Solution of Maxwell's equations on a de Sitter background
Apr 30, 2009
11 pages
Published in:
- Gen.Rel.Grav. 42 (2010) 51-61
e-Print:
- 0812.1973 [gr-qc]
Report number:
- DSF-2008-29
View in:
Citations per year
Abstract: (arXiv)
The vector wave equation, supplemented by the Lorenz gauge condition, is decoupled and solved exactly in de Sitter space-time studied in static spherical coordinates. One component of the vector field is expressed, in its radial part, through the solution of a fourth-order ordinary differential equation obeying given initial conditions. The other components of the vector field are then found by acting with lower-order differential operators on the solution of the fourth-order equation (while the transverse part is decoupled and solved exactly from the beginning). The whole four-vector potential is eventually expressed through hypergeometric functions and spherical harmonics. Its radial part is plotted for given choices of initial conditions. This is an important step towards solving exactly the tensor wave equation in de Sitter space-time, which has important applications to the theory of gravitational waves about curved backgrounds.- Vector wave equation
- de Sitter space-time
- space-time: de Sitter
- field theory: vector
- field equations: decoupling
- field equations: solution
- Maxwell equation
- numerical calculations
References(6)
Figures(9)