Complexity of Self-Gravitating Systems
A special issue of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300). This special issue belongs to the section "Complexity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2022) | Viewed by 20378
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In the past decades many efforts have been devoted towards a rigorous definition of complexity in different branches of science however in spite of all the work done so far there is not yet a consensus on a precise definition
The reason behind such interest stems from the fact that, at least at an intuitive level, complexity, no matter how we define it, is a physical concept deeply intertwined with fundamental aspects of the system. In other words, we expect that a suitable definition of complexity of the system could allow us to infer relevant conclusions about its behaviour.
Therefore it is of utmost relevance to provide a precise definition of an observable quantity which allows to measure such an important property of the system. Thus, when dealing with a situation that intuitively is judged as “complex”, we need to be able to quantify this complexity by defining an observable measuring it.
This special issue of Entropy is devoted to the discussion on the possible definition of complexity of self--gravitating systems and its applications.
We propose below a list of questions which we would like to see treated in the manuscripts submitted to this special issue. It is of course a partial list, and it goes without saying that any manuscript devoted to a subject related to the concept of complexity of self--gravitating systems but not mentioned in the list below, would also be welcomed.
- Is there alternative definitions of complexity different from the one proposed in [1]
- How can we extend the definition of complexity for vacuum space--times?
- Besides the homologous and the quasi--homologous regime, could we define another pattern of evolution that could qualify as the simplest one?
- Can we relate the complexity factor(s) in the non--spherically symmetric case, to the active gravitational mass, as in the spherically symmetric case?
- Can we single out a specific family of exact axially symmetric static solutions satisfying the vanishing complexity factor(s) condition?
- Can any of the above solutions be matched smoothly to any vacuum Weyl solution?
- The definition of complexity proposed in [1] is not directly related to entropy or disequilibrium, although it is possible that such a link might exist after all. If so, how could such relationship be brought out?
- Could it be possible to provide a definition of the arrow of time in terms of the complexity factor?
- How the complexity factor is related to physical relevant properties of the source such as stability, or maximal degree of compactness.
- How does the complexity factor evolves? Do physically meaningful systems prefer vanishing complexity factor?
- Should a physically sound cosmological model have a vanishing complexity factor? Should it evolve in the homologous or quasi--homologous regime?
- The complexity factor for a charged fluid is known, but what is the complexity factor for a different type of field (e.g., scalar field?).
- How should we define the complexity factor in the context of other alternatives theories of gravity which have not been considered so far?
- How to find new solutions satisfying the vanishing complexity factor?
- What relevant physical features share solutions satisfying the vanishing complexity factor?
- Is there a link between the concept of complexity and some kind of symmetry (e.g., motions, conformal motions, affine collineations, curvature collineations, matter collineations, etc) ?
[1]. Herrera, L. New definition of complexity for self-gravitating fluid distributions: The spherically symmetric, static case. Phys. Rev. D 2018, 97, 044010.
Prof. Dr. Luis Alfredo Herrera Cometta
Guest Editor
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