arXiv subjects

Fernando Abalos

Publications and source records attributed to Fernando Abalos.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Higher-derivative gravitational effective field theories are generically weakly hyperbolic

We analyse the initial-value problem of metric higher-derivative effective theories of gravity. We show that any such theory whose characteristic velocities are independent of derivatives of the metric is intrinsically weakly hyperbolic, independently of the gauge fixing. To show this, we identify the spin-$2$ physical sector directly from the characteristic equation; this can be done without introducing an order-reduced formulation, which greatly simplifies the computation. In this sector, every metric theory with more than two derivatives in the equations of motion contains a weakly hyperbolic block. Since this obstruction is physical, no choice of gauge or constraint addition can remove it, providing a structural explanation for the failure of strong hyperbolicity in this broad class of theories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

A strongly hyperbolic viscous relativistic hydrodynamics theory with first-order charge current

We extend the first order dissipative relativistic hydrodynamics model of Bemfica-Disconzi-Noronha- Kovtun (BDNK) in order to include the charge number current in full first order expansion with out-of-equilibrium contribution proportional to the evolution equation of the ideal fluid. We obtain a fully second order system of partial differential equation (PDE) that can be casted in a fully conservative way. We analyze the hyperbolicity of this model coupled to Einstein field equations using a newly developed technique that allows for hyperbolicity studies without explicit first order reduction. Furthermore, we identify a frame choice where our formulation is causal, stable and with positive entropy generation for a wide range of equations of state (EoS). Our analysis shows that the inclusion of an out-of-equilibrium correction to the charge current, plays an important role in guaranteeing the strong hyperbolicity and, therefore, the well-posedness of the system.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Strong Hyperbolicity of Second-Order PDEs via Matrix Pencils

We introduce a definition of strong hyperbolicity for second order partial differential equations using second order pencils. We show that this definition is equivalent to the standard one, derived by reducing the equations to first order form, but with the benefit of simplifying the calculations necessary to check hyperbolicity. In addition, we observe an interesting property, namely that when a system is strongly hyperbolic, its second order pencil can be factorized as a product of two diagonalizable first order pencils. Finally, we present an application to a vector potential for of Maxwell's equations, with a general extension and gauge fixing.

math.AP↗

arXiv2025

Neutron star evolution with the Bemfica-Disconzi-Noronha-Kovtun viscous hydrodynamics framework

The recently proposed first-order viscous relativistic hydrodynamics formulation by Bemfica, Disconzi, Noronha, and Kovtun (commonly known as the BDNK formulation) has been shown to be causal, stable, strongly hyperbolic, and thus locally well-posed. It is now a viable new option for modelling out-of-equilibrium effects in fluids, and has attracted wide attention in its potential applications to astrophysical systems. In this work, we present the first non-linear numerical simulation of spherically symmetric neutron stars using the BDNK formulation under the Cowling approximation. Using a simplified equation of state, we show that stable evolutions can be constructed within a restricted parameter space up to the simulation time we explored. From these simulations, we analyse the frequency content of the quasi-normal modes and the decay rate of the fundamental mode. This analysis serves as a first step towards constructing a fully consistent model of neutron stars using the BDNK formulation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Hyperbolic extensions of constrained PDEs

Systems of PDEs comprised of a combination of constraints and evolution equations are ubiquitous in physics. For both theoretical and practical reasons, such as numerical integration, it is desirable to have a systematic understanding of the well-posedness of the Cauchy problem for these systems. Presently we review the use of hyperbolic reductions, in which the evolution equations are singled out for consideration. We then examine in greater detail the extensions, in which constraints are evolved as auxiliary variables alongside the original variables. Assuming a particular structure of the original system, we give sufficient conditions for strong-hyperbolicity of an extension. This theory is then applied to the examples of electromagnetism and a toy for magnetohydrodynamics.

math.AP↗

arXiv2019

On necessary and sufficient conditions for strong hyperbolicity

In this work we study constant-coefficient first order systems of partial differential equations and give necessary and sufficient conditions for those systems to have a well posed Cauchy Problem. In many physical applications, due to the presence of constraints, the number of equations in the PDE system is larger than the number of unknowns, thus the standard Kreiss conditions can not be directly applied to check whether the system admits a well posed initial value formulation. In this work we find necessary and sufficient conditions such that there exists a reduced set of equations, of the same dimensionality as the set of unknowns, which satisfy Kreiss conditions and so are well defined and properly behaved evolution equations. We do that by studying the systems using the Kronecker decomposition of matrix pencils and, once the conditions are meet, finding specific families of reductions which render the system strongly hyperbolic. We show the power of the theory in some examples: Klein Gordon, the ADM, and the BSSN equations by writing them as first order systems, and studying their Kronecker decomposition and general reductions.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

A necessary condition for strong hyperbolicity of general first order systems

We study strong hyperbolicity of first order partial differential equations for systems with differential constraints. In these cases, the number of equations is larger than the unknown fields, therefore, the standard Kreiss necessary and sufficient conditions of strong hyperbolicity do not directly apply. To deal with this problem one introduces a new tensor, called a reduction, which selects a subset of equations with the aim of using them as evolution equations for the unknown. If that tensor leads to a strongly hyperbolic system we call it a hyperbolizer. There might exist many of them or none. A question arises on whether a given system admits any hyperbolization at all. To sort-out this issue, we look for a condition on the system, such that, if it is satisfied, there is no hyperbolic reduction. To that purpose we look at the singular value decomposition of the whole system and study certain one parameter families ($\varepsilon $) of perturbations of the principal symbol. We look for the perturbed singular values around the vanishing ones and show that if they behave as $O\left( \varepsilon ^{l}\right) $, with $l\geq 2$, then there does not exist any hyperbolizer. In addition, we further notice that the validity or failure of this condition can be established in a simple and invariant way. Finally we apply the theory to examples in physics, such as Force-Free Electrodynamics in Euler potentials form and charged fluids with finite conductivity. We find that they do not admit any hyperbolization.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Nonlinear electrodynamics as a symmetric hyperbolic system

Nonlinear theories generalizing Maxwell's electromagnetism and arising from a Lagrangian formalism have dispersion relations in which propagation planes factor into null planes corresponding to two effective metrics which depend on the point-wise values of the electromagnetic field. These effective Lorentzian metrics share the null (generically two) directions of the electromagnetic field. We show that, the theory is symmetric hyperbolic if and only if the cones these metrics give rise to have a non-empty intersection. Namely that there exist families of symmetrizers in the sense of Geroch which are positive definite for all covectors in the interior of the cones intersection. Thus, for these theories, the initial value problem is well-posed. We illustrate the power of this approach with several nonlinear models of physical interest such as Born-Infeld, Gauss-Bonnet and Euler-Heisenberg.

gr-qc↗