Electromagnetic fields in an expanding universe

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.528574· OSTI ID:6570681

Hogan, P A; Ellis, G F.R.

The asymptotic form of the electromagnetic field due to a bounded distribution of charge current in an open, expanding Friedmann--Lemaitre--Robertson--Walker universe is studied. The technique used is to first describe a mechanism for passing from a solution of Maxwell's vacuum field equations on Minkowskian space-time to a solution of Maxwell's field equations in a region free of charge current on the cosmological background. This is tested on the field of an accelerating point charge and then applied to the rigorous treatment of the asymptotic electromagnetic field of a bounded charge-current distribution in Minkowskian space-time given by Goldberg and Kerr (J. Math. Phys. 5, 172 (1964)). A ''peeling expansion'' of the electromagnetic field in the expanding universe is obtained in inverse powers of a parameter that is proportional to the area distance along the generators of future null cones with vertices on the world line of a fundamental observer. The algebraic character of the two leading coefficients in the expansion is the same as that of the two leading coefficients in the Goldberg--Kerr expansion in Minkowskian space-time. In addition, bounds can be calculated, at any instant in the history of a fundamental observer, on all the coefficients in the peeling expansion, as a consequence of the evaluation of such bounds by Goldberg and Kerr in the case treated by them.

• Research Organization: Mathematical Physics Department, University College, Dublin, Ireland
• OSTI ID: 6570681
• Journal Information: J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 30:1; ISSN JMAPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

657003* -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
ASYMPTOTIC SOLUTIONS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
EINSTEIN-MAXWELL EQUATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
EQUATIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GEODESICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICAL SPACE
METRICS
MINKOWSKI SPACE
SPACE