Gravity Theories with Lightlike Sources in D=3

Spacetimes generated by a lightlike particle source for topologically massive gravity and its limits - Einstein gravity and the pure gravitational Chern-Simons model - are obtained both by solving the field equations and by infinite boosts of static metrics. The resulting geometries are the first known solutions of topologically massive gravity that are asymptotically flat and generated by compact matter sources. Explicit metrics describing various multiphoton solutions are also derived. For Einstein gravity, we also construct such solutions by null boost identifications of Minkowski space and thereby obtain limits on the energies of the sources.Comment: 11 pages, harvmac. The sign conventions for topologically massive gravity used in the original version are replaced by those standard in the literatur

Wald for non-stopping times: The rewards of impatient prophets

Let X-1 , X-2 , ... be independent identically distributed nonnegative random variables. Wald's identity states that the random sum S-T := X-1 + ... + X-T has expectation ET . EX1 provided T is a stopping time. We prove here that for any 1 < alpha <= 2, if T is an arbitrary nonnegative random variable, then S-T has finite expectation provided that X-1 has finite alpha-moment and T has finite 1/(alpha - 1)-moment. We also prove a variant in which T is assumed to have a finite exponential moment. These moment conditions are sharp in the sense that for any i.i.d. sequence X-i violating them, there is a T satisfying the given condition for which S-T (and, in fact, X-T) has infinite expectation. An interpretation is given in terms of a prophet being more rewarded than a gambler when a certain impatience restriction is imposed

Quantisation of Conformal Fields in Three-dimensional Anti-de Sitter Black Hole Spacetime

Utilizing the conformal-flatness nature of 3-dim. Anti-de Sitter (AdS_3) black hole solution of Banados, Teitelboim and Zanelli, the quantisation of conformally-coupled scalar and spinor fields in this background spacetime is explicitly carried out. In particular, mode expansion forms and propagators of the fields are obtained in closed forms. The vacuum in this conformally-coupled field theories in AdS_3 black hole spacetime, which is conformally-flat, is the conformal vacuum which is unique and has global meaning. This point particularly suggests that now the particle production by AdS_3 black hole spacetime should be absent. General argument establishing the absence of real particle creation by AdS_3 black hole spacetime for this case of conformal triviality is provided. Then next, using the explicit mode expansion forms for conformally-coupled scalar and spinor fields, the bosonic and fermionic superradiances are examined and found to be absent confirming the expectation.Comment: 51 pages, Revtex, version to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Supergeometry of Three Dimensional Black Holes

We show how the supersymmetric properties of three dimensional black holes can be obtained algebraically. The black hole solutions are constructed as quotients of the supergroup $OSp(1|\,2;R)$ by a discrete subgroup of its isometry supergroup. The generators of the action of the isometry supergroup which commute with these identifications are found. These yield the supersymmetries for the black hole as found in recent studies as well as the usual geometric isometries. It is also shown that in the limit of vanishing cosmological constant, the black hole vacuum becomes a null orbifold, a solution previously discussed in the context of string theory.Comment: 12 pages, harvmac, discussion of rotating black hole added, some minor corrections, reference adde

Back-reaction of a conformal field on a three-dimensional black hole

The first order corrections to the geometry of the (2+1)-dimensional black hole due to back-reaction of a massless conformal scalar field are computed. The renormalized stress energy tensor used as the source of Einstein equations is computed with the Green function for the black-hole background with transparent boundary conditions. This tensor has the same functional form as the one found in the nonperturbative case which can be exactly solved. Thus, a static, circularly symmetric and asymptotically anti-de Sitter black hole solution of the semiclassical equations is found. The corrections to the thermodynamic quantities are also computed.Comment: 12 pages, RevTeX, no figure

Lattice Universes in 2+1-dimensional gravity

Lattice universes are spatially closed space-times of spherical topology in the large, containing masses or black holes arranged in the symmetry of a regular polygon or polytope. Exact solutions for such spacetimes are found in 2+1 dimensions for Einstein gravity with a non-positive cosmological constant. By means of a mapping that preserves the essential nature of geodesics we establish analogies between the flat and the negative curvature cases. This map also allows treatment of point particles and black holes on a similar footing.Comment: 14 pages 7 figures, to appear in Festschrift for Vince Moncrief (CQG

An Equivalence Between Momentum and Charge in String Theory

It is shown that for a translationally invariant solution to string theory, spacetime duality interchanges the momentum in the symmetry direction and the axion charge per unit length. As one application, we show explicitly that charged black strings are equivalent to boosted (uncharged) black strings. The extremal black strings (which correspond to the field outside of a fundamental macroscopic string) are equivalent to plane fronted waves describing strings moving at the speed of light.Comment: 10 page

Thermodynamics and Evaporation of the 2+1-D Black Hole

The properties of canonical and microcanonical ensembles of a black hole with thermal radiation and the problem of black hole evaporation in 3-D are studied. In 3-D Einstein-anti-de Sitter gravity we have two relevant mass scales, $m_c=1/G$, and $m_p=(\hbar^2\Lambda/G)^{1/3}$, which are particularly relevant for the evaporation problem. It is argued that in the `weak coupling' regime $\Lambda<(\hbar G)^{-2}$, the end point of an evaporating black hole formed with an initial mass $m_0>m_p$, is likely to be a stable remnant in equilibrium with thermal radiation. The relevance of these results for the information problem and for the issue of back reaction is discussed. In the `strong coupling' regime, $\Lambda>(\hbar G)^{-2}$ a full fledged quantum gravity treatment is required. Since the total energy of thermal states in anti-de Sitter space with reflective boundary conditions at spatial infinity is bounded and conserved, the canonical and microcanonical ensembles are well defined. For a given temperature or energy black hole states are locally stable. In the weak coupling regime black hole states are more probable then pure radiation states.Comment: 11 pages, TAUP 2141/94, Late

Curvature singularity of the distributional BTZ black hole geometry

For the non-rotating BTZ black hole, the distributional curvature tensor field is found. It is shown to have singular parts proportional to a $\delta$-distribution with support at the origin. This singularity is related, through Einstein field equations, to a point source. Coordinate invariance and independence on the choice of differentiable structure of the results are addressed.Comment: Latex, 7 page