Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Other Physics

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Physics

Theses/Dissertations

General relativity

Publication Year

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

An Extremum Principle For Charged Black Holes, Shaker Von Price Funkhouser Mar 2015

An Extremum Principle For Charged Black Holes, Shaker Von Price Funkhouser

Physics

There is a well known static condition that characterizes how two or more charged black holes stay in place: this condition is |qi |=mi , where a black hole (labeled by i) has electric charge qi and mass mi . For nearly half a century, this static condition has eluded a simple physical interpretation, without appealing to forces. I provide the first proof that the static condition, |qi |=mi , corresponds to an extremum of the black holes’ total energy. My approach uses geometry and calculus in the context of general relativity. For the non-specialist, this work draws upon one’s …


Aspects Of General Relativity In 1+1 Dimensions, Richard D. Mellinger Jr Dec 2012

Aspects Of General Relativity In 1+1 Dimensions, Richard D. Mellinger Jr

Physics

What would be the properties of a universe with only one spatial dimension and one time dimension? General relativity in 1+1 dimensions is unique since the two curvature terms in the Einstein field equations cancel. This makes the Einstein field equations algebraic rather than differential equations. This special feature can make 1+1 dimensionality attractive as an instructional tool to simplify the mathematics that many beginners find opaque. We explore the implications and features of the Einstein field equations in 1+1 dimensions and find they provide a surprisingly rich and interesting model. We then study an alternate theory and its implications …