Search results for "General Relativity"
showing 10 items of 1057 documents
The role of the ergosphere in the Blandford-Znajek process
2012
The Blandford-Znajek process, one of the most promising model for powering the relativistic jets from black holes, was initially introduced as a mechanism in which the magnetic fields extract energy from a rotating black hole. We study the evolution of force-free electromagnetic fields on regular spacetimes with an ergosphere, which are generated by rapidly rotating stars. Our conclusive results confirm previous works, claiming that the Blandford-Znajek mechanism is not directly related to the horizon of the black hole. We also show that the radiated energy depends exponentially on the compactness of the star.
Black hole radiation spectrum in LQG: Isolated Horizon framework
2007
Recent detailed analysis within the Loop Quantum Gravity calculation of black hole entropy shows a stair-like structure in the behavior of entropy as a function of horizon area. The non-trivial distribution of the degeneracy of the black hole horizon area eigenstates is at the origin of this behavior. This degeneracy distribution is analyzed and a phenomenological model is put forward to study the implications of this distribution in the black hole radiation spectrum. Some qualitative quantum effects are obtained within the isolated horizon framework. This result provides us with a possible observational test of this model for quantum black holes.
Proposal for the origin of the cosmological constant
2009
We work in the framework of a simple vector-tensor theory. The parametrized post-Newtonian approximation of this theory is identical to that of general relativity. Our attention is focused on cosmology. In an homogeneous isotropic universe, it is proved that the energy density, $\rho_{A}$, of the vector field $A$, and its pressure, $p_{A}$, do not depend on time, and also that the equation of state is $\rho_{A} = -p_{A}$. This means that, in the theory under consideration, there is a cosmological constant, which is not vacuum energy, but the dark energy of the cosmic vector field $A$, whose evolution is classical.
Relative velocities, geometry, and expansion of space
2012
What does it mean to say that space expands? One approach to this question is the study of relative velocities. In this context, a non local test particle is "superluminal" if its relative velocity exceeds the local speed of light of the observer. The existence of superluminal relative velocities of receding test particles, in a particular cosmological model, suggests itself as a possible criterion for expansion of space in that model. In this point of view, superluminal velocities of distant receding galaxy clusters result from the expansion of space between the observer and the clusters. However, there is a fundamental ambiguity that must be resolved before this approach can be meaningful…
Obtaining the multiple Debever null directions
2021
The explicit expression of the multiple Debever null directions of an algebraically special spacetime are obtained in terms of the electric and magnetic parts of the Weyl tensor. An algorithm for the determination of the Petrov-Bel type and the algorithm to obtain the multiple Debever null directions are implemented on the xAct Mathematica suite of packages. The corresponding notebooks with examples are provided and explained.
Quasi-stationary solutions of self-gravitating scalar fields around black holes
2014
Recent perturbative studies have shown the existence of long-lived, quasi-stationary configurations of scalar fields around black holes. In particular, such configurations have been found to survive for cosmological timescales, which is a requirement for viable dark matter halo models in galaxies based on such type of structures. In this paper we perform a series of numerical relativity simulations of dynamical non-rotating black holes surrounded by self-gravitating scalar fields. We solve numerically the coupled system of equations formed by the Einstein and the Klein-Gordon equations under the assumption of spherical symmetry using spherical coordinates. Our results confirm the existence …
Hybrid f(R) theories, local constraints, and cosmic speedup
2013
We present an extension of general relativity in which an $f(R)$ term \`{a} la Palatini is added to the usual metric Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian. Expressing the theory in a dynamically equivalent scalar-tensor form, we show that it can pass the Solar System observational tests even if the scalar field is very light or massless. Applications to cosmology and astrophysics, and some exact solutions are discussed.
Structure and stability of traversable thin-shell wormholes in Palatini $f(\mathcal{R})$ gravity
2020
We study the structure and stability of traversable wormholes built as (spherically symmetric) thin shells in the context of Palatini $f(\mathcal{R})$ gravity. Using a suitable junction formalism for these theories we find that the effective number of degrees of freedom on the shell is reduced to a single one, which fixes the equation of state to be that of massless stress-energy fields, contrary to the general relativistic and metric $f(R)$ cases. Another major difference is that the surface energy density threading the thin-shell, needed in order to sustain the wormhole, can take any sign, and may even vanish, depending on the desired features of the corresponding solutions. We illustrate…
On the thermodynamics of inhomogeneous perfect fluid mixtures
2003
It is shown that inhomogeneous Szekeres and Stephani universes exist corresponding to non-dissipative binary mixtures of perfect fluids in local thermal equilibrium. This result contradicts a recent statement by Z\'arate and Quevedo (2004 Class. Quantum Grav. {\bf 21} 197, {\it Preprint} gr-qc/0310087), which affirms that the only Szekeres and Stephani universes compatible with these fluids are the homogeneous Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models. Thus, contrarily to their conclusion, their thermodynamic scheme do not gives new indications of incompatibility between thermodynamics and relativity. Two of the points that have generated this error are commented.
Cauchy Problem for Gott Spacetime
1995
Gott recently has constructed a spacetime modeled by two infinitely long, parallel cosmic strings which pass and gravitationally interact with each other. For large enough velocity, the spacetime will contain closed timelike curves. An explicit construction of the solution for a scalar field is presented in detail and a proof for the existence of such a solution is given for initial data satisfying conditions on an asymptotically null partial Cauchy surface. Solutions to smooth operators on the covering space are invariant under the isometry are shown to be pull back of solutions of the associated operator on the base space. Projection maps and translation operators for the covering space a…