Einstein's field equations are extremely difficult to solve, and when solved, the solutions are even harder to understand. In this thesis, two analysis tools are developed to explore and visualize the curvature of spacetimes. The first tool is based on a thorough examination of observer independent curvature invariants constructed from different contractions of the Riemann curvature tensor. These invariants are analyzed through their gradient fields, and attention is given to the resulting flow and critical points. Furthermore, we propose a Newtonian analog to some general relativistic invariants based on the underlying physical meaning of these invariants, where they represent the cumulative tidal and frame-dragging effects of the spacetime. This provides us with a novel and intuitive tool to compare Newtonian gravitational fields to exact solutions of Einstein's field equations on equal footing. We analyze the obscure Curzon-Chazy solution using the new approach, and reveal rich structure that resembles the Newtonian gravitational field of a non-rotating ring, as it has been suspected for decades. Next, we examine the important Kerr solution, which describes the gravitational field of rotating black holes. We discover that the observable part of the geometry outside the black hole's event horizon depends significantly on its angular momentum. The fields representing the cumulative tidal and frame-dragging forces change qualitatively at seven specific values of the dimensionless spin parameter of the black hole. The second tool we develop in this thesis is the accurate construction of the Penrose conformal diagrams. These diagrams are a valuable tool to explore the causal structure of spacetimes, where the entire spacetime is compactified to a finite size, and the coordinate choice is fixed such that light rays are straight lines on the diagram. However, for most spacetimes these diagrams can only be constructed as a qualitative guess, since their null geodesics cannot be solved. We developed an algorithm to construct very accurate Penrose diagrams based on numeric solutions to the null geodesics, and applied it to the McVittie metric. These diagrams confirmed the long held suspicion that this spacetime does indeed describe a black hole embedded in an isotropic universe. / Thesis (Ph.D, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-30 14:02:55.865

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The standard Kaluza-Klein theory is reviewed and its basic equations are rewritten in an anholonomic basis. A five dimensional Yang-Mills type quadratic and cubic curvature gravity model is introduced. By employing the Palatini variational principle, the field equations and the stress-energy tensors of these models are presented. Unification of gravity with electromagnetism is achieved through the Kaluza-Klein reduction mechanism. Reduced curvature invariants,field equations and stress-energy tensors in four dimensional space-time are obtained. The structure of interactions among the gravitational, electromagnetic and massless scalar fields are demonstrated in detail. It is shown that in addition to a set of generalized Maxwell and Yang-Mills type gravity equations the Lorentz force also emerges from this theory. Solutions of the standard Kaluza-Klein theory are explicitly demonstrated to be intrinsically contained in the quadratic model.

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This thesis reviews the use of 2-dimensional conformal field theory applied to gravity, specifically calculating Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of black holes in (2+1) dimensions. A brief review of general relativity, Conformal Field Theory, energy extraction from black holes, and black hole thermodynamics will be given. The Cardy formula, which calculates the entropy of a black hole from the AdS/CFT duality, will be shown to calculate the correct Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of the static and rotating BTZ black holes. The first law of black hole thermodynamics of the static, rotating, and charged-rotating BTZ black holes will be verified. / vii, 119 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

This thesis examines the role of shear in inhomogeneous spherically symmetric spacetimes in the field of general relativity. The Einstein field equations are derived for a perfect fluid source in comoving coordinates. By assuming a barotropic equation of state, two classes of nonaccelerating solutions are obtained for the Einstein field equations. The first class has equation of state p = ⅓µ and the second class, with equation of state p = µ, generalises the models of Van den Bergh and Wils (1985). For a particular choice of a metric potential a new class of solutions is found which is expressible in terms of elliptic functions of the first and third kind in general. A class of nonexpanding cosmological models is briefly studied. The method of Lie symmetries of differential equations generates a self-similar variable which reduces the field and conservation equations to a system of ordinary differential equations. The behaviour of the gravitational field in this case is governed by a Riccati equation which is solved in general. Another class of solutions is obtained by making an ad hoc choice for one of the gravitational potentials. It is demonstrated that for a stiff fluid a particular case of the generalised Emden-Fowler equation arises. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1996.

In this thesis, we seek exact solutions for the interior of a radiating relativistic star undergoing gravitational collapse. The spherically symmetric interior spacetime, when matched with the exterior radiating Vaidya spacetime, at the boundary of the star, yields the governing equation describing the gravitational behaviour of the collapsing star. The investigation of the model hinges on the solution of the governing equation at the boundary. We first examine shear-free models which are conformally flat. The boundary condition is transformed to an Abel equation and several new solutions are generated. We then study collapse with shear in geodesic motion. Two classes of solutions are generated which are regular at the stellar centre. Our treatment extends the results of Naidu et al (2006) which had the undesirable feature of a singularity at the centre of the star. In an attempt to find more general models, we transform the fundamental equation to a Riccati equation. Two general classes of solution are found and are used to study the thermal evolution in the causal theory of thermodynamics. These solutions are shown to reduce to the Friedmann dust solution in the absence of heat flow. Furthermore, we obtain new categories of solutions for the case of gravitational collapse with expansion, shear and acceleration of the stellar fluid. This is achieved by transforming the boundary condition into a Riccati equation. In special cases the Bernoulli equation is regained. The solutions are given in terms of elementary functions and they permit the investigation of the physical features of radiative stellar collapse. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

The study of exact solutions to the Einstein and Einstein-Maxwell field equations, by imposing a symmetry requirement on the manifold, has been the subject of much recent research. In this thesis we consider specifically conformal symmetries in static and nonstatic spherically symmetric spacetimes. We find conformally invariant solutions, for spherically symmetric vectors, to the Einstein-Maxwell field equations for static spacetimes. These solutions generalise results found previously and have the advantage of being regular in the interior of the sphere. The general solution to the conformal Killing vector equation for static spherically symmetric spacetimes is found. This solution is subject to integrability conditions that place restrictions on the metric functions. From the general solution we regain the special cases of Killing vectors, homothetic vectors and spherically symmetric vectors with a static conformal factor. Inheriting conformal vectors in static spacetimes are also identified. We find a new class of accelerating, expanding and shearing cosmological solutions in nonstatic spherically symmetric spacetimes. These solutions satisfy an equation of state which is a generalisation of the stiff equation of state. We also show that this solution admits a conformal Killing vector which is explicitly obtained. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1993.

We conduct a comprehensive investigative review of solution generating algorithms for the Einstein field equations governing the gravitational behaviour of an isolated neutral static spherical distribution of perfect fluid matter. Traditionally, the master field equation generated from the condition of pressure isotropy has been interpreted as a second order ordinary differential equation. However, since the pioneering work of Wyman (1949) it was observed that more success can be enjoyed by regarding the equation as a first order linear differential equation. There was a resurgence of the ideas of Wyman in 2000 and various researchers have been able to generate complete solutions to the field equations up to certain integrations. These have been accomplished by working in Schwarzschild (curvature) coordinates, isotropic coordinates, area coordinates and a coordinate system written in terms of the redshift parameter. We have utilised Durgapal–Banerjee (1983) coordinates and produced a new algorithm. The algorithm is used to generate new classes of perfect fluid solutions as well as to regain familiar particular solutions reported in the literature. We find that our solution is well behaved according to elementary physical requirements. The pressure vanishes for a certain radius and this establishes the boundary of the distribution. Additionally the pressure and energy density are both positive inside the radius. The energy conditions are shown to be satisfied and it is particularly pleasing to have the causality criterion satisfied to ensure that the speed of light is not exceeded by the speed of sound. We also report some new solutions using the algorithms proposed by Lake (2006). / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.