Spacelike Geodesics Research Articles

On spacelike Zoll surfaces with symmetries

Three explicit families of spacelike Zoll surface admitting a Killing field are provided. It allows to prove the existence of spacelike Zoll surfaces not smoothly conformal to a cover of de Sitter space as well as the existence of Lorentzian Möbius strips of non constant curvature all of whose spacelike geodesics are closed. Further the conformality problem for spacelike Zoll cylinders is studied.

Probing crunching AdS cosmologies

Holographic gravity duals of deformations of CFTs formulated on de Sitter spacetime contain FRW geometries behind a horizon, with cosmological big crunch singularities. Using a specific analytically tractable solution within a particular single scalar truncation of N=8 supergravity on AdS_4, we first probe such crunching cosmologies with spacelike radial geodesics that compute spatially antipodal correlators of large dimension boundary operators. At late times, the geodesics lie on the FRW slice of maximal expansion behind the horizon. The late time two-point functions factorise, and when transformed to the Einstein static universe, they exhibit a temporal non-analyticity determined by the maximal value of the scale factor a_{max} . Radial geodesics connecting antipodal points necessarily have de Sitter energy E \leq a_{max}, while geodesics with E > a_{max} terminate at the crunch, the two categories of geodesics being separated by the maximal expansion slice. The spacelike crunch singularity is curved "outward" in the Penrose diagram for the deformed AdS backgrounds, and thus geodesic limits of the antipodal correlators do not directly probe the crunch. Beyond the geodesic limit, we point out that the scalar wave equation, analytically continued into the FRW patch, has a potential which is singular at the crunch along with complex WKB turning points in the vicinity of the FRW crunch. We then argue that the frequency space Green's function has a branch point determined by a_{max} which corresponds to the lowest quasinormal frequency.

Further holographic investigations of big bang singularities

We further explore the quantum dynamics near past cosmological singularities in anisotropic Kasner-AdS solutions using gauge/gravity duality. The dual description of the bulk evolution involves $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$ super Yang-Mills on the contracting branch of an anisotropic de Sitter space and is well defined. We compute two-point correlators of Yang-Mills operators of large dimensions using spacelike geodesics anchored on the boundary. The correlator between two points separated in a direction with negative Kasner exponent p always exhibits a pole at horizon scales, in any dimension, which we interpret as a dual signature of the classical bulk singularity. This indicates that the geodesic approximation selects a non-normalizable Yang-Mills state.

Geodesics in a Two-Dimensional Model of Closed Spacetime

A simplified model of closed spacetime is considered which treats it as being imbedded in a flat, enveloping space of greater dimensionality. It is shown that in the case of expansion of space with acceleration only timelike geodesics have a solution that is infinite in time. Spacelike geodesics in this model are finite in time. This circumstance, in a natural way, forbids motion of free test particles with velocities greater than the speed of light. In principle, the conclusions of this work can be generalized to the case of a space of greater dimensionality.

Holographic signatures of cosmological singularities.

To gain insight into the quantum nature of cosmological singularities, we study anisotropic Kasner solutions in gauge-gravity duality. The dual description of the bulk evolution towards the singularity involves N=4 super Yang-Mills theory on the expanding branch of deformed de Sitter space and is well defined. We compute two-point correlators of Yang-Mills operators of large dimensions using spacelike geodesics anchored on the boundary. The correlators show a strong signature of the singularity around horizon scales and decay at large boundary separation at different rates in different directions. More generally, the boundary evolution exhibits a process of particle creation similar to that in inflation. This leads us to conjecture that information on the quantum nature of cosmological singularities is encoded in long-wavelength features of the boundary wave function.

Fermi-normal, optical, and wave-synchronous coordinates for spacetime with a plane gravitational wave

Fermi-normal (FN) coordinates provide a standardized way to describe the effects of gravitation from the point of view of an inertial observer. These coordinates have always been introduced via perturbation expansions and were usually limited to distances much less than the characteristic length scale set by the curvature of spacetime. For a plane gravitational wave this scale is given by its wavelength which defines the domain of validity for these coordinates known as the long-wavelength regime. The symmetry of this spacetime, however, allows us to extend FN coordinates far beyond the long-wavelength regime. Here we present an explicit construction for this long-range FN coordinate system based on the unique solution of the boundary-value problem for spacelike geodesics. The resulting formulae amount to summation of the infinite series for FN coordinates previously obtained with perturbation expansions. We also consider two closely related normal-coordinate systems: optical coordinates which are built from null geodesics and wave-synchronous coordinates which are built from spacelike geodesics locked in phase with the propagating gravitational wave. The wave-synchronous coordinates yield the exact solution of Peres and Ehlers–Kundt which is globally defined. In this case, the limitation of the long-wavelength regime is completely overcome, and the system of wave-synchronous coordinates becomes valid for arbitrarily large distances. Comparison of the different coordinate systems is done by considering the motion of an inertial test mass in the field of a plane gravitational wave.

Lorentzian compact manifolds: Isometries and geodesics

In this work we investigate families of compact Lorentzian manifolds in dimension four. We show that every lightlike geodesic on such spaces is periodic, while there are closed and non-closed spacelike and timelike geodesics. Also their isometry groups are computed. We also show that there is a non trivial action by isometries of H3(R) on the nilmanifold S1×(Γk∖H3(R)) for Γk, a lattice of H3(R).

Extremal surfaces as bulk probes in AdS/CFT

Motivated by the need for further insight into the emergence of AdS bulk spacetime from CFT degrees of freedom, we explore the behaviour of probes represented by specific geometric quantities in the bulk. We focus on geodesics and n-dimensional extremal surfaces in a general static asymptotically AdS spacetime with spherical and planar symmetry, respectively. While our arguments do not rely on the details of the metric, we illustrate some of our findings explicitly in spacetimes of particular interest (specifically AdS, Schwarzschild-AdS and extreme Reissner-Nordstrom-AdS). In case of geodesics, we find that for a fixed spatial distance between the geodesic endpoints, spacelike geodesics at constant time can reach deepest into the bulk. We also present a simple argument for why, in the presence of a black hole, geodesics cannot probe past the horizon whilst anchored on the AdS boundary at both ends. The reach of an extremal n-dimensional surface anchored on a given region depends on its dimensionality, the shape and size of the bounding region, as well as the bulk metric. We argue that for a fixed extent or volume of the boundary region, spherical regions give rise to the deepest reach of the corresponding extremal surface. Moreover, for physically sensible spacetimes, at fixed extent of the boundary region, higher-dimensional surfaces reach deeper into the bulk. Finally, we show that in a static black hole spacetime, no extremal surface (of any dimensionality, anchored on any region in the boundary) can ever penetrate the horizon.

Electromagnetic Control of Spacetime and Gravity: The Hard Problem of Interstellar Travel

This review considers the hard problem of interstellar travel: overcoming fundamental limits set by the nature of space and time. The prospects for a solution to this problem are discussed in terms of the mathematical form of extensions to the classical equations of electrodynamics and general relativity, extensions which offer some prospect of faster-than-light interstellar travel with terrestrial engineering. This is tantamount to the electromagnetic control of gravity. Extensions are considered which preserve invariance under general coordinate transformations, but which relax Lorentz invariance in the limit of flat spacetimes. Such extensions describe undiscovered couplings between gravity and electromagnetism, and can be understood to unify them at the classical level. Of course, only extensions consistent with past tests of Lorentz invariance are contemplated.Among the suite of effects which arises from coupling between gravity and electromagnetism, at least two are of interest for faster-than-light travel. One is a non-Lorentzian invariant interval with its prospect of spacelike geodesics and a corresponding relaxation of the limiting speed of light. The second effect is control of the coupling constant for mass-energy to warp spacetime, which would seem to be necessary to allow terrestrial engineering of interesting space warps, such as wormholes or Alcubierre warps. Both effects are mediated by as-yet-undiscovered force fields, perhaps just a single scalar field. New forces in the equations of motion, and new sources of stress-energy in the Einstein equations, are auxiliary e ects which may be of interest for falsifying such extensions to general relativity and electrodynamics.An example theory is presented which exhibits such extensions to the laws of gravity and electromagnetism: five-dimensional general relativity, developed between 1920 and 1960. In this theory, the faster-than-light limiting speed and the control of the coupling constant, as well as the extra forces in the equations of motion and the extra stress-energy source, all originate from a single scalar field. There is a particularly alluring identification of electric charge as a sort of momentum in the fifth dimension.It can be perilous to speculate about undiscovered physics, but the discoveries contemplated here will apparently be necessary if our civilization, or any civilization, is to reach the stars and explore the galaxy.

Geodesics in Margulis spacetimes

AbstractLet M3 be a Margulis spacetime whose associated complete hyperbolic surface Σ2 has a compact convex core. Generalizing the correspondence between closed geodesics on M3 and closed geodesics on Σ2, we establish an orbit equivalence between recurrent spacelike geodesics on M3 and recurrent geodesics on Σ2. In contrast, no timelike geodesic recurs in either forward or backward time.

Radial asymptotics of Lemaître–Tolman–Bondi dust models

We examine the radial asymptotic behavior of spherically symmetric Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi dust models by looking at their covariant scalars along radial rays, which are spacelike geodesics parametrized by proper length $\ell$, orthogonal to the 4-velocity and to the orbits of SO(3). By introducing quasi-local scalars defined as integral functions along the rays, we obtain a complete and covariant representation of the models, leading to an initial value parametrization in which all scalars can be given by scaling laws depending on two metric scale factors and two basic initial value functions. Considering regular "open" LTB models whose space slices allow for a diverging $\ell$, we provide the conditions on the radial coordinate so that its asymptotic limit corresponds to the limit as $\ell\to\infty$. The "asymptotic state" is then defined as this limit, together with asymptotic series expansion around it, evaluated for all metric functions, covariant scalars (local and quasi-local) and their fluctuations. By looking at different sets of initial conditions, we examine and classify the asymptotic states of parabolic, hyperbolic and open elliptic models admitting a symmetry center. We show that in the radial direction the models can be asymptotic to any one of the following spacetimes: FLRW dust cosmologies with zero or negative spatial curvature, sections of Minkowski flat space (including Milne's space), sections of the Schwarzschild--Kruskal manifold or self--similar dust solutions.

Refraction of geodesics by impulsive spherical gravitational waves in constant-curvature spacetimes with a cosmological constant

We investigate motion of test particles in exact spacetimes with an expanding impulsive gravitational wave which propagates in Minkowski, de Sitter or anti-de Sitter universe. Using the continuous form of these metrics we derive explicit junction conditions and simple refraction formulae for null, timelike and spacelike geodesics crossing a general impulse of this type. In particular, we present a detailed geometrical description of the motion of test particles in a special class of axially symmetric spacetimes in which the impulse is generated by a snapped cosmic string.

Pseudo-Riemannian geodesics and billiards

In pseudo-Riemannian geometry the spaces of space-like and time-like geodesics on a pseudo-Riemannian manifold have natural symplectic structures (just like in the Riemannian case), while the space of light-like geodesics has a natural contact structure. Furthermore, the space of all geodesics has a structure of a Jacobi manifold. We describe the geometry of these structures and their generalizations. We also introduce and study pseudo-Euclidean billiards, emphasizing their distinction from Euclidean ones. We present a pseudo-Euclidean version of the Clairaut theorem on geodesics on surfaces of revolution. We prove pseudo-Euclidean analogs of the Jacobi–Chasles theorems and show the integrability of the billiard in the ellipsoid and the geodesic flow on the ellipsoid in a pseudo-Euclidean space.

A Construction of Einstein-Weyl Spaces via LeBrun-Mason Type Twistor Correspondence

We construct infinitely many Einstein-Weyl structures on \({S^2\times\mathbb{R}}\) of signature (− + +) which is sufficiently close to the model case of constant curvature, and on which the space-like geodesics are all closed. Such a structure is obtained as a parameter space of a family of holomorphic disks which is associated to a small perturbation of the diagonal of \({\mathbb{CP}^1\times\overline{\mathbb{CP}^1}}\) . The geometry of constructed Einstein-Weyl spaces is well understood from the configuration of holomorphic disks. We also review Einstein-Weyl structures and their properties in the former half of this article.

Conformally stationary Lorentzian tori with no conjugate points are flat

A Lorentzian torus which admits a timelike conformal vector field and with no conjugate points on its timelike and spacelike geodesics is proved to be flat. If only the absence of conjugate points on timelike geodesics is assumed, a counterexample is shown.

Parallel-propagated frame along null geodesics in higher-dimensional black hole spacetimes

In [arXiv:0803.3259] the equations describing the parallel transport of orthonormal frames along timelike (spacelike) geodesics in a spacetime admitting a nondegenerate principal conformal Killing-Yano 2-form h were solved. The construction employed is based on studying the Darboux subspaces of the 2-form F obtained as a projection of h along the geodesic trajectory. In this paper we demonstrate that, although slightly modified, a similar construction is possible also in the case of null geodesics. In particular, we explicitly construct the parallel-transported frames along null geodesics in D=4, 5, 6 Kerr-NUT-(A)dS spacetimes. We further discuss the parallel transport along principal null directions in these spacetimes. Such directions coincide with the eigenvectors of the principal conformal Killing-Yano tensor. Finally, we show how to obtain a parallel-transported frame along null geodesics in the background of the 4D Plebanski-Demianski metric which admits only a conformal generalization of the Killing-Yano tensor.

Extracting spacetimes using the AdS/CFT conjecture

We present analytic methods for extracting a class of bulk geometries given information of certain physical quantities in the boundary CFT. More specifically we look at singular correlators and entanglement entropy in the CFT to provide information of null and spacelike geodesics repectively in the bulk. We show that static spherically symmetric, asymptotically AdS spacetimes which do not admit null circular orbits can be fully recovered, and that any spacetime can be recovered up to the local maximum of the potential. We provide analytical and numerical examples to verify the methods used.

Numerical metric extraction in AdS/CFT

An iterative method for recovering the bulk information in asymptotically AdS spacetimes is presented. We consider zero energy spacelike geodesics and their relation to the entanglement entropy in three dimensions to determine the metric in certain symmetric cases. A number of comparisons are made with an alternative extraction method presented in arXiv:hep-th/0609202, and the two methods are then combined to allow metric recovery in the most general type of static, spherically symmetric setups. We conclude by extracting the mass and density profiles for a toy model example of a gas of radiation in (2 + 1)-dimensional AdS.

Helical geodesic immersions of semi-Riemannian manifolds

We obtain some basic results on helical geodesic immersions in semi-Riemannian geometry. For example, it is shown that, for an indefinite semi-Riemannian submanifold, if any space-like geodesics of the submanifold are helices of order d, curvatures λ1,...,λd-1 and signatures ε1,...,εd in the ambient space, then any time-like geodesics of the submanifold have the same order and curvatures, and signatures (-1)1ε1,...,(-1)dεd.

Excursions beyond the horizon: black hole singularities in Yang-Mills theories (I)

We study black hole singularities in the AdS/CFT correspondence. These singularities show up in CFT in the behavior of finite-temperature correlation functions. We first establish a direct relation between space-like geodesics in the bulk and momentum space Wightman functions of CFT operators of large dimensions. This allows us to probe the regions inside the horizon and near the singularity using the CFT. Information about the black hole singularity is encoded in the exponential falloff of finite-temperature correlators at large imaginary frequency. We construct new gauge invariant observables whose divergences reflect the presence of the singularity. We also find a UV/UV connection that governs physics inside the horizon. Additionally, we comment on the possible resolution of the singularity.