Huygens' envelope principle in Finsler spaces and analogue gravity

Autor(es)

Dehkordi, Hengameh R. ^[1] ; Saa, Alberto ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Matemat & Estat, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Matemat Aplicada, BR-13083859 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Classical and Quantum Gravity; v. 36, n. 8 APR 25 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

We extend to the n-dimensional case a recent theorem establishing the validity of the Huygens' envelope principle for wavefronts in Finsler spaces. Our results have direct applications in analogue gravity models, for which the Fermat's principle of least time naturally gives origin to an underlying Finslerian geometry. For the sake of illustration, we consider two explicit examples motivated by recent experimental results: surface waves in flumes and vortices. For both examples, we have distinctive directional spacetime structures, namely horizons and ergospheres, respectively. We show that both structures are associated with certain directional divergences in the underlying Finslerian (Randers) geometry. Our results show that Finsler geometry may provide a fresh view on the causal structure of spacetime, not only in analogue models but also for general relativity. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 13/09357-9 - Física e geometria do espaço-tempo
• Beneficiário: Alberto Vazquez Saa
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático