13. Nicolas Franco, Michał Eckstein
Exploring the Causal Structures of Almost Commutative Geometries
SIGMA, vol. 10, 010 (2014).
[abstract] [preprint] [journal] [download]

Abstract:
We investigate the causal relations in the space of states of almost commutative Lorentzian geometries. We fully describe the causal structure of a simple model based on the algebra $\mathcal{S}(\mathbb{R}^{1,1}) \otimes M_2(\mathbb{C})$, which has a non-trivial space of internal degrees of freedom. It turns out that the causality condition imposes restrictions on the motion in the internal space. Moreover, we show that the requirement of causality favours a unitary evolution in the internal space.

14. Sebastian J. Szybka
On gravitational interactions between two bodies
In "Mathematical Structures of the Universe", eds. M. Eckstein, M. Heller, S. J. Szybka, CCPress, pp. 137-151 (2014).
[abstract] [preprint] [journal]

Abstract:
Many physicists, following Einstein, believe that the ultimate aim of theoretical physics is to find a unified theory of all interactions which would not depend on any free dimensionless constant, i.e., a dimensionless constant that is only empirically determinable. We do not know if such a theory exists. Moreover, if it exists, there seems to be no reason for it to be comprehensible for the human mind. On the other hand, as pointed out in Wigner's famous paper, human mathematics is unbelievably successful in natural science. This seeming paradox may be mitigated by assuming that the mathematical structure of physical reality has many `layers'. As time goes by, physicists discover new theories that correspond to the physical reality on the deeper and deeper level. In this essay, I will take a narrow approach and discuss the mathematical structure behind a single physical phenomenon - gravitational interaction between two bodies. The main aim of this essay is to put some recent developments of this topic in a broader context. For the author it is an exercise - to investigate history of his scientific topic in depth.

15. Sebastian J. Szybka, Krzysztof Głód, Michał J. Wyrębowski, Alicja Konieczny
Inhomogeneity effect in Wainwright-Marshman space-times
Phys. Rev. D: Part. Fields , vol. 89, p. 044033 (2014).
[abstract] [preprint] [journal] [download]

Abstract:
Green and Wald have presented a mathematically rigorous framework to study, within general relativity, the effect of small scale inhomogeneities on the global structure of space-time. The framework relies on the existence of a one-parameter family of metrics that approaches the effective background metric in a certain way. Although it is not necessary to know this family in an exact form to predict properties of the backreaction effect, it would be instructive to find explicit examples. In this paper, we provide the first example of such a family of exact non-vacuum solutions to the Einstein's equations. It belongs to the Wainwright-Marshman class and satisfies all of the assumptions of the Green-Wald framework.

16. Editors: Michał Eckstein, Michael Heller, Sebastian J. Szybka
Mathematical Structures of the Universe
Copernicus Center Press (2014) [abstract] [journal]

Abstract:
The book contains a collection of essays on mathematical structures that serve us to model the Universe. The authors discuss such topics as: the interplay between mathematics and physics, geometrical structures in physical models, observational and conceptual aspects of cosmology. The reader can also contemplate the scientific method on the verge of its limits.

17. Nicolas Franco, Michał Eckstein
Noncommutative geometry, Lorentzian structures and causality
in “Mathematical Structures of the Universe”, eds. M. Eckstein, M. Heller, S.J. Szybka, Copernicus Center Press (2014), pp. 315-340 [abstract] [preprint] [journal]

Abstract:
The theory of noncommutative geometry provides an interesting mathematical background for developing new physical models. In particular, it allows one to describe the classical Standard Model coupled to Euclidean gravity. However, noncommutative geometry has mainly been developed using the Euclidean signature, and the typical Lorentzian aspects of space-time, the causal structure in particular, are not taken into account. We present an extension of noncommutative geometry \`a la Connes suitable the for accommodation of Lorentzian structures. In this context, we show that it is possible to recover the notion of causality from purely algebraic data. We explore the causal structure of a simple toy model based on an almost commutative geometry and we show that the coupling between the space-time and an internal noncommutative space establishes a new `speed of light constraint'.

18. Mikko Lavinto, Syksy Rasanen, Sebastian J. Szybka
Average expansion rate and light propagation in a cosmological Tardis spacetime
JCAP, vol. 12, p. 051 (2013).
[abstract] [preprint] [journal] [download]

Abstract:
We construct the first exact statistically homogeneous and isotropic cosmological solution in which inhomogeneity has a significant effect on the expansion rate. The universe is modelled as a Swiss Cheese, with Einstein-de Sitter background and inhomogeneous holes. We show that if the holes are described by the quasispherical Szekeres solution, their average expansion rate is close to the background under certain rather general conditions. We specialise to spherically symmetric holes and violate one of these conditions. As a result, the average expansion rate at late times grows relative to the background, i.e. backreaction is significant. The holes fit smoothly into the background, but are larger on the inside than a corresponding background domain: we call them Tardis regions. We study light propagation, find the effective equations of state and consider the relation of the spatially averaged expansion rate to the redshift and the angular diameter distance.