Critical collapse in the spherically-symmetric Einstein-Vlasov model

Abstract

We solve the coupled Einstein-Vlasov system in spherical symmetry using direct numerical integration of the Vlasov equation in phase space. Focusing on the case of massless particles we study critical phenomena in the model, finding strong evidence for generic type I behaviour at the black hole threshold that parallels what has previously been observed in the massive sector. For differing families of initial data we find distinct critical solutions, so there is no universality of the critical configuration itself. However we find indications of at least a weak universality in the lifetime scaling exponent, which is yet to be understood. Additionally, we clarify the role that angular momentum plays in the critical behaviour in the massless case.

17 pages, 12 figures

References in corpus (5)

• A numerical investigation of the stability of steady states and critical phenomena for the spherically symmetric Einstein-Vlasov system
• On the steady states of the spherically symmetric Einstein-Vlasov system
• Critical Phenomena in Neutron Stars II: Head-on Collisions
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Cited by in corpus (2)

• The Einstein-Vlasov system in spherical symmetry: reduction of the equations of motion and classification of single-shell static solutions, in the limit of massless particles
• The Einstein-Vlasov system in spherical symmetry II: spherical perturbations of static solutions