Relativistic velocity singularities

Abstract

Relativistic and non-relativistic fluid equations can exhibit finite time singular solutions including density singularities appearing in collapse or compression systems and gradient singularities in shock waves. However, only the non-relativistic fluid equations have been shown to exhibit finite-time velocity singularities, v tending to infinity in this regime. As this limit violates the cosmic speed limit v<c, where c is the speed of light, it is unclear how velocity singularity source terms in the non-relativistic equations are modified in the relativistic equations. This paper uses a driven system to demonstrate that singular points within the relativistic fluid equations can generate finite time relativistic velocity singularities v tending to c.