Total Collisions in the N-Body Shape Space

We discuss the total collision singularities of the gravitational N-body problem on shape space. Shape space is the relational configuration space of the system obtained by quotienting ordinary configuration space with respect to the similarity group of total translations, rotations, and scalings. For the zero-energy gravitating N-body system, the dynamics on shape space can be constructed explicitly and the points of total collision, which are the points of central configuration and zero shape momenta, can be analyzed in detail. It turns out that, even on shape space where scale is not part of the description, the equations of motion diverge at (and only at) the points of total collision. We construct and study the stratified total-collision manifold and show that, at the points of total collision on shape space, the singularity is essential. There is, thus, no way to evolve solutions through these points. This mirrors closely the big bang singularity of general relativity, where the homogeneous-but-not-isotropic cosmological model of Bianchi IX shows an essential singularity at the big bang. A simple modification of the general-relativistic model (the addition of a stiff matter field) changes the system into one whose shape-dynamical description allows for a deterministic evolution through the singularity. We suspect that, similarly, some modification of the dynamics would be required in order to regularize the total collision singularity of the N-body model.

Accretion Flow onto Ellis–Bronnikov Wormhole

Study of accretion onto wormholes is rather rare compared to that onto black holes. In this paper, we consider accretion flow of cosmological dark energy modeled by barotropic fluid onto the celebrated Ellis–Bronnikov wormhole (EBWH) built by Einstein minimally coupled scalar field ϕ, violating the null energy condition. The accreting fluid is assumed to be phantom, quintessence, dust and stiff matter. We begin by first pointing out a mathematical novelty showing how the EBWH can lead to the Schwarzschild black hole under a complex Wick rotation. Then, we analyze the profiles of fluid radial velocity, density and the rate of mass variation of the EBWH due to accretion and compare the profiles with those of the Schwarzschild black hole. We also analyze accretion to the massless EBWH that has zero ADM mass but has what we call nonzero Wheelerian mass (“mass without mass”), composed of the non-trivial scalar field, that shows gravitational effects. Our conclusion is that the mass of SBH due to phantom accretion decreases consistently with known results, while, in contrast, the mass of EBWH increases. Exactly an opposite behavior emerges for non-phantom accretion to these two objects. Accretion to massless EBWH (i.e., to nonzero Wheelerian mass) shares the same patterns as those of the massive EBWH; hence there is no way to distinguish massive and massless cases by means of accretion flow. The contrasting mass variations due to phantom accretion could be a reflection of the distinct topology of the central objects.

General solutions to $$\mathcal {N}$$-field cosmology with exponential potentials

We construct the general analytical solution for the $$\mathcal {N}$$ N -field product-exponential potential in an expanding FLRW background. We demonstrate the relevance of this analytical solution in more general contexts for the derivation of estimates for the transitional time between an arbitrary initial state and the slow-roll solutions. In certain cases, these estimates can also be used to demonstrate the non-linear convergence towards the slow-roll solutions. In addition, we extend the solution to include stiff matter as well.

Broadening quantum cosmology with a fractional whirl

We start by presenting a brief summary of fractional quantum mechanics, as means to convey a motivation towards fractional quantum cosmology. Subsequently, such application is made concrete with the assistance of a case study. Specifically, we investigate and then discuss a model of stiff matter in a spatially flat homogeneous and isotropic universe. A new quantum cosmological solution, where fractional calculus implications are explicit, is presented and then contrasted with the corresponding standard quantum cosmology setting.

Rotating Melvin-like Universes and Wormholes in General Relativity

We find a family of exact solutions to the Einstein–Maxwell equations for rotating cylindrically symmetric distributions of a perfect fluid with the equation of state p=wρ (|w|<1), carrying a circular electric current in the angular direction. This current creates a magnetic field along the z axis. Some of the solutions describe geometries resembling that of Melvin’s static magnetic universe and contain a regular symmetry axis, while some others (in the case w>0) describe traversable wormhole geometries which do not contain a symmetry axis. Unlike Melvin’s solution, those with rotation and a magnetic field cannot be vacuum and require a current. The wormhole solutions admit matching with flat-space regions on both sides of the throat, thus forming a cylindrical wormhole configuration potentially visible for distant observers residing in flat or weakly curved parts of space. The thin shells, located at junctions between the inner (wormhole) and outer (flat) regions, consist of matter satisfying the Weak Energy Condition under a proper choice of the free parameters of the model, which thus forms new examples of phantom-free wormhole models in general relativity. In the limit w→1, the magnetic field tends to zero, and the wormhole model tends to the one obtained previously, where the source of gravity is stiff matter with the equation of state p=ρ.

Stiff matter solution in Brans–Dicke theory and the general relativity limit

Generally the Brans–Dicke (BD) theory reduces to general relativity (GR) in the limit [Formula: see text] if the scalar field goes as [Formula: see text]. However, it is also known that there are examples with [Formula: see text] that does not tend to GR. We discuss another case: a homogeneous and isotropic universe filled with stiff matter. The power of time dependence of these solutions does not depend on [Formula: see text], and there is no GR limit even though we have [Formula: see text]. A perturbative and a dynamical system analysis of this exotic case are carried out.

Inflation and linear expansion in the radiation dominated era in Jordan–Brans–Dicke cosmology

We present several features of a cosmological model based on the Brans–Dicke–Jordan–Thirry action which is scale invariant with a quartic potential for the Jordan scalar field. We show that the radiation dominated era starts with a closed universe which expands exponentially and the late radiation dominated era expands linearly. We find that there may be a scale-invariant phase with stiff matter between these two radiation dominated eras. The introduction of matter in the linearly expanding universe may cause deceleration or acceleration.

Gravitational collapse in General Relativity and in R2-gravity: A comparative study

We compare the gravitational collapse of homogeneous perfect fluid with various equations of state in the framework of General Relativity and in [Formula: see text] gravity. We make our calculations using dimensionless time with characteristic timescale [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a density of collapsing matter. The cases of matter, radiation and stiff matter are considered. We also account the possible existence of vacuum energy and its influence on gravitational collapse. In a case of [Formula: see text] gravity, we have additional degree of freedom for initial conditions of collapse. For barotropic equation of state (EoS) [Formula: see text], the result depends from the value of parameter [Formula: see text]: for [Formula: see text] the collapse occurs slowly in comparison with General Relativity while for [Formula: see text], we have the opposite situation. Vacuum energy as expected slows down the rate of collapse and for some critical density gravitational contraction may change to expansion. It is interesting to note that for General Relativity such expansion is impossible. We also consider the collapse in the presence of so-called phantom energy. For description of phantom energy, we use Lagrangian in the form [Formula: see text] (where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the kinetic and potential energy of the field, respectively) and consider the corresponding Klein–Gordon equation for phantom scalar field.

LRS Bianchi I model with perfect fluid equation-of-state

The general solution of the field equations in LRS Bianchi-I spacetime with perfect fluid equation-of-state (EoS) is presented. The models filled with dust, vacuum energy, Zel’dovich matter and disordered radiation are studied in detail. A unified and systematic treatment of the solutions is presented, and some new solutions are found. The dust, stiff matter and disordered radiation models describe only a decelerated universe, whereas the vacuum energy model exhibits a transition from a decelerated to an accelerated phase.