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The choice of the Bondi radial coordinate and the interpretation of the news function in axisymmetric spacetimes

S Bonanos

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In the Bondi formulation of the axisymmetric vacuum Einstein equations, we argue that the "surface area" coordinate condition determining the "radial" coordinate is part of the initial data and can be chosen in a way that gives information about the physical problem whose solution is sought. We suggest a coordinate choice that follows from interpreting the radial coordinate, near infinity, as the (inverse of the) Newtonian potential. In this way, physical quantities that specify the problem (mass moments) enter the equations from the very beginning and play the role of "source" terms. A natural identification of the news function in terms of these "source" terms is suggested, leading to an expression for the radiated energy that formally differs from the standard quadrupole formula. We consider ways to reconcile this conclusion with the classical result.


PACS

04.20.Jb Exact solutions

04.25.-g Approximation methods; equations of motion

04.20.Gz Spacetime topology, causal structure, spinor structure

Subjects

Gravitation and cosmology

Dates

Issue 1 (2007)



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