Hamiltonian structure of the Vlasov-Einstein system and the problem of stability for spherical relativistic star clusters (Q1210329)

The Hamiltonian formulation of the Vlasov-Einstein system, which is appropriate for collisionless, self-gravitating systems like clusters of stars that are so dense that gravity must be described by the Einstein equation, is presented. In particular, it is demonstrated explicitly in the context of a \(3+1\) splitting that, for spherically symmetric configurations, the Vlasov- Einstein system can be viewed as a Hamiltonian system, where the dynamics is generated by a noncanonical Poisson bracket, with the Hamiltonian generating the evolution of the distribution function \(f\) (a noncanonical variable) being the conserved ADM mass-energy \(H_{\text{ADM}}\). This facilitates a geometric understanding of the evolution of \(f\) in an infinite-dimensional phase space, providing thereby a natural interpretation of the constraints associated with conservation of phase space. This geometric interpretation also facilitates the derivation of improved criteria for linear stability by focusing on dynamically accessible perturbations \(\delta f\) which satisfy all the constraints of phase space conservation. An explicit expression is derived for the energy \(\delta^{(2)}H_{\text{ADM}}\) associated with an arbitrary phase space preserving perturbation of an arbitrary spherical equilibrium, and it is shown that the equilibrium must be linearly stable if \(\delta^{(2)}H_{\text{ADM}}\) is positive semi-definite. Insight into the Hamiltonian reformulation is provided by a description of general finite degree of freedom systems. Intuition derived from simple finite models clarifies several features of the Vlasov-Einstein system; for example, how, negative energy modes preclude necessary and sufficient conditions for stability and why, unlike the Newtonian case, the existence of negative energy perturbations for some static, isotropic equilibrium apparently signals the onset of linear instability. An Appendix exhibits the construction of a completely covariant bracket which generates the Vlasov-Einstein system for arbitrary configurations in a form independent of any assumed \(3+1\) splitting.