arXiv subjects

Arkady Kheyfets

Publications and source records attributed to Arkady Kheyfets.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2010

Binding in charged spherically symmetric objects

We consider the subject of self--binding in static, spherically symmetric objects consisting of a charged fluid. We have shown previously that in the case of a perfect fluid, only the localized part of the mass contributes to gravitational self--binding of such objects and that in the limiting case of objects comprised purely of electromagnetic mass, there is no gravitational binding. Here, we extend this result to the more general case of an anisotropic fluid. Our inspection of the Oppenheimer--Volkov equation allows tracking of both gravitational and non-gravitational contributions to binding of spherically symmetric objects and shows that those with pure electromagnetic mass cannot exist.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

A Kirchhoff-like conservation law in Regge calculus

Simplicial lattices provide an elegant framework for discrete spacetimes. The inherent orthogonality between a simplicial lattice and its circumcentric dual yields an austere representation of spacetime which provides a conceptually simple form of Einstein's geometric theory of gravitation. A sufficient understanding of simplicial spacetimes has been demonstrated in the literature for spacetimes devoid of all non-gravitational sources. However, this understanding has not been adequately extended to non-vacuum spacetime models. Consequently, a deep understanding of the diffeomorphic structure of the discrete theory is lacking. Conservation laws and symmetry properties are attractive starting points for coupling matter with the lattice. We present a simplicial form of the contracted Bianchi identity which is based on the E. Cartan moment of rotation operator. This identity manifests itself in the conceptually-simple form of a Kirchhoff-like conservation law. This conservation law enables one to extend Regge Calculus to non-vacuum spacetimes and provides a deeper understanding of the simplicial diffeomorphism group.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Non--Localizability of Electric Coupling and Gravitational Binding of Charged Objects

The energy--momentum tensor in general relativity contains only localized contributions to the total energy--momentum. Here, we consider a static, spherically symmetric object consisting of a charged perfect fluid. For this object, the total gravitational mass contains a non--localizable contribution of electric coupling (ordinarily associated with electromagnetic mass). We derive an explicit expression for the total mass which implies that the non--localizable contribution of electric coupling is not bound together by gravity, thus ruling out existence of the objects with pure Lorentz electromagnetic mass in general relativity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Quantum Geometrodynamics of the Bianchi IX cosmological model

The canonical quantum theory of gravity -- Quantum Geometrodynamics (QG) is applied to the homogeneous Bianchi type IX cosmological model. As a result, the framework for the quantum theory of homogeneous cosmologies is developed. We show that the theory is internally consistent, and prove that it possesses the correct classical limit (the theory of general relativity). To emphasize the special role that the constraints play in this new theory we, compare it to the traditional ADM square-root and Wheeler-DeWitt quantization schemes. We show that, unlike the traditional approaches, QG leads to a well-defined Schrodinger equation for the wave-function of the universe that is inherently coupled to the expectation value of the constraint equations. This coupling to the constraints is responsible for the appearance of a coherent spacetime picture. Thus, the physical meaning of the constraints of the theory is quite different from Dirac's interpretation. In light of this distinctive feature of the theory, we readdress the question of the dark energy effects in the Bianchi IX cosmological model for highly non-classical quantum states. We show that, at least for this model, for any choice of the initial wave function, the quantum corrections will not produce the accelerated expansion of the universe.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

The constraints as evolution equations for numerical relativity

The Einstein equations have proven surprisingly difficult to solve numerically. A standard diagnostic of the problems which plague the field is the failure of computational schemes to satisfy the constraints, which are known to be mathematically conserved by the evolution equations. We describe a new approach to rewriting the constraints as first-order evolution equations, thereby guaranteeing that they are satisfied to a chosen accuracy by any discretization scheme. This introduces a set of four subsidiary constraints which are far simpler than the standard constraint equations, and which should be more easily conserved in computational applications. We explore the manner in which the momentum constraints are already incorporated in several existing formulations of the Einstein equations, and demonstrate the ease with which our new constraint-conserving approach can be incorporated into these schemes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Constraints in Quantum Geometrodynamics

We compare different treatments of the constraints in canonical quantum gravity. The standard approach on the superspace of 3--geometries treats the constraints as the sole carriers of the dynamic content of the theory, thus rendering the traditional dynamical equations obsolete. Quantization of the constraints in both the Dirac and ADM square root Hamiltonian approaches leads to the well known problems of time evolution. These problems of time are of both an interpretational and technical nature. In contrast, the geometrodynamic quantization procedure on the superspace of the true dynamical variables separates the issues of quantization from the enforcement of the constraints. The resulting theory takes into account states that are off-shell with respect to the constraints, and thus avoids the problems of time. We develop, for the first time, the geometrodynamic quantization formalism in a general setting and show that it retains all essential features previously illustrated in the context of homogeneous cosmologies.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

The Issue of Time in Quantum Geometrodynamics

Standard techniques of canonical gravity quantization on the superspace of 3--metrics are known to cause insurmountable difficulties in the description of time evolution. We forward a new quantization procedure on the superspace of true dynamic variables -- geometrodynamic quantization. This procedure takes into account the states that are ``off-shell'' with respect to the constraints and thus circumvents the notorious problems of time. In this approach quantum geometrodynamics, general covariance, and the interpretation of time emerge together as parts of the solution to the total problem of geometrodynamic evolution.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Off-Axis Neutrino Scattering in GRB Central Engines

The search for an understanding of an energy source great enough to explain the gamma-ray burst (GRB) phenomena has attracted much attention from the astrophysical community since its discovery. In this paper we extend the work of K. Asano and T. Fukuyama, and J. D. Salmonson and J. R. Wilson, and analyze the off-axis contributions to the energy-momentum deposition rate (MDR) from the neutrino anti-neutrino collisions above a rotating black hole/thin accretion disk system. Our calculations are performed by imaging the accretion disk at a specified observer using the full geodesic equations, and calculating the cumulative MDR from the scattering of all pairs of neutrinos and anti-neutrinos arriving at the observer. Our results shed light on the beaming efficiency of GRB models of this kind. Although we confirm Asano and Fukuyama's conjecture as to the constancy of the beaming for small angles away from the axis; nevertheless, we find the dominant contribution to the MDR comes from near the surface of the disk with a tilt of approximately π/4 in the direction of the disk's rotation. We find that the MDR at large radii is directed outward in a conic section centered around the symmetry axis and is larger, by a factor of 10 to 20, than the on-axis values. By including this off-axis disk source, we find a linear dependence of the MDR on the black hole angular momentum (a). In addition, we find that scattering is directed back onto the black hole in regions just above the horizon of the black hole. This gravitational ``in scatter'' may provide an observable high energy signature of the central engine, or at least another channel for accretion.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Constant Crunch Coordinates for Black Hole Simulations

We reinvestigate the utility of time-independent constant mean curvature foliations for the numerical simulation of a single spherically-symmetric black hole. Each spacelike hypersurface of such a foliation is endowed with the same constant value of the trace of the extrinsic curvature tensor, $K$. Of the three families of $K$-constant surfaces possible (classified according to their asymptotic behaviors), we single out a sub-family of singularity-avoiding surfaces that may be particularly useful, and provide an analytic expression for the closest approach such surfaces make to the singularity. We then utilize a non-zero shift to yield families of $K$-constant surfaces which (1) avoid the black hole singularity, and thus the need to excise the singularity, (2) are asymptotically null, aiding in gravity wave extraction, (3) cover the physically relevant part of the spacetime, (4) are well behaved (regular) across the horizon, and (5) are static under evolution, and therefore have no ``grid stretching/sucking'' pathologies. Preliminary numerical runs demonstrate that we can stably evolve a single spherically-symmetric static black hole using this foliation. We wish to emphasize that this coordinatization produces $K$-constant surfaces for a single black hole spacetime that are regular, static and stable throughout their evolution.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Time in Quantum Geometrodynamics

We revisit the issue of time in quantum geometrodynamics and suggest a quantization procedure on the space of true dynamic variables. This procedure separates the issue of quantization from enforcing the constraints caused by the general covariance symmetries. The resulting theory, unlike the standard approach, takes into account the states that are off shell with respect to the constraints, and thus avoids the problems of time. In this approach, quantum geometrodynamics, general covariance, and the interpretation of time emerge together as parts of the solution of the total problem of geometrodynamic evolution.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

Geodesic Deviation in Regge Calculus

Geodesic deviation is the most basic manifestation of the influence of gravitational fields on matter. We investigate geodesic deviation within the framework of Regge calculus, and compare the results with the continuous formulation of general relativity on two different levels. We show that the continuum and simplicial descriptions coincide when the cumulative effect of the Regge contributions over an infinitesimal element of area is considered. This comparison provides a quantitative relation between the curvature of the continuous description and the deficit angles of Regge calculus. The results presented might also be of help in developing generic ways of including matter terms in the Regge equations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1994

Geometrodynamic Quantization and Time Evolution in Quantum Gravity

We advance here a new gravity quantization procedure that explicitly utilizes York's analysis of the geometrodynamic degrees of freedom. This geometrodynamic procedure of quantization is based on a separation of the true dynamic variables from the embedding parameters and a distinctly different treatment of these two kinds of variables. While the dynamic variables are quantized following the standard quantum mechanical and quantum field theoretic procedures, the embedding parameters are determined by the "classical" constraint equations in which the expectation values of the dynamic variables are substituted in place of their classical values. This self-consistent procedure of quantization leads to a linear Schrodinger equation augmented by nonlinear "classical" constraints and supplies a natural description of time evolution in quantum geometrodynamics. In particular, the procedure sheds new light on the "problems of time" in quantum gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1994

A Quantum-Driven Time (QDT) Quantization of the Taub Cosmology

We present here an application of a new quantization scheme. We quantize the Taub cosmology by quantizing only the anisotropy parameter $β$ and imposing the super-Hamiltonian constraint as an expectation-value equation to recover the relationship between the scale factor $Ω$ and the time $t$. This approach appears to avoid the problem of time. (Paper to appear in the Seventh Marcel Grossmann Conference Proceedings.)

gr-qc↗

arXiv1994

Spin Dynamics of the LAGEOS Satellite in Support of a Measurement of the Earth's Gravitomagnetism

LAGEOS is an accurately-tracked, dense spherical satellite covered with 426 retroreflectors. The tracking accuracy is such as to yield a medium term (years to decades) inertial reference frame determined via relatively inexpensive observations. This frame is used as an adjunct to the more difficult and data intensive VLBI absolute frame measurements. There is a substantial secular precession of the satellite's line of nodes consistent with the classical, Newtonian precession due to the non-sphericity of the earth. Ciufolini has suggested the launch of an identical satellite (LAGEOS-3) into an orbit supplementary to that of LAGEOS-1: LAGEOS-3 would then experience an equal and opposite classical precession to that of LAGEOS-1. Besides providing a more accurate real-time measurement of the earth's length of day and polar wobble, this paired-satellite experiment would provide the first direct measurement of the general relativistic frame-dragging effect. Of the five dominant error sources in this experiment, the largest one involves surface forces on the satellite, and their consequent impact on the orbital nodal precession. The surface forces are a function of the spin dynamics of the satellite. Consequently, we undertake here a theoretical effort to model the spin ndynamics of LAGEOS. In this paper we present our preliminary results.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1994

Quantum Geometrodynamics I: Quantum-Driven Many-Fingered Time

The classical theory of gravity predicts its own demise -- singularities. We therefore attempt to quantize gravitation, and present here a new approach to the quantization of gravity wherein the concept of time is derived by imposing the constraints as expectation-value equations over the true dynamical degrees of freedom of the gravitational field -- a representation of the underlying anisotropy of space. This self-consistent approach leads to qualitatively different predictions than the Dirac and the ADM quantizations, and in addition, our theory avoids the interpretational conundrums associated with the problem of time in quantum gravity. We briefly describe the structure of our functional equations, and apply our quantization technique to two examples so as to illustrate the basic ideas of our approach.

gr-qc↗