arXiv subjects

M. S. Piper

Publications and source records attributed to M. S. Piper.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv1997

Suppression of gravitational radiation

We consider a burst of quadrupole gravitational radiation in the presence of a large static mass $M$ situated at its source. Some of the radiation is back-scattered off the static field of the large mass, forming a wave tail. After the burst, the tail is a pure incoming wave, carrying energy back towards the source. We calculate this energy, and, in a numerical example, compare it with the outgoing wave energy. If $M$ is sufficiently large the incoming energy can equal the outgoing energy, indicating that the primary outgoing wave is completely suppressed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1997

The gravitational wave rocket

Einstein's equations admit solutions corresponding to photon rockets. In these a massive particle recoils because of the anisotropic emission of photons. In this paper we ask whether rocket motion can be powered only by the emission of gravitational waves. We use the double series approximation method and show that this is possible. A loss of mass and gain in momentum arise in the second approximation because of the emission of quadrupole and octupole waves.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1996

Implosion of quadrupole gravitational waves

Einstein's vacuum equations are solved up to the second approximation for imploding quadrupole gravitational waves. The implosion generates a black hole singularity irrespective of the strength of the waves.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1996

A Consistency Condition for the Double Series Approximation Method

The double series approximation method of Bonnor is a means for examining the gravitational radiation from an axisymmetric isolated source that undergoes a finite period of oscillation. It involves an expansion of the metric as a double Taylor series. Here we examine the integration procedure that is used to form an algorithmic solution to the field equations and point out the possibility of the expansion method breaking down and predicting a singularity along the axis of symmetry. We derive a condition on the solutions obtained by the double series method that must be satisfied to avoid this singularity. We then consider a source with only a quadrupole moment and verify that to fourth order in each of the expansion parameters, this condition is satisfied. This is a reassuring test of the consistency of the expansion procedure. We do, however, find that the imposition of this condition makes a physical interpretation of any but the lowest order solutions very difficult. The most obvious decomposition of the solution into a series of independent physical effects is shown not to be valid.

gr-qc↗