arXiv subjects

Spiros Cotsakis

Publications and source records attributed to Spiros Cotsakis.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Singularities of varying light speed cosmologies

We study the possible singularities of isotropic cosmological models that have a varying speed of light as well as a varying gravitational constant. The field equations typically reduce to two dimensional systems which are then analyzed both by dynamical systems techniques in phase space and by applying the method of asymptotic splittings. In the general case we find initially expanding closed models which recollapse to a future singularity and open universes that are eternally expanding towards the future. The precise nature of the singularities is also discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

Bel-Robinson energy and the nature of singularities in isotropic cosmologies

We review our recent work on the classification of finite time singularities that arise in isotropic universes. This scheme is based on the exploitation of the Bel Robinson energy in a cosmological setting. We comment on the relation between geodesic completeness and the Bel Robinson energy and present evidence that relates the divergence of the latter to the existence of closed trapped surfaces.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

The Dominant Balance at Cosmological Singularities

We define the notion of a finite-time singularity of a vector field and then discuss a technique suitable for the asymptotic analysis of vector fields and their integral curves in the neighborhood of such a singularity. Having in mind the application of this method to cosmology, we also provide an analysis of the time singularities of an isotropic universe filled with a perfect fluid in general relativity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

Future Singularities and Completeness in Cosmology

We review recent work on the existence and nature of cosmological singularities that can be formed during the evolution of generic as well as specific cosmological spacetimes in general relativity. We first discuss necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of geodesically incomplete spacetimes based on a tensorial analysis of the geodesic equations. We then classify the possible singularities of isotropic globally hyperbolic universes using the Bel-Robinson slice energy that closely monitors the asymptotic properties of fields near the singularity. This classification includes all known forms of spacetime singularities in isotropic universes and also predicts new types.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

Singular Isotropic Cosmologies and Bel-Robinson Energy

We consider the problem of the nature and possible types of spacetime singularities that can form during the evolution of \emph{FRW} universes in general relativity. We show that by using, in addition to the Hubble expansion rate and the scale factor, the Bel-Robinson energy of these universes we can consistently distinguish between the possible different types of singularities and arrive at a complete classification of the singularities that can occur in the isotropic case. We also use the Bel-Robinson energy to prove that known behaviours of exact flat isotropic universes with given singularities are generic in the sense that they hold true in every type of spatial geometry.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Slice Energy and Theories of Gravitation

We review recent work on the use of the slice energy concept in generalized theories of gravitation. We focus on two special features in these theories, namely, the energy exchange between the matter component and the scalar field generated by the conformal transformation to the Einstein frame of such theories and the issue of the physical equivalence of different conformal frame representations. We show that all such conformally-related, generalized theories of gravitation allow for the slice energy to be invariably defined and its fundamental properties be insensitive to conformal transformations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Modern Approaches to Cosmological Singularities

We review recent work and present new examples about the character of singularities in globally and regularly hyperbolic, isotropic universes. These include recent singular relativistic models, tachyonic and phantom universes as well as inflationary cosmologies.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

Slice Energy and Conformal Frames in Theories of Gravitation

We examine and compare the behaviour of the scalar field slice energy in different classes of theories of gravity, in particular higher-order and scalar-tensor theories. We find a universal formula for the energy and compare the resulting conservation laws with those known in general relativity. This leads to a comparison between the inflaton, the dilaton and other forms of scalar fields present in these generalized theories. It also shows that all such conformally-related, generalized theories of gravitation allow for the energy on a slice to be invariably defined and its fundamental properties be insensitive to conformal transformations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

Future Singularities of Isotropic Cosmologies

We show that globally and regularly hyperbolic future geodesically incomplete isotropic universes, except for the standard all-encompassing `big crunch', can accommodate singularities of only one kind, namely, those having a non-integrable Hubble parameter, $H$. We analyze several examples from recent literature which illustrate this result and show that such behaviour may arise in a number of different ways. We also discuss the existence of new types of lapse singularities in inhomogeneous models, impossible to meet in the isotropic ones.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Global Hyperbolicity of Sliced Spaces

We show that for generic sliced spacetimes global hyperbolicity is equivalent to space completeness under the assumption that the lapse, shift and spatial metric are uniformly bounded. This leads us to the conclusion that simple sliced spaces are timelike and null geodesically complete if and only if space is a complete Riemannian manifold.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Cosmological Singularities

An overview is provided of the singularity theorems in cosmological contexts at a level suitable for advanced graduate students. The necessary background from tensor and causal geometry to understand the theorems is supplied, the mathematical notion of a cosmology is described in some detail and issues related to the range of validity of general relativity are also discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Global Hyperbolicity and Completeness

We prove global hyperbolicity of spacetimes under generic regularity conditions on the metric. We then show that these spacetimes are timelike and null geodesically complete if the gradient of the lapse and the extrinsic curvature $K$ are integrable. This last condition is required only for the tracefree part of $K$ if the universe is expanding.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

A note on wavemap-tensor cosmologies

We examine theories of gravity which include finitely many coupled scalar fields with arbitrary couplings to the curvature (wavemaps). We show that the most general scalar-tensor $σ$-model action is conformally equivalent to general relativity with a minimally coupled wavemap with a particular target metric. Inflation on the source manifold is then shown to occur in a novel way due to the combined effect of arbitrary curvature couplings and wavemap self-interactions. A new interpretation of the conformal equivalence theorem proved for such `wavemap-tensor' theories through brane-bulk dynamics is also discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

Current Trends in Mathematical Cosmology

We present an elementary account of mathematical cosmology through a series of important unsolved problems. We introduce the fundamental notion of `a cosmology' and focus on the issue of singularities as a theme unifying many current, seemingly unrelated trends of this subject. We discuss problems associated with the definition and asymptotic structure of the notion of cosmological solution and also problems related to the qualification of approximations and to the ranges of validity of given cosmologies.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

Symmetry, singularities and intregrability in complex dynamics VII: Integrability Properties of FRW-Scalar Cosmologies

This paper considers some physically interesting cosmological dynamical systems in the FRW-scalarfield category which are examined for integrability according to the criterion of Painlevé. In the literature these systems have been examined from the point of view of dynamical systems and the results from the two disparate methods of analysis are compared. This allows some more general comments to be made on the use of the Painlevé method in covariant systems.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

Is Nature Generic?

An introductory guide to mathematical cosmology is given focusing on the issue of the genericity of various important results which have been obtained during the last thirty or so years. Some of the unsolved problems along with certain new and potentially powerful methods which may be used for future progress are also given from a unified perspective.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

Scalar-tensor $σ$-cosmologies

We show that the scalar-tensor $σ$-model action is conformally equivalent to general relativity with a minimally coupled wavemap with a particular target metric. Inflation on the source manifold is then shown to occur in a natural way due both to the arbitrary curvature couplings and the wavemap self-interactions.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

Symmetry, singularities and integrability in complex dynamics III: approximate symmetries and invariants

The different natures of approximate symmetries and their corresponding first integrals/invariants are delineated in the contexts of both Lie symmetries of ordinary differential equations and Noether symmetries of the Action Integral. Particular note is taken of the effect of taking higher orders of the perturbation parameter. Approximate symmetries of approximate first integrals/invariants and the problems of calculating them using the Lie method are considered.

nlin.SI↗