The Markovian diffusion theory in the phase space is generalized within the framework of the general theory of relativity. The introduction of moving orthonormal frame vectors both for the position as well the velocity space enables to bypass difficulties in the general relativistic stochastic calculus. The general relativistic Kramers equation in the phase space is derived both in the parametrization of phase space proper time and the coordinate time. The transformation of the obtained diffusion equation under hypersurface-preserving coordinate transformations is analyzed and diffusion in the expanding universe is studied. It is shown that the validity of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem ensures that in the quasi-steady state regime the result of the derived diffusion equation is consistent with the kinetic theory in thermodynamic equilibrium.
We investigate the transformation laws of coordinates in generalizations of special relativity with two observer-independent scales. The request of covariance leads to simple formulas if one assumes noncanonical Poisson brackets, corresponding to noncommuting spacetime coordinates.
Commuting and noncommuting space-time coordinates in a class of deformed special relativity theories are investigated. Their momentum space representation, transformation behaviour, space-time algebra, invariants and the corresponding field theories are derived. Several coordinates require as a novel feature the introduction of deformed plane waves.
Gravitational-wave data analysis requires a detailed understanding of the highly relativistic, late stages of inspiral of neutron-star and black-hole binaries. A promising method to compute the late inspiral and its emitted waves is numerical relativity in co-rotating coordinates. The coordinates must be kept co-rotating via an appropriate choice of numerical relativity's lapse and shift functions. This article proposes a model problem for testing the ability of various lapse and shift prescriptions to keep the coordinates co-rotating.
Our previous work developed a framework for treating the motion of a small body in general relativity, based on a one-parameter-family of solutions to Einstein's equation. Here we give an analysis of the coordinate freedom allowed within this framework, as is needed to determine the form of the equations of motion when they are expressed in general gauges.
We investigate the interplay and connections between symmetry properties of equations, the interpretation of coordinates, the construction of observables, and the existence of physical relativity principles in spacetime theories. Using the refined notion of an event as a ``point-coincidence'' between scalar fields that completely characterise a spacetime model, we also propose a natural generalisation of the relational local observables that does not require the existence of four everywhere invertible scalar fields. The collection of all point-coincidences forms in generic situations a four-di…
We put forth a few ideas on coordinate conditions and their implementation in numerical relativity. Coordinate conditions are important for the long time scale simulations of relativistic systems, e.g., for the determination of gravitational waveforms from astrophysical events to be measured by LIGO/VIRGO. We demonstrate the importance of, and propose methods for, the {\it active enforcement} of coordinate properties. In particular, the constancy of the determinant of the spatial 3-metric is investigated as such a property. We propose an exceedingly simple but powerful idea for implementing el…
The basic and fundamental aspects of General Relativity are in general analysed in mathematical level of coordinate basis or holonomic frame by several authors in the literature. However, for many purposes it is more convenient to use a general basis, often called in four dimensions, a tetrad or vierbein, very useful in a local frame with orthonormal basis or pseudo-orthonormal basis. This text presents an introduction to non-coordinate basis and the two Cartan's structure equations that are mathematical implements in Riemannian geometry that facilitate the calculation of curvature tensors. Th…
Lyapunov exponents (LEs) are key indicators of chaos in dynamical systems. In general relativity the classical definition of LE meets difficulty because it is not coordinate invariant and spacetime coordinates lose their physical meaning as in Newtonian dynamics. We propose a new definition of relativistic LE and give its algorithm in any coordinate system, which represents the observed changing law of the space separation between two neighboring particles (an 'observer' and a 'neighbor'), and is truly coordinate invariant in a curved spacetime.
Numerical relativity codes that do not make assumptions on spatial symmetries most commonly adopt Cartesian coordinates. While these coordinates have many attractive features, spherical coordinates are much better suited to take advantage of approximate symmetries in a number of astrophysical objects, including single stars, black holes and accretion disks. While the appearance of coordinate singularities often spoils numerical relativity simulations in spherical coordinates, especially in the absence of any symmetry assumptions, it has recently been demonstrated that these problems can be avo…
The study of dynamics in general relativity has been hampered by a lack of coordinate independent measures of chaos. Here we present a variety of invariant measures for quantifying chaotic dynamics in relativity by exploiting the coordinate independence of fractal dimensions. We discuss how preferred choices of time naturally arise in chaotic systems and how the existence of invariant signals of chaos allow us to reinstate standard coordinate dependent measures. As an application, we study the Mixmaster universes and find it to exhibit transient soft chaos.
Based on work of Derrick, Coll, and Morales, we define a `symmetric' null coframe with {\it four real null covectors}. We show that this coframe is closely related to the GPS type coordinates recently introduced by Rovelli.
The study of dynamics in general relativity has been hampered by a lack of coordinate independent measures of chaos. Here I review a variety of invariant measures for quantifying chaotic dynamics in relativity that exploit the coordinate independence of fractal dimensions and symbolic entropies.
We have recently presented a new approach for numerical relativity simulations in spherical polar coordinates, both for vacuum and for relativistic hydrodynamics. Our approach is based on a reference-metric formulation of the BSSN equations, a factoring of all tensor components, as well as a partially implicit Runge-Kutta method, and does not rely on a regularization of the equations, nor does it make any assumptions about the symmetry across the origin. In order to demonstrate this feature we present here several off-centered simulations, including simulations of single black holes and neutro…
In the absence of symmetry assumptions most numerical relativity simulations adopt Cartesian coordinates. While Cartesian coordinates have some desirable properties, spherical polar coordinates appear better suited for certain applications, including gravitational collapse and supernova simulations. Development of numerical relativity codes in spherical polar coordinates has been hampered by the need to handle the coordinate singularities at the origin and on the axis, for example by careful regularization of the appropriate variables. Assuming spherical symmetry and adopting a covariant versi…
A new lattice based scheme for numerical relativity will be presented. The scheme uses the same data as would be used in the Regge calculus (eg. a set of leg lengths on a simplicial lattice) but it differs significantly in the way that the field equations are computed. In the new method the standard Einstein field equations are applied directly to the lattice. This is done by using locally defined Riemann normal coordinates to interpolate a smooth metric over local groups of cells of the lattice. Results for the time symmetric initial data for the Schwarzschild spacetime will be presented. It …
We study the implications of adopting hyperbolic driver coordinate conditions motivated by geometrical considerations. In particular, conditions that minimize the rate of change of the metric variables. We analyze the properties of the resulting system of equations and their effect when implementing excision techniques. We find that commonly used coordinate conditions lead to a characteristic structure at the excision surface where some modes are not of outflow-type with respect to any excision boundary chosen inside the horizon. Thus, boundary conditions are required for these modes. Unfortun…
A general covariant extension of Einstein\'{}s field equations is considered with a view to Numerical Relativity applications. The basic variables are taken to be the metric tensor and an additional four-vector $Z_μ$. Einstein's solutions are recovered when the additional four-vector vanishes, so that the energy and momentum constraints amount to the covariant algebraic condition $Z_μ=0$. The extended field equations can be supplemented by suitable coordinate conditions in order to provide symmetric hyperbolic evolution systems: this is actually the case for either harmonic coordinates or norm…
Maxwellian approximations to linear general relativity are revisited in light of relatively recent results on the degrees of freedom in the linear gravitational field. The well-known Maxwellian formalism obtained in harmonic coordinates is compared with a Maxwellian formalism obtained under a coordinate choice where each of the metric components corresponds to each of the coordinate-invariant degrees of freedom of the linear gravitational field. The coordinate freedom of general relativity can be exploited to cast the field equations into Maxwellian form, but such forms can be mere mirages of …
A general covariant extension of Einstein's field equations is considered with a view to Numerical Relativity applications. The basic variables are taken to be the metric tensor and an additional four-vector. The extended field equations, when supplemented by suitable coordinate conditions, determine the time evolution of all these variables without any constraint. Einstein's solutions are recovered when the additional four-vector vanishes, so that the energy and momentum constraints hold true. The extended system is well posed when using the natural extension of either harmonic coordinates or…
The gauge polyvalence of a new numerical code is tested, both in harmonic-coordinate simulations (gauge-waves testbed) and in singularity-avoiding coordinates (simple Black-Hole simulations, either with or without shift). The code is built upon an adjusted first-order flux-conservative version of the Z4 formalism and a recently proposed family of robust finite-difference high-resolution algorithms. An outstanding result is the long-term evolution (up to 1000M) of a Black-Hole in normal coordinates (zero shift) without excision.
In special relativity, the definition of coordinate systems adapted to generic accelerated observers is a long-standing problem, which has found unequivocal solutions only for the simplest motions. We show that the Marzke-Wheeler construction, an extension of the Einstein synchronization convention, produces accelerated systems of coordinates with desirable properties: (a) they reduce to Lorentz coordinates in a neighborhood of the observers' world-lines; (b) they index continuously and completely the causal envelope of the world-line (that is, the intersection of its causal past and its causa…
We derive a coordinate-independent formulation of the post-1-Newtonian approximation to general relativity. This formulation is a generalization of the Newton-Cartan geometric formulation of Newtonian gravity. It involves several fields and a connection, but no spacetime metric at the fundamental level. We show that the usual coordinate-dependent equations of post-Newtonian gravity are recovered when one specializes to asymptotically flat spacetimes and to appropriate classes of coordinates.
In this thesis four separate problems in general relativity are considered, divided into two separate themes: coordinate conditions and perfect fluid spheres. Regarding coordinate conditions we present a pedagogical discussion of how the appropriate use of coordinate conditions can lead to simplifications in the form of the spacetime curvature -- such tricks are often helpful when seeking specific exact solutions of the Einstein equations. Regarding perfect fluid spheres we present several methods of transforming any given perfect fluid sphere into a possibly new perfect fluid sphere. This is …
It was generally believed that, in general relativity, the fundamental laws of nature should be invariant or covariant under a general coordinate transformation. In general relativity, the equivalence principle tells us the existence of a local inertial coordinate system and the fundamental laws in the local inertial coordinate system which are the same as those in inertial reference system. Then, after a general coordinate transformation, the fundamental laws of nature in arbitrary coordinate system or in arbitrary curved space-time can be obtained. However, through a simple example, we find …
We study how the changes of coordinates between the class of harmonic coordinates affect the analitycal solutions of Einstein's equations and we apply it to an analytical approach for stationary and axisymmetric solutions of Einstein equation used by the authors \cite{cmmr}, \cite{cugmmr} to solve the problem of a self-gravitating rigidly rotating perfect fluid compact source.
A reference frame in event space is a smooth field of orthonormal bases. Every reference frame is equipped by anholonomic coordinates. Using anholonomic coordinates allows to find out relative speed of two observers and appropriate Lorentz transformation. Synchronization of a reference frame is an anholonomic time coordinate. Simple calculations show how synchronization influences time measurement in the vicinity of the Earth. Measurement of Doppler shift from the star orbiting the black hole helps to determine mass of the black hole. According observations of Sgr A, if non orbiting observer e…
We report on a new open-source, user-friendly numerical relativity code package called SENR/NRPy+. Our code extends previous implementations of the BSSN reference-metric formulation to a much broader class of curvilinear coordinate systems, making it ideally-suited to modeling physical configurations with approximate or exact symmetries. In the context of modeling black hole dynamics, it is orders of magnitude more efficient than other widely used open-source numerical relativity codes. NRPy+ provides a Python-based interface in which equations are written in natural tensorial form and output …
We study gravitational curvature effects in circular and radial geodesics in static, spherically symmetric space-times, using Fermi normal coordinates. We first set up these coordinates in the general case, and then use this to study effective magnetic fields due to gravitational curvature in the exterior and interior Schwarzschild, Janis-Newman-Winicour, and Bertrand space-times. We show that these fields can be large for specific parameter values in the theories, and thus might have observational significance. We discuss the qualitative differences of the magnetic field for vacuum space-time…
A dual foliation treatment of General Relativity is presented. The basic idea of the construction is to consider two foliations of a spacetime by spacelike hypersurfaces and relate the two geometries. The treatment is expected to be useful in various situations, and in particular whenever one would like to compare objects represented in different coordinates. Potential examples include the construction of initial data and the study of trapped tubes. It is common for studies in mathematical relativity to employ a double-null gauge. In such studies local well-posedness is treated by referring ba…
In this paper, we propose a new deformed Poisson brackets which leads to the Fock coordinate transformation by using an analogous procedure as in Deformed Special Relativity. We therefore derive the corresponding momentum transformation which is revealed to be different from previous results. Contrary to the earlier version of Fock's nonlinear relativity for which plane waves cannot be described, our resulting algebra keeps invariant for any coordinate and momentum transformations the four dimensional contraction $p_μ x^μ $, allowing therefore to associate plane waves for free particles. As in…
The fundamental role played by black holes in our study of microquasars, gamma ray bursts, and the outflows from active galactic nuclei requires an appreciation for, and at times some in-depth analysis of, curved spacetime. We highlight misconceptions surrounding the notion of coordinate transformation in general relativity as applied to metrics for rotating black holes that are beginning to increasingly appear in the literature. We emphasize that there is no coordinate transformation that can turn the metric of a rotating spacetime into that for a Schwarzschild spacetime, or more generally, t…
A model is proposed to demonstrate that classical general relativity can emerge from loop quantum gravity, in a relational description of gravitational field in terms of the coordinates given by matter. Local Dirac observables and coherent states are defined to explore physical content of the model. Expectation values of commutators between the observables for the coherent states recover the four-dimensional diffeomorphism algebra and the large-scale dynamics of the gravitational field relative to the matter coordinates. Both results conform with general relativity up to calculable corrections…
The issue of implementing the principle of general relativity in Einstein equations has been widely discussed, since Kretschmann's well-known criticism stated that general covariance of the Einstein equations is not suffice to express the principle of general relativity (the equivalence of all the coordinate systems). This failure is usually rooted in the fact that metric in Einstein equations is not univocally determined by the matter distribution. We show that the condition of univocal determination of the metric by the matter distribution is stronger than the requirement of equivalence of a…
We show that the so-called flat-space rotational Killing vector method for measuring the Cartesian components of a black hole spin can be derived from the surface integral of Weinberg's pseudotensor over the apparent horizon surface when using Gaussian normal coordinates in the integration. Moreover, the integration of the pseudotensor in this gauge yields the Komar angular momentum integral in a foliation adapted to the axisymmetry of the spacetime. As a result, the method does not explicitly depend on the evolved lapse $α$ and shift $β^i$ on the respective timeslice, as they are fixed to Gau…
We use the canonical formalism developed together with David Robinson to st= udy the Einstein equations on a null surface. Coordinate and gauge conditions = are introduced to fix the triad and the coordinates on the null surface. Toget= her with the previously found constraints, these form a sufficient number of second class constraints so that the phase space is reduced to one pair of canonically conjugate variables: $\Ac_2\and\Sc^2$. The formalism is related to both the Bondi-Sachs and the Newman-Penrose methods of studying the gravitational field at null infinity. Asymptotic solutions in th…
We provide a covariant derivation of plasma physics coupled to gravitation by utilizing the 3+1 formulation of general relativity, including a discussion of the Lorentz force law. We then reduce the system to the spherically symmetric case and show that all regions of the spacetime can be represented in a single coordinate system, thus revoking the need for junction conditions. We further show that the region exterior to the collapsing region is naturally described by the charged Vaidya spacetime in non-null coordinates.
The characteristic formalism of numerical relativity is based on a system of coordinates aligned with outgoing null cones. While these coordinates were designed for studying gravitational waves, they can also be easily adapted to model cosmological past null cones (PNCs). Similar to observational coordinates in the observational approach to cosmology, this then provides a model that only makes use of information causally connected to an observer. However, the diameter distance, which is used as a radial coordinate, limits the model's cosmological application to the region prior to the PNC refo…
Motions with respect to one inertial (or ``map'') frame are often described in terms of the coordinate time/velocity pair (or ``kinematic'') of the map frame itself. Since not all observers experience time in the same way, other time/velocity pairs describe map-frame trajectories as well. Such coexisting kinematics provide alternate variables to describe acceleration. We outline a general strategy to examine these. For example, Galileo's acceleration equations describe unidirectional relativistic motion {\it exactly} if one uses $V=\frac{dx}{dT}$, where $x$ is map-frame position and $T$ is clo…
We present several improvements to the Cauchy-characteristic evolution procedure that generates high-fidelity gravitational waveforms at $\mathcal{I}^+$ from numerical relativity simulations. Cauchy-characteristic evolution combines an interior solution of the Einstein field equations based on Cauchy slices with an exterior solution based on null slices that extend to $\mathcal{I}^+$. The foundation of our improved algorithm is a comprehensive method of handling the gauge transformations between the arbitrarily specified coordinates of the interior Cauchy evolution and the unique (up to BMS tr…
We investigate static and spherically symmetric solutions in the Minimal Theory of Bigravity (MTBG). First, we show that a pair of Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetimes with different cosmological constants and black hole masses written in the spatially-flat Gullstrand-Painlevé (GP) coordinates is a solution in the self-accelerating branch of MTBG, while it cannot be a solution in the normal branch. We then illustrate how Schwarzschild-de Sitter solutions can become compatible with the normal branch when using different coordinates. We also confirm that the self-accelerating branch of MTBG admits…
The relative geodesic motion in central charts (i.e. static and spherically symmetric) on the $(1+3)$-dimensional de Sitter spacetimes is studied in terms of conserved quantities. The Lorentzian isometries are derived, relating the coordinates of the local chart of a fixed observer with the coordinates of a mobile chart considered as the rest frame of a massive paticle freely moving on a timelike geodesic. The time dilation and Lorentz contraction are discussed pointing out some notable features of the de Sitter relativity in central charts.
When, at the end of the year 1915, both Einstein and Hilbert arrived at what were named the field equations of general relativity, both of them thought that their fundamental achievement entailed, inter alia, the realisation of a theory of gravitation whose underlying group was the group of general coordinate transformations. This group theoretical property was believed by Einstein to be a relevant one from a physical standpoint, because the general coordinates allowed to introduce reference frames not limited to the inertial reference frames that can be associated with the Minkowski coordinat…
We investigate the suitability and properties of a quasi-Kinnersley tetrad and a geometrically motivated coordinate system as tools for quantifying both strong-field and wave-zone effects in numerical relativity (NR) simulations. We fix the radial and latitudinal coordinate degrees of freedom of the metric, using the Coulomb potential associated with the quasi-Kinnersley transverse frame. These coordinates are invariants of the spacetime and can be used to unambiguously fix the outstanding spin-boost freedom associated with the quasi-Kinnersley frame (resulting in a preferred quasi-Kinnersley …
The Palatini formulation is used to develop a genuine connection theory for general relativity, in which the gravitational field is represented by a Lorentz-valued spin connection. The existence of a tetrad field, given by the Fock-Ivanenko covariant derivative of the tangent-space coordinates, implies a coupling between the spin connection and the coordinate vector-field, which turns out to be the responsible for the onset of curvature. This connection-coordinate coupling can thus be considered as the very foundation of the gravitational interaction. The peculiar form of the tetrad field is s…
Einstein's general relativity with both metric and vielbein treated as independent fields is considered, demonstrating the existence of a consistent variational principle and deriving a Hamiltonian formalism that treats the spatial metric and spatial vielbein as canonical coordinates. This results in a Hamiltonian in standard form that consists of Hamiltonian and momentum constraints as well as constraints that generate spatial frame transformations---all appearing as primary, first class constraints on phase space. The formalism encompasses the standard coordinate frame and vielbein approache…
We consider a spherically symmetric stellar model in general relativity whose interior consists of a pressureless fluid undergoing microscopic velocity diffusion in a cosmological scalar field. We show that the diffusion dynamics compel the interior to be spatially homogeneous, by which one can infer immediately that within our model, and in contrast to the diffusion-free case, no naked singularities can form in the gravitational collapse. We then study the problem of matching an exterior Bondi type metric to the surface of the star and find that the exterior can be chosen to be a modified Vai…
The class of accelerated reference frames has been studied, on the basis of Fermi-Walker coordinates; both in the cases of uniform and arbitrary accelerations. In the first case, explicit formulae for the transformation of coordinates have been derived and, in both cases, we have also obtained the infinitesimal generators and their commutation relations. The outcome has been an extension of the Poincaré algebra (in 1+1 dimensions), which is infinite dimensional in the case of general acceleration. This extension turns out to be trivial, in the sense that it is Abelian.
The characteristic formalism in numerical relativity, which has been developed to study gravitational waves, and the observer metric approach in observational cosmology both make use of coordinate systems based on null cones. In this paper, these coordinate systems are compared and it is then demonstrated how characteristic numerical relativity can be used to investigate problems in observational cosmology. In a numerical experiment using the characteristic formalism, it is shown how the historical evolution of a LTB universe compares to that of the $Λ$CDM model given identical observational d…
The high accuracy of modern space astrometry requires the use of General Relativity to model the propagation of stellar light through the gravitational field encountered from a source to a given observer inside the Solar System. In this sense relativistic astrometry is part of fundamental physics. The general relativistic definition of astrometric measurement needs an appropriate use of the concept of reference frame, which should then be linked to the conventions of the IAU Resolutions (2000), which fix the celestial coordinate system. A consistent definition of the astrometric observables in…
We revisit the Kerr metric in Boyer-Lindquist coordinates and construct the corresponding class of nonstandard solutions of Einstein's equations. These solutions can be used to describe the outer part of spiral galaxies without assuming dark matter.
Analytical computations in relativistic cosmology can be split into two sets: time evolution relating the initial conditions to the observer's light-cone and light propagation to obtain observables. Cosmological perturbation theory in the FLRW coordinates constitutes an efficient tool for the former task, but the latter is dramatically simpler in light-cone-adapted coordinates that trivialize the light rays towards the observer world-line. Here we point out that time evolution and observable reconstruction can be combined into a single computation that relates directly initial conditions to ob…
We present a finite difference version of the eth formalism, which allows use of tensor fields in spherical coordinates in a manner which avoids polar singularities. The method employs two overlapping stereographic coordinate patches, with interpolations between the patches in the regions of overlap. It provides a new and effective computational tool for dealing with a wide variety of systems in which spherical coordinates are natural, such as the generation of radiation from an isolated source. We test the formalism with the evolution of waves in three spatial dimensions and the calculation o…
The noninvariance of Lyapunov exponents in general relativity has led to the conclusion that chaos depends on the choice of the space-time coordinates. Strikingly, we uncover the transformation laws of Lyapunov exponents under general space-time transformations and we find that chaos, as characterized by positive Lyapunov exponents, is coordinate invariant. As a result, the previous conclusion regarding the noninvariance of chaos in cosmology, a major claim about chaos in general relativity, necessarily involves the violation of hypotheses required for a proper definition of the Lyapunov expon…
An exact charged solution with axial symmetry is obtained in the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity (TEGR). The associated metric has the structure function $G(ξ)=1-ξ^2-2mAξ^3-q^2A^2ξ^4$. The fourth order nature of the structure function can make calculations cumbersome. Using a coordinate transformation we get a tetrad whose metric has the structure function in a factorisable form $(1-ξ^2)(1+r_{+}Aξ)(1+r_{-}Aξ)$ with $r_{\pm}$ as the horizons of Reissner-Nordstr$\ddot{o}$m space-time. This new form has the advantage that its roots are now trivial to write down. Then, we study the s…
At first, we state some results in arXiv: 0707.2639, and then, using a positive kinetic energy coordinate condition given by arXiv: 0707.2639, we present an action with positive kinetic energy term for general relativity. Based on this action, the corresponding theory of canonical quantization is discussed.
We investigate the use of asymptotically null slices combined with stretching or compactification of the radial coordinate for the numerical simulation of asymptotically flat spacetimes. We consider a 1-parameter family of coordinates characterised by the asymptotic relation $r\sim R^{1-n}$ between the physical radius $R$ and coordinate radius $r$, and the asymptotic relation $K\sim R^{n/2-1}$ for the extrinsic curvature of the slices. These slices are asymptotically null in the sense that their Lorentz factor relative to stationary observers diverges as $Γ\sim R^{n/2}$. While $1<n\le 2$ slice…
