Pathologies of hyperbolic gauges in general relativity and other field theories

Abstract

We present a mathematical characterization of hyperbolic gauge pathologies in general relativity and electrodynamics. We show how non-linear gauge terms can produce a blow-up along characteristics and how this can be identified numerically by performing convergence analysis. Finally, we show some numerical examples and discuss the profound implications this may have for the field of numerical relativity.

5 pages, includes 2 figs. To appear in Phys.Rev.D Rapid Comm