Slowly add mass to a neutron star till it collapses.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the effects of adding mass to a neutron star until it collapses into a black hole, particularly focusing on the implications for the passage of time and the behavior of clocks in strong gravitational fields. Participants explore theoretical aspects related to general relativity, proper time, and the density distribution within the neutron star.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether time in a neutron star comes to a near halt just before it collapses into a black hole.
  • There are claims that the passage of time may differ at various locations within the neutron star due to strong curvature of spacetime.
  • One participant suggests that when the neutron star's radius reaches 9/8 of its Schwarzschild radius, the proper time at the center could become negative, implying clocks would tick backwards.
  • Another participant discusses the implications of density distribution, proposing that to avoid negative proper time, mass would need to be distributed with higher density at the shell and lower density at the core.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the concept of clocks ticking backwards and seek references for further study on the topic.
  • An equation related to the behavior of proper time in a non-rotating spherical body is presented, which supports the claim of frozen proper time at certain conditions.
  • There is mention of a potential link between negative proper time and the concept of repulsive gravity near the center of the neutron star.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of adding mass to a neutron star, with multiple competing views regarding the behavior of time and the effects of density distribution. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion involves complex theoretical considerations that depend on assumptions about the density distribution within the neutron star and the nature of spacetime under extreme conditions. The implications of negative proper time and repulsive gravity are also noted as potentially controversial topics.

Spinnor
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Say we slowly add mass to a neutron star till it collapses to a black hole. Just before it does has time in the neutron star almost come to a stop? Is the passage of time different for different locations in the neutron star just before it collapses? Would the strings of string theory come to a near halt?

Thanks for any help.
 
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Spinnor said:
Say we slowly add mass to a neutron star till it collapses to a black hole. Just before it does has time in the neutron star almost come to a stop? Is the passage of time different for different locations in the neutron star just before it collapses? ...

Say we have a neutron star that is that is sufficiently large that it can take the mass of two observers without collapsing but is also nevertheless close to its Schwarzschild radius. The two observers are high up and are twins. One descends to the surface and spends a period of time on the surface and later his twin descends to join him on the surface. The one that has been on the surface the longest, has aged the least, so it can be seen that proper time slows down in strongly curved spacetime in a very real (measurable) sense. When the radius of the neutron star is 9/8 of its Schwarzschild radius the proper time of a clock at the centre of the neutron star becomes negative, i.e. it starts ticking backwards. The exact radius that this effect occurs at, is dependent on the density distribution of mass within the neutron star. The 9/8 RS figure assumes even density everywhere but the more likely situation of the core having higher density than the shell makes the situation worse. To avoid clocks ticking backwards inside the near collapse neutron star, the mass would have to distributed with higher density at the shell and lower density at the core. This analysis is based on a simple application of the interior Schwarzschild solution and it is quite possible that pressure and stress effects on spacetime curvature, will also conspire to prevent proper time reversing.
 
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kev said:
Say we have a neutron star that is that is sufficiently large that it can take the mass of two observers without collapsing but is also nevertheless close to its Schwarzschild radius. The two observers are high up and are twins. One descends to the surface and spends a period of time on the surface and later his twin descends to join him on the surface. The one that has been on the surface the longest, has aged the least, so it can be seen that proper time slows down in strongly curved spacetime in a very real (measurable) sense. When the radius of the neutron star is 9/8 of its Schwarzschild radius the proper time of a clock at the centre of the neutron star becomes negative, i.e. it starts ticking backwards. The exact radius that this effect occurs at, is dependent on the density distribution of mass within the neutron star. The 9/8 RS figure assumes even density everywhere but the more likely situation of the core having higher density than the shell makes the situation worse. To avoid clocks ticking backwards inside the near collapse neutron star, the mass would have to distributed with higher density at the shell and lower density at the core. This analysis is based on a simple application of the interior Schwarzschild solution and it is quite possible that pressure and stress effects on spacetime curvature, will also conspire to prevent proper time reversing.


Clocks ticking backwards? !@#%&*


Would you point to a reference where backwards time is studied.

Thank you!
 
Spinnor said:
Clocks ticking backwards? !@#%&*

Would you point to a reference where backwards time is studied.

Thank you!

I can point you to an equation posted by George here https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=1543402#post1543402

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) ^{2}=\left( \frac{3}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{R}}-\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2Mr^{2}}{R^{3}}}\right) ^{2}-v^{2},

If we consider the simple case of of a non rotating spherical body, then the -v^2 term on the end can be ignored and the equation simplifies to:

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) =\left( \frac{3}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{R}}-\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2Mr^{2}}{R^{3}}}\right)

where \tau is the proper time of a clock located at a radius r inside the body of radius R and t is the clock rate at infinity.

Now if the clock is situated at the centre of the massive body, then r=0 and if the radius of the body is just slightly larger than Schwarzschild radius (9/8*2M) then:

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) =\left( \frac{3}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{(2M*9/8)}}-\frac{1}{2}\right)

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) =\left( \frac{3}{2}\sqrt{\frac{1}{9}}-\frac{1}{2}\right)

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) =\left( \frac{3}{6}-\frac{1}{2}\right) = 0

So there you have it. Frozen proper time, and the neutron star has not even formed a black hole yet. For radii less than 9/8 Rs but still greater than Rs, the equation gives negative proper time rates for the clock at the centre.
 
Spinnor said:
Clocks ticking backwards? !@#%&*


Would you point to a reference where backwards time is studied.

Thank you!

Just do a google search:

"9/8 of its Schwarzschild radius"

and get:

Abstract. We refine the Buchdahl 9/8ths stability theorem for stars by describing quantitatively the behavior of solutions to the Oppenheimer–Volkoff equations when the star surface lies inside 9/8ths of the Schwarzschild radius. For such solutions we prove that the density and pressure always have smooth profiles that decrease to zero as the radius r→ 0, and this implies that the gravitational field becomes repulsive near r= 0 whenever the star surface lies within 9/8ths of its Schwarzschild radius.
Received: 19 June 1996 / Accepted: 13 September 1996

from:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/x8e48x51ea6yhkhl/

Wow!
 
Spinnor said:
... For such solutions we prove that the density and pressure always have smooth profiles that decrease to zero as the radius r→ 0, and this implies that the gravitational field becomes repulsive near r= 0 whenever the star surface lies within 9/8ths of its Schwarzschild radius. QUOTE]

That is what I was hinting at when I said "To avoid clocks ticking backwards inside the near collapse neutron star, the mass would have to distributed with higher density at the shell and lower density at the core.", but repulsive gravity is possibly even more controvertial than negative proper time. On the face of it we have a choice of negative proper time or repulsive gravity redistributing the mass density profile to prevent time going backwards. Either option is pretty radical!
 
kev said:
I can point you to an equation posted by George here https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=1543402#post1543402

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) ^{2}=\left( \frac{3}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{R}}-\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2Mr^{2}}{R^{3}}}\right) ^{2}-v^{2},

If we consider the simple case of of a non rotating spherical body, then the -v^2 term on the end can be ignored and the equation simplifies to:

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) =\left( \frac{3}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{R}}-\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2Mr^{2}}{R^{3}}}\right)

where \tau is the proper time of a clock located at a radius r inside the body of radius R and t is the clock rate at infinity.

Now if the clock is situated at the centre of the massive body, then r=0 and if the radius of the body is just slightly larger than Schwarzschild radius (9/8*2M) then:

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) =\left( \frac{3}{2}\sqrt{1-\frac{2M}{(2M*9/8)}}-\frac{1}{2}\right)

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) =\left( \frac{3}{2}\sqrt{\frac{1}{9}}-\frac{1}{2}\right)

\left( \frac{d\tau }{dt}\right) =\left( \frac{3}{6}-\frac{1}{2}\right) = 0

So there you have it. Frozen proper time, and the neutron star has not even formed a black hole yet. For radii less than 9/8 Rs but still greater than Rs, the equation gives negative proper time rates for the clock at the centre.

Fantastic! Time can stop, and go backwards. Stop the presses %^)

Does backwards time violate any laws of physics?

Thank you.
 

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