The relativistic dynamics of a thin spherically symmetric radiating shell in the presence of a central body

Abstract

We construct an idealized spherically symmetric relativistic model of an exploding object within the framework of the theory of surface layers in GR. A Vaidya solution for a radially radiating star is matched through a spherical shell of dust to a Schwarzschild solution. The (incomplete) equations for the motion of the spherical shell of dust and the radiation density of the Vaidya solution, as given by the matching conditions, are reduced to a first-order system and a general analysis of the characteristics of the motion is given. This system of differential equations is completed, adding a relation between the unknowns which represents the simplest way to avoid an unphysical singularity in the motion. The results of a numerical integration of the equations are presented in two cases which we think may have some relationship to stellar explosions. A comparative set of results for other solutions is also given, and some possible generalizations of the model are pointed out.