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WHAT: Global Positioning System in Curved Space-time and Other
Applications of General Relativity
WHO: Argenis DaSilva (LSU PhD Defense)
WHEN: 10:30AM TUE 23 JUN 09
WHERE: NICHOLSON 435
ABSTRACT: In this work, we intent to explore a couple of
applications of General Relativity.
The first one is a very earhtly application. It is the Global
Positioning
System (GPS) which has a strong presence in the everyday life. Its
enormous
range of applications includes synchronization of power lines nodes,
mapping, navigation, search and rescue, Very Long Baseline
Interferometry,
etc. The second one is the general relativistic description of
gravitational
collapse. After the nuclear fuel that powers the stars is exhausted,
the stars
begin a process of collapse. In general, the matter density in such
processes
is so high that the newtonian approximation is no longer valid. And for
such
reason, we are forced to solve the Einstein equations.