the context of modified Horndeski theories with Maxwell’s field. We obtain exact solutions of these theories representing the pp-waves and AdS-plane waves in arbitrary D dimensions.


1978 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 427 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Sloane

All formulations of Einstein's vacuum field equations for which exact solutions have been found in the axially symmetric stationary case are compared, and the inherent restrictions of each are displayed. A measure of their usefulness as theoretical tools is gained by the ease with which they admit Kerr's (1963) solution (it being the simplest asymptotically flat metric of this kind). The solutions found using each formulation are listed and, where possible, suitably classified.


Author(s):  
Steven Carlip

This work is a short textbook on general relativity and gravitation, aimed at readers with a broad range of interests in physics, from cosmology to gravitational radiation to high energy physics to condensed matter theory. It is an introductory text, but it has also been written as a jumping-off point for readers who plan to study more specialized topics. As a textbook, it is designed to be usable in a one-quarter course (about 25 hours of instruction), and should be suitable for both graduate students and advanced undergraduates. The pedagogical approach is “physics first”: readers move very quickly to the calculation of observational predictions, and only return to the mathematical foundations after the physics is established. The book is mathematically correct—even nonspecialists need to know some differential geometry to be able to read papers—but informal. In addition to the “standard” topics covered by most introductory textbooks, it contains short introductions to more advanced topics: for instance, why field equations are second order, how to treat gravitational energy, what is required for a Hamiltonian formulation of general relativity. A concluding chapter discusses directions for further study, from mathematical relativity to experimental tests to quantum gravity.


Synthese ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Vassallo

AbstractThe dynamics of general relativity is encoded in a set of ten differential equations, the so-called Einstein field equations. It is usually believed that Einstein’s equations represent a physical law describing the coupling of spacetime with material fields. However, just six of these equations actually describe the coupling mechanism: the remaining four represent a set of differential relations known as Bianchi identities. The paper discusses the physical role that the Bianchi identities play in general relativity, and investigates whether these identities—qua part of a physical law—highlight some kind of a posteriori necessity in a Kripkean sense. The inquiry shows that general relativistic physics has an interesting bearing on the debate about the metaphysics of the laws of nature.


Author(s):  
Andrew M. Steane

This is a textbook on general relativity and cosmology for a physics undergraduate or an entry-level graduate course. General relativity is the main subject; cosmology is also discussed in considerable detail (enough for a complete introductory course). Part 1 introduces concepts and deals with weak-field applications such as gravitation around ordinary stars, gravimagnetic effects and low-amplitude gravitational waves. The theory is derived in detail and the physical meaning explained. Sources, energy and detection of gravitational radiation are discussed. Part 2 develops the mathematics of differential geometry, along with physical applications, and discusses the exact treatment of curvature and the field equations. The electromagnetic field and fluid flow are treated, as well as geodesics, redshift, and so on. Part 3 then shows how the field equation is solved in standard cases such as Schwarzschild-Droste, Reissner-Nordstrom, Kerr, and internal stellar structure. Orbits and related phenomena are obtained. Black holes are described in detail, including horizons, wormholes, Penrose process and Hawking radiation. Part 4 covers cosmology, first in terms of metric, then dynamics, structure formation and observational methods. The meaning of cosmic expansion is explained at length. Recombination and last scattering are calculated, and the quantitative analysis of the CMB is sketched. Inflation is introduced briefly but quantitatively. Part 5 is a brief introduction to classical field theory, including spinors and the Dirac equation, proceeding as far as the Einstein-Hilbert action. Throughout the book the emphasis is on making the mathematics as clear as possible, and keeping in touch with physical observations.


Author(s):  
V. Joseph

AbstractA solution of Einstein's vacuum field equations, apparently new, is exhibited. The metric, which is homogeneous (that is, admits a three-parameter group of motions transitive on space-like hypersurfaces), belongs to Taub Type V. The canonical form of the Riemann tensor, which is of Petrov Type I, is determined.


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