\texttt{GeodesicViewer} -- a tool for exploring geodesics in the theory of relativity

DOI10.1016/J.CPC.2009.10.010MaRDI QIDQ615069zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Thomas Müller, Frank Grave

Publication date 5 January 2011

Published in Computer Physics Communications (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2009.10.010

zbMATH Keywords

geodesicmathematical softwarespace-time

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Software, source code, etc. for problems pertaining to differential geometry (53-04) Geodesics in global differential geometry (53C22) Equations of motion in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C10) Physics, astronomy, technology, engineering (aspects of mathematics education) (97M50)

Review text

The authors develop a software tool, named \texttt{GeodesicViewer}, which allows to illustrate the behavior of light-like and time-like geodesics in four-dimensional Lorentzian space-times. The visualization of each geodesic is realized either as a three-dimensional trajectory in pseudo-Cartesian coordinates by using an OpenGL environment (\url{http://www.opengl.org/}) or as a two-dimensional mutual-coordinate-relation diagram by using Qwt widgets (\url{http://qwt.sourceforge.net/}). Visualizations in several user-defined representations are also possible. The graphical user interface of the \texttt{GeodesicViewer} allows to modify interactively all parameters of a space-time as well as the initial conditions of the geodesics. The usability of this software tool is demonstrated by means of several examples in the Schwarz\-schild, Kerr and Morris-Thorpe space-times.

Recommendations

• Studying null and time-like geodesics in the classroom
• Smart geodesic tracing in GRworkbench
• Image-based general-relativistic visualization
• Visualizing light cones in Schwarzschild space
• Motion4D - a library for lightrays and timelike worldlines in the theory of relativity

Cites work

• General Relativity
• Motion4D - a library for lightrays and timelike worldlines in the theory of relativity
• Relativity. Special, general, and cosmological
• Sagnac effect of Gödel's universe
• Spherical photon orbits around a Kerr black hole
• Wormholes in spacetime and their use for interstellar travel: A tool for teaching general relativity

Cited in

(11)

• GeodesicViewer
• Smart geodesic tracing in GRworkbench
• Interactive visualization of a thin disc around a Schwarzschild black hole
• Studying null and time-like geodesics in the classroom
• Developments in \texttt{GRworkbench}
• Sector models -- a toolkit for teaching general relativity. II: Geodesics
• Motion4D-library extended
• Adaptive polygon rendering for interactive visualization in the Schwarzschild spacetime
• Visualization of flat and curved spacetimes with simple cartography tools
• Detailed study of null and timelike geodesics in the Alcubierre warp spacetime
• Motion4D - a library for lightrays and timelike worldlines in the theory of relativity

Describes a project that uses

Uses Software

• Motion4D
• OpenGL
• Qwt

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