The cauchy problem in spacetimes with closed timelike curves
The cauchy problem in spacetimes with closed timelike curves
Initially we consider initial data for the wave equation on partial Cauchy surfaces in the chronal region. In Misner space we can write down an explicit solution to the wave equation in terms of the initial data. It is shown that generic initial data evolves to give a divergent stress-energy scalar at the chronology horizon. The Cauchy problem in the wormhole spacetimes is discussed in the geometric optics limit. We find that initial data can evolve in a finite way through the chronology horizon. Using a covering space we were able to convert the Cauchy problem in Gott space to an equivalent problem in Minkowski space. Modifying results in Hawking and Ellis we show that the Cauchy problem in Gott space is well posed up to and on the chronology horizon.
We then considered extending the data for the wave equation beyond the chronology horizon in Gott space and Grant space. Performing a change of coordinates so that the isometries of the spacetime are manifest in one periodic coordinate we simplify the wave equation to a reduced wave equation. This is an equation of mixed type, changing from elliptic to hyperbolic. Similar things happen when we consider the wave equation in the spinning cosmic string spacetime. The surface of parabolic degeneracy coincides with the "0th -polarised hypersurface". The nature of the "0th -polarised hypersurface" is discussed and we give definition of this surface that is not dependent on the spacetime having isometries. We define a surface called "the essential chronology horizon" which we conjecture coincides with the 0th -polarised hypersurface for spacetimes without compactly generated chronology horizon and the chronology horizon for spacetimes with compactly generated chronology horizon.
University of Southampton
1998
Goodwin, John David
(1998)
The cauchy problem in spacetimes with closed timelike curves.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
Initially we consider initial data for the wave equation on partial Cauchy surfaces in the chronal region. In Misner space we can write down an explicit solution to the wave equation in terms of the initial data. It is shown that generic initial data evolves to give a divergent stress-energy scalar at the chronology horizon. The Cauchy problem in the wormhole spacetimes is discussed in the geometric optics limit. We find that initial data can evolve in a finite way through the chronology horizon. Using a covering space we were able to convert the Cauchy problem in Gott space to an equivalent problem in Minkowski space. Modifying results in Hawking and Ellis we show that the Cauchy problem in Gott space is well posed up to and on the chronology horizon.
We then considered extending the data for the wave equation beyond the chronology horizon in Gott space and Grant space. Performing a change of coordinates so that the isometries of the spacetime are manifest in one periodic coordinate we simplify the wave equation to a reduced wave equation. This is an equation of mixed type, changing from elliptic to hyperbolic. Similar things happen when we consider the wave equation in the spinning cosmic string spacetime. The surface of parabolic degeneracy coincides with the "0th -polarised hypersurface". The nature of the "0th -polarised hypersurface" is discussed and we give definition of this surface that is not dependent on the spacetime having isometries. We define a surface called "the essential chronology horizon" which we conjecture coincides with the 0th -polarised hypersurface for spacetimes without compactly generated chronology horizon and the chronology horizon for spacetimes with compactly generated chronology horizon.
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Published date: 1998
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Local EPrints ID: 464118
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/464118
PURE UUID: 39d7ec72-9dd0-4b33-8863-1ee91cb3461a
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 21:19
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 21:19
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Author:
John David Goodwin
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