New approaches to the study of gravitation in relativistic astrophysics

申请人沿着几个学生，在多年的时间里，开发了广泛使用的计算机代数系统GRTensor，这是应用微分几何领域的一个重要工具。 我提出的研究计划以新的方式利用这一专业知识。在这里，我将集中讨论这个程序的一个方面，曲率梯度场。我们的工作涉及新颖的使用计算机代数和数值例程的目标是发展一个新的“曲率”的观点，揭示了详细的结构和见解以前不可用。给定任何不变量，人们总是可以构造相关的梯度场并研究合成流。从本质上讲，我们已经把曲率的抽象概念变成了一种假设的流体，其性质可以很容易地可视化。虽然这项研究还处于早期阶段，但我已经可以引用以下内容：（i）流区分了不同类型的奇点。例如，虽然流寻找克尔度规赤道平面上的奇异环（真实的奇异），但流完全忽略了“壳聚焦奇异点”，这证实了我多年前提出的这样的奇异点不是“引力”的主张。(ii)在非均匀宇宙学领域，有人错误地认为“利玛窦标量的达朗伯发散”意味着“弱奇点”。这样的发散实际上是梯度流中的焦散--而人为的奇异性是没有意义的。我们期望这种新的曲率可视化方法将发展成为一种标准的方法，这对该领域的所有研究人员都有好处。尽管还有很多工作要做，但总结这种方法的一种方法是注意，当Killing矢量（对称方向）可用时，明智的做法是使用它们。梯度流在构造上与Killing流正交，并且在算法上总是可用的。 应该注意的是，梯度流的使用并不局限于爱因斯坦理论，也不局限于四维。我的整个研究计划的这一方面为HQP的培训提供了特殊的机会，并涉及两名研究生和一名暑期研究助理。

The applicant, along with several students and over a period of many years, developed the widely used computer algebra system GRTensor, an essential tool in the area of applied differential geometry. My proposed research program makes use of this expertise in new ways. Here I will concentrate on just one aspect of this program, gradient fields of curvature. Our work involves the novel use of both computer algebra and numerical routines with the objective being the development of a fresh view of "curvature" - a view that reveals detailed structure and insights previously unavailable. Given any invariant, one can always construct the associated gradient field and study the resultant flow. Essentially, we have turned the abstract idea of curvature into a hypothetical fluid the properties of which can be easily visualized. Although this research is in its early stages, I can already cite the following: (i) The flow distinguishes different types of singularities. For example, whereas the flow seeks out the singular ring in the equatorial plane of the Kerr metric (the real singularity), the flow completely ignores "shell focusing singularities", substantiating my claim, made many years ago, that such singularities are not "gravitational". (ii) In the area of inhomogeneous cosmology, it has been incorrectly claimed that the divergence of the "d'Alembertian of the Ricci scalar" signifies a "weak singularity". Such a divergence is actually a caustic in the gradient flow - and artificial singularity of no consequence. We expect that this fresh approach to the visualization of curvature will evolve into a standard approach much to the benefit to all researchers in the field. Whereas much work remains to be done, one way to summarize this approach is to note that when Killing vectors (directions of symmetry) are available, it is wise to make use of them. Gradient flows are, by construction, orthogonal to Killing flows and are always available - algorithmically. It should be noted that the use of gradient flows is not restricted to Einstein's theory nor to four dimensions. This aspect of my overall research program offers exceptional opportunities for the training of HQP and involves two graduate students and a summer research assistant.