English

Spherical Solutions in Einstein-Aether Theory: Static Aether and Stars

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2010-02-05 v4 Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

The time independent spherically symmetric solutions of General Relativity (GR) coupled to a dynamical unit timelike vector are studied. We find there is a three-parameter family of solutions with this symmetry. Imposing asymptotic flatness restricts to two parameters, and requiring that the aether be aligned with the timelike Killing field further restricts to one parameter, the total mass. These "static aether" solutions are given analytically up to solution of a transcendental equation. The positive mass solutions have spatial geometry with a minimal area 2-sphere, inside of which the area diverges at a curvature singularity occurring at an extremal Killing horizon that lies at a finite affine parameter along a radial null geodesic. Regular perfect fluid star solutions are shown to exist with static aether exteriors, and the range of stability for constant density stars is identified.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.gr-qc/0603058,
  title  = {Spherical Solutions in Einstein-Aether Theory: Static Aether and Stars},
  author = {Christopher Eling and Ted Jacobson},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:gr-qc/0603058},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

27 pages, 6 figures; v2: minor editing, 1 new figure, references added; v3: minor modification to abstract; v4: corrected overall sign in twist formula and an error in equation for the aether stress tensor. Results unchanged since correct form was used in calculations

R2 v1 2026-07-22T12:44:52.922Z