Null-Strut Calculus: The First Test

Arkady Kheyfets; Warner A. Miller; John A. Wheeler

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.61.2042

Null-Strut Calculus: The First Test

Arkady Kheyfets, Warner A. Miller, and John A. Wheeler

Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 2042 – Published 31 October 1988

Abstract

We solve Einstein's field equation via null-strut calculus (NSC). This working version of Regge calculus makes maximal use of light rays. We model the Kasner universe—prototype of the Belinsky-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz mixmaster oscillation generic to all crunch cosmologies. We demonstrate that in evolution NSC (1) conserves energy to a degree comparable to the standard finite difference method, and (2) is free of the Courant instability. NSC handles successfully both the dynamics and the manufacture of the initial-value data, in full conformity with the York initial-value prescription.

Received 13 June 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.61.2042

Authors & Affiliations

Arkady Kheyfets¹, Warner A. Miller², and John A. Wheeler³

¹Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8205
²Advanced Concepts Branch, Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico 87117
³Physics Departments, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
⁴Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544