Covariant BSSN formulation in bimetric relativity

• Numerical integration of the field equations in bimetric relativity is necessary to obtain solutions describing realistic systems. Thus, it is crucial to recast the equations  as a well-posed problem. In general relativity, under certain assumptions, the covariant BSSN formulation is a strongly hyperbolic formulation of the Einstein equations, hence its Cauchy problem is well-posed. In this paper, we establish the covariant BSSN formulation of the bimetric field equations. It shares many features with the corresponding formulation in general relativity, but there are a few fundamental differences between them. Some of these differences depend on the gauge choice and alter the hyperbolic structure of the system of partial differential equations compared to general relativity. Accordingly, the strong hyperbolicity of the system cannot be claimed yet, under the same assumptions as in general relativity. In the paper, we stress the differences compared with general relativity and state the main issues that should be tackled next, to draw a roadmap towards numerical bimetric relativity.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

ghost-free bimetric theory

Hassan–Rosen bimetric theory

bimetric relativity

BSSN formulation

numerical relativity

teoretisk fysik

Theoretical Physics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)