The subtraction in the denominator for
yields the sensitivity to initial conditions associated with
Mixmaster dynamics (MD). Misner [139] described the same behavior in terms of the model's volume and
anisotropic shears. A multiple of the scalar curvature acts as an
outward moving potential in the anisotropy plane. Kasner epochs
become straight line trajectories moving outward along a
potential corner while bouncing from one side to the other. A
change of corner ends a BKL era when
. Numerical evolution of Einstein's equations was used to
explore the accuracy of the BKL map as a descriptor of the
dynamics as well as the implications of the map [145,
164
,
166,
20]. Rendall has studied analytically the validity of the BKL map
as an approximation to the true trajectories [163].
Later, the BKL sensitivity to initial conditions was discussed in the language of chaos [6, 125]. An extended application of Bernoulli shifts and Farey trees was given by Rugh [165] and repeated by Cornish and Levin [63]. However, the chaotic nature of Mixmaster dynamics was questioned when numerical evolution of the Mixmaster equations yielded zero Lyapunov exponents (LE's) [76, 45, 111]. (The LE measures the divergence of initially nearby trajectories. Only an exponential divergence, characteristic of a chaotic system, will yield positive exponent.) Other numerical studies yielded positive LE [160]. This issue was resolved when the LE was shown numerically and analytically to depend on the choice of time variable [164, 19, 73]. Although MD itself is well-understood, its characterization as chaotic or not had been quite controversial [112].
LeBlanc et al [131] have shown (analytically and numerically) that MD can arise in
Bianchi VI
models with magnetic fields (see also [133]). In essence, the magnetic field provides the wall needed to
close the potential in a way that yields the BKL map for
u
[21]. A similar study of magnetic Bianchi I has been given by
LeBlanc [130]. Jantzen has discussed which vacuum and electomagnetic
cosmologies could display MD [122].
To study the CL fractal and ergodic properties of Mixmaster
evolution [64], one could take advantage of a new numerical algorithm due to
Berger, Garfinkle, and Strasser [28
]. Symplectic methods are used to allow the known exact solution
for a single Mixmaster bounce [174] to be used in the ODE solver. Standard ODE solvers [159] can take large time steps in the Kasner segments but must slow
down at the bounce. The new algorithm patches together exactly
solved bounces. Tens of orders of magnitude improvement in speed
are obtained while the accuracy of machine precision is
maintained. In [28
], the new algorithm was used to distinguish Bianchi IX and
magnetic Bianchi VI
bounces. This required an improvement of the BKL map (for
parameters other than
u) to take into account details of the exponential potential.
There are also recent numerical studies of Mixmaster dynamics in other theories of gravity. For example, Carretero-Gonzalez et al [52] find evidence of chaotic behavior in Bianchi IX-Brans-Dicke solutions while Cotsakis et al [65] have shown that Bianchi IX models in 4th order gravity theories have stable non-chaotic solutions. Barrow and Levin find evidence of chaos in Bianchi IX Einstein-Yang-Mills (EYM) cosmologies [7]. Their analysis may be applicable to the corresponding EYM black hole interior solutions.
Finally, we remark on a successful application of numerical Regge calculus in 3 + 1 dimensions. Gentle and Miller have been able to evolve the Kasner solution [84].
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Numerical Approaches to Spacetime Singularities
Beverly K. Berger http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-1998-7 © Max-Planck-Gesellschaft. ISSN 1433-8351 Problems/Comments to livrev@aei-potsdam.mpg.de |