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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2

Wormholes and negative energy from the gravitationally squeezed vacuum

Minkowski-signature wormhole solutions of the Einstein field equations require the existence of negative energy density in the vicinity of their throats. We point out that the gravitational interaction automatically generates squeezed vacuum states of matter, which by their nature, entail negative energy and, thus, provide a natural source for maintaining this class of wormholes.

Hochberg, David↗

(abstract) Spacecraft Doppler Tracking with the Deep Space Network in the Search for Gravitational Waves

The Deep Space Network generates accurate radio science data observables for investigators who use radio links between spacecraft and the Earth to examine small changes in the phase and/or amplitude of the signal to study a wide variety of structures and phenomena in space. Several such studies are directed at aspects of the theory of general relativity such as gravitational redshift and gravitational waves. A gravitational wave is a propagating, polarized gravitational field, a ripple in the curvature of space-time. In Einstein's theory of general relativity, the waves are propagating solutions of the Einstein field equations. Their amplitudes are dimensionless strain amplitudes that change the fractional difference in distance between test masses and the rates at which separated clocks keep time. Predicted by all relativistic theories of gravity, they are extremely weak (the ratio of gravitational forces to electrical forces is about 10(sup -40)) and are generated at detectable levels only by astrophysical sources - very massive sources under violent dynamical conditions. The waves have never been detected but searches in the low-frequency band using Doppler tracking of many spacecraft have been conducted and others are being planned. Upper limits have been placed on the gravitational wave strength with the best sensitivities to date are for periodic waves being 7 x 10(sup -15).

gravitational waves theory of general relativity D↗

Superposed metric for spinning black hole binaries approaching merger

Here, we construct an approximate metric that represents the spacetime of spinning binary black holes (BBH) approaching merger. We build the metric as an analytical superposition of two Kerr metrics in harmonic coordinates, where we transform each black hole term with time-dependent boosts describing an inspiral trajectory. The velocities and trajectories of the boost are obtained by solving the post-Newtonian (PN) equations of motion at 3.5 PN order. We analyze the spacetime scalars of the new metric and we show that it is an accurate approximation of Einstein’s field equations in vacuum for a BBH system in the inspiral regime. Furthermore, to prove the effectiveness of our approach, we test the metric in the context of a 3D general relativistic magnetohydrodynamical (GRMHD) simulation of accreting minidisks around the black holes. We compare our results with a previous well-tested spacetime construction based on the asymptotic matching method. We conclude that our new spacetime is well-suited for long-term GRMHD simulations of spinning binary black holes on their way to the merger.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A Superposed Metric for Spinning Black Hole Binaries Approaching Merger

We construct an approximate metric that represents the spacetime of spinning binary black holes (BBH) approaching merger. We build the metric as an analytical superposition of two Kerr metrics in harmonic coordinates, where we transform each black hole term with time-dependent boosts describing an inspiral trajectory. The velocities and trajectories of the boost are obtained by solving the post-Newtonian (PN) equations of motion at 3.5 PN order. We analyze the spacetime scalars of the new metric and we show that it is an accurate approximation of Einstein’s field equations in vacuum for a BBH system in the inspiral regime. Furthermore, to prove the effectiveness of our approach, we test the metric in the context of a 3D general relativistic magnetohydrodynamical (GRMHD) simulation of accreting minidisks around the black holes. We compare our results with a previous well-tested spacetime construction based on the asymptotic matching method. We conclude that our new spacetime is well-suited for long-term GRMHD simulations of spinning binary black holes on their way to the merger.

Luciano Combi↗

Quasi-normal mode of a Planck star

Highlights: • We have derived the Regge–Wheeler equations for a Planck star. • We have calculated the perturbed Einstein equations for a Planck star. • We have calculated the Quasi Normal Modes of a Planck star. In this work we present a calculation of the quasi-normal modes of a Planck star, a supposed state in the life of a large mass star in which quantum effects should reverse the collapse causing the star to explode. In order to solve the Regge–Wheeler equations and to calculate the quasi-normal modes, we apply the shooting method.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Anti-Ultralocality and Plateau Models of Inflation

Anti-ultralocality refers to the growth of spatial gradient terms relative to velocity terms in the coupled Einstein--scalar field equations. It is a characteristic feature of decelerated expansion before the onset of inflation. Previous numerical relativity studies have shown that anti-ultralocality prevents the onset of inflation in models with power-law inflaton potentials. In this paper, we show that models with plateau-shaped inflaton potentials, which are considered to be the simplest way to generate a tensor-to-scalar ratio below current observational upper limits, are especially vulnerable to anti-ultralocality effects. The reasons are the flatness of the plateau and the energy density gap of $\sim 10$ orders of magnitude between the Planck density and the plateau potential energy. To study the problem, we develop a protocol for assessing the viability of inflationary models in general, and we apply it to a plateau potential using a previously validated numerical relativity code. We find that, starting from generic initial conditions, the growth of gradient terms in the Einstein equations relative to non-gradient terms either prevents inflation from lasting for enough $e$-folds or triggers a phase of quantum runaway. We show that the fine-tuning of initial conditions necessary to avoid these issues becomes more severe as the energy scale of inflation is made smaller, disfavoring common approaches for reducing the tensor-to-scalar ratio.

FOS: Physical sciences↗

Einstein–Rosen waves and the Geroch group

Under the action of the Geroch group, the Minkowski metric can be transformed into any vacuum metric with two commuting Killing vectors. In principle, this reduces the problem of deriving vacuum metrics with two commuting Killing vectors to pure algebra. In this short note, we use these facts to give a purely algebraic derivation of the Einstein-Rosen metric, which describes a cylindrical gravitational wave. Furthermore, our derivation has a straightforward extension to gravitational pulse waves.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Smoothing and flattening the universe through slow contraction versus inflation

In a systematic study, we use an equivalent pair of improved numerical relativity codes based on a tetrad-formulation of the classical Einstein-scalar field equations to examine whether slow contraction or inflation (or both) can resolve the homogeneity, isotropy and flatness problems. Our finding, based on a set of gauge/frame invariant diagnostics and the models considered, is that slow contraction robustly and rapidly smooths and flattens spacetime beginning from initial conditions that are outside the perturbative regime of the flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric, whereas inflation fails these tests. We present new numerical evidence supporting the conjecture that the combination of ultralocal evolution and an effective equation-of-state with pressure much greater than energy density is the key to having robust and rapid smoothing. The opposite of ultralocality occurs in expanding spacetimes, which is the leading obstruction to smoothing following a big bang.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Linearization of Schwarzschild's line element - Application to the clock paradox.

This article studies the relativistic theory of the motion of a particle in the presence of a uniform acceleration field. The problem is introduced as a linearization of the fundamental line element of general relativity. The linearized line element is a solution of Einstein's field equations. The equations of geodesics corresponding to this line element are solved and applied to the clock paradox problem.-

Broucke, R.↗

An electromagnetic Thirring problem.

A neutral rotating mass shell surrounds a concentric stationary electrically charged insulating shell. The dipole-like magnetic field induced by (and proportional to) the rotation of the neutral shell is calculated on the basis of the coupled linearized Einstein-Maxwell field equations of general relativity. This field is apparently at variance with a conjecture made on Machian grounds, for which a possible explanation is suggested. The corresponding induced quadrupolar electric field is calculated for the region within the charged shell, and the potential is given for this field everywhere. Though understandable on mutually inconsistent elementary grounds, we regard this field as a useful example of a solution of linearized general relativity.-

Ehlers, J.↗

The approximation of radiative effects in relativistic gravity - Gravitational radiation reaction and energy loss in nearly Newtonian systems

An argument is presented to determine the accuracy with which a solution of Einstein's field equations of gravitation must be approximated in order to describe the dominant effects of gravitational radiation emission from weak-field systems. Several previous calculations are compared in the light of this argument, and some apparent discrepancies among them are resolved. The majority of these calculations support the 'quadrupole formulae' for gravitational radiation energy loss and radiation reaction.

Walker, M.↗

Gravitational lensing effects of vacuum strings - Exact solutions

Exact interior and exterior solutions to Einstein's field equations are derived for vacuum strings. The exterior solution for a uniform density vacuum string corresponds to a conical space while the interior solution is that of a spherical cap. For Mu equals 0-1/4 the external metric is ds-squared = -dt-squared + dr-squared + (1-4 Mu)-squared r-squared dphi-squared + dz-squared, where Mu is the mass per unit length in the string in Planck masses per Planck length. A maximum mass per unit length for a string is 6.73 x 10 to the 27th g/cm. It is shown that strings cause temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background and produce equal brightness double QSO images separated by up to several minutes of arc. Formulae for lensing probabilities, image splittings, and time delays are derived for strings in a realistic cosmological setting. String searches using ST, the VLA, and the COBE satellite are discussed.

Gott, J. R., III↗

Closed timelike curves produced by pairs of moving cosmic strings - Exact solutions

Exact solutions of Einstein's field equations are presented for the general case of two moving straight cosmic strings that do not intersect. The solutions for parallel cosmic strings moving in opposite directions show closed timelike curves (CTCs) that circle the two strings as they pass, allowing observers to visit their own past. Similar results occur for nonparallel strings, and for masses in (2+1)-dimensional spacetime. For finite string loops the possibility that black-hole formation may prevent the formation of CTCs is discussed.

Gott, J. Richard, III↗

Spin and gravitation

The fundamental variational principle for a perfect fluid in general relativity is extended so that it applies to the metric-torsion Einstein-Cartan theory. Field equations for a perfect fluid in the Einstein-Cartan theory are deduced. In addition, the equations of motion for a fluid with intrinsic spin in general relativity are deduced from a special relativistic variational principle. The theory is a direct extension of the theory of nonspinning fluids in special relativity.

Ray, J. R.↗