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arXiv · 1005.4613

Refraction of geodesics by impulsive spherical gravitational waves in constant-curvature spacetimes with a cosmological constant

Jiri Podolsky·Robert Svarc
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Abstract

We investigate motion of test particles in exact spacetimes with an expanding impulsive gravitational wave which propagates in Minkowski, de Sitter or anti-de Sitter universe. Using the continuous form of these metrics we derive explicit junction conditions and simple refraction formulae for null, timelike and spacelike geodesics crossing a general impulse of this type. In particular, we present a detailed geometrical description of the motion of test particles in a special class of axially symmetric spacetimes in which the impulse is generated by a snapped cosmic string.

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Jiri Podolsky, Robert Svarc. 2010-05-26. Refraction of geodesics by impulsive spherical gravitational waves in constant-curvature spacetimes with a cosmological constant. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.81.124035

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