Dynamical electromagnetic fields near black holes and multipole moments of stationary, general relativistic systems

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5937205

Suen, W M

This dissertation contains two works: one on the behavior of dynamical electromagnetic fields in the stationary spacetime generated by a black hole, and the other on the structure of a general stationary vacuum spacetime itself. The study of electromagnetic field is carried out in terms of the membrane formalism for black holes; and it is part of a series of papers with the aim of developing that formalism into a complete, self consistent description of electromagnetic and gravitational fields in a black hole background. Various model problems are presented as aids in understanding the interactions of electromagnetic fields with a black hole, and special attention is paid to the concept of the stretched horizon which is vital for the membrane formalism. The second work develops a multipole moment formalism for a general stationary system in general relativity. The multipole moments are defined in terms of a general formal series solution of the stationary Einstein equation, in analogy to multipole moments in the Newtonian theory of gravity. A model calculation applying the formalism too a black hole interacting with an external multipole field shows that the interaction can be understood in terms of elastic moduli of the black-hole horizon.

• Research Organization: California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5937205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
657003 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BLACK HOLES
EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
EQUATIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
SPACE-TIME