arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Lars Andersson.
Extended objects in GR are often modelled using distributional solutions of the Einstein equations with point-like sources, or as the limit of infinitesimally small "test" objects. In this note, I will consider models of finite self-gravitating extended objects, which make it possible to give a rigorous treatment of the initial value problem for (finite) extended objects.
Using systematic calculations in spinor language, we obtain simple descriptions of the second order symmetry operators for the conformal wave equation, the Dirac-Weyl equation and the Maxwell equation on a curved four dimensional Lorentzian manifold. The conditions for existence of symmetry operators for the different equations are seen to be related. Computer algebra tools have been developed and used to systematically reduce the equations to a form which allows geometrical interpretation.
We prove existence of solutions for an elastic body interacting with itself through its Newtonian gravitational field. Our construction works for configurations near one given by a self-gravitating ball of perfect fluid. We use an implicit function argument. In so doing we have to revisit some classical work in the astrophysical literature concerning linear stability of perfect fluid stars. The results presented here extend previous work by the authors, which was restricted to the astrophysically insignificant situation of configurations near one of vanishing stress. In particular, "mountains on neutron stars", which are made possible by the presence of an elastic crust in neutron stars, can be treated using the techniques developed here.
In this paper we analyze Hertz potentials for free massless spin-s fields on the Minkowski spacetime, with data in weighted Sobolev spaces. We prove existence and pointwise estimates for the Hertz potentials using a weighted estimate for the wave equation. This is then applied to give weighted estimates for the solutions of the spin-s field equations, for arbitrary half-integer s. In particular, the peeling properties of the free massless spin-s fields are analyzed for initial data in weighted Sobolev spaces with arbitrary, non-integer weights.
Using the methods developed for different Bianchi class A cosmological models we treat the simplest Bianchi class B model, namely Bianchi type V. The future non-linear stability for solutions of the Einstein-Vlasov system is demonstrated and it is shown that these solutions are asymptotically stable to the Milne solution. Within the isotropic solutions of the Einstein-Vlasov system the spatially flat Friedmann solution is unstable within this class, and expanding models tend also to the Milne solution.
We prove the local existence and uniqueness of solutions to a system of quasi-linear wave equations involving a jump discontinuity in the lower order terms. A continuation principle is also established.
Principles in the form of heuristic guidelines or generally accepted dogma play an important role in the development of physical theories. In particular, philosophical considerations and principles figure prominently in the work of Albert Einstein. As mentioned in the talk by Jiri Bicak at this conference Einstein formulated the equivalence principle, an essential step on the road to general relativity, during his time in Prague 1911-1912. In this talk, I would like to discuss some aspects of cosmological models. As cosmology is an area of physics where "principles" such as the "cosmological principle" or the "Copernican principle" play a prominent role in motivating the class of models which form part of the current standard model, I will start by comparing the role of the equivalence principle to that of the principles used in cosmology. I will then briefly describe the standard model of cosmology to give a perspective on some mathematical problems and conjectures on cosmological models, which are discussed in the later part of this paper.
Maxwell test fields as well as solutions of linearized gravity on the Kerr exterior admit non-radiating modes, i.e. non-trivial time-independent solutions. These are closely related to conserved charges. In this paper we discuss the non-radiating modes for linearized gravity, which may be seen to correspond to the Poincare Lie-algebra. The 2-dimensional isometry group of Kerr corresponds to a 2-parameter family of gauge-invariant non-radiating modes representing infinitesimal perturbations of mass and azimuthal angular momentum. We calculate the linearized mass charge in terms of linearized Newman-Penrose scalars.
In this paper we consider the field equations for linearized gravity and other integer spin fields on the Kerr spacetime, and more generally on spacetimes of Petrov type D. We give a derivation, using the GHP formalism, of decoupled field equations for the linearized Weyl scalars for all spin weights and identify the gauge source functions occuring in these. For the spin weight 0 Weyl scalar, imposing a generalized harmonic coordinate gauge yields a generalization of the Regge-Wheeler equation. Specializing to the Schwarzschild case, we derive the gauge invariant Regge-Wheeler and Zerilli equation directly from the equation for the spin 0 scalar.
In this brief note, we consider a wave equation that has both trapping and a complex potential. For this problem, we prove a uniform bound on the energy and a Morawetz (or integrated local energy decay) estimate. The equation is a model problem for certain scalar equations appearing in the Maxwell and linearised Einstein systems on the exterior of a rotating black hole.
Well-posedness for the initial value problem for a self-gravitating elastic body with free boundary in Newtonian gravity is proved. In the material frame, the Euler-Lagrange equation becomes, assuming suitable constitutive properties for the elastic material, a fully non-linear elliptic-hyperbolic system with boundary conditions of Neumann type. For systems of this type, the initial data must satisfy compatibility conditions in order to achieve regular solutions. Given a relaxed reference configuration and a sufficiently small Newton's constant, a neigborhood of initial data satisfying the compatibility conditions is constructed.
In this paper we survey some recent advances in the analysis of marginally outer trapped surfaces (MOTS). We begin with a systematic review of results by Schoen and Yau on Jang's equation and its relationship with MOTS. We then explain recent work on the existence, regularity, and properties of MOTS and discuss the consequences for the trapped region. We include an outlook with some directions for future research.
In this paper we consider the classical initial value problem for the bosonic membrane in light cone gauge. A Hamiltonian reduction gives a system with one constraint, the area preserving constraint. The Hamiltonian evolution equations corresponding to this system, however, fail to be hyperbolic. Making use of the area preserving constraint, an equivalent system of evolution equations is found, which is hyperbolic and has a well-posed initial value problem. We are thus able to solve the initial value problem for the Hamiltonian evolution equations by means of this equivalent system. We furthermore obtain a blowup criterion for the membrane evolution equations, and show, making use of the constraint, that one may achieve improved regularity estimates.
We produce numerical evidence that spikes in the Mixmaster regime of G_2 cosmologies are transient and recurring, supporting the conjecture that the generalized Mixmaster behavior is asymptotically non-local where spikes occur. Higher order spike transitions are observed to split into separate first order spike transitions.
In this paper we prove a global existence theorem, in the direction of cosmological expansion, for sufficiently small perturbations of a family of $n+1$-dimensional, $n \geq 3$, spatially compact spacetimes which generalizes the $k=-1$ Friedmann--Robertson--Walker vacuum spacetime. Our results demonstrate causal geodesic completeness of the perturbed spacetimes, in the expanding direction, and show that the scale-free geometry converges towards an element in the moduli space of Einstein geometries, with a rate of decay depending on the stability properties of the Einstein geometry.
We consider the problem of constructing static, elastic, many-body systems in Einstein gravity. The solutions constructed are deformations of static many-body configurations in Newtonian gravity. No symmetry assumptions are made.
In previous work we have shown the existence of a dynamical horizon or marginally trapped tube (MOTT) containing a given strictly stable marginally outer trapped surface (MOTS). In this paper we show some results on the global behavior of MOTTs assuming the null energy condition. In particular we show that MOTSs persist in the sense that every Cauchy surface in the future of a given Cauchy surface containing a MOTS also must contain a MOTS. We describe a situation where the evolving outermost MOTS must jump during the coalescence of two seperate MOTSs. We furthermore characterize the behavior of MOTSs in the case that the principal eigenvalue vanishes under a genericity assumption. This leads to a regularity result for the tube of outermost MOTSs under the genericity assumption. This tube is then smooth up to finitely many jump times. Finally we discuss the relation of MOTSs to singularities of a space-time.
I will discuss some recent results on marginally outer trapped surfaces, apparent horizons, and the trapped region. A couple of applications of the results developed for marginally outer trapped surfaces to coalescence of black holes and to the characterization of the trapped region are given.