A family of exact solutions for unpolarized Gowdy models

Abstract

Unpolarized Gowdy models are inhomogeneous cosmological models that depend on time and one spatial variable and have complicated nonlinear equations of motion. There are two topologies associated with these models, a three-torus and a one-sphere cross a two-sphere. The three-torus models have been used for numerical studies because it seems difficult to find analytic solutions to their nonlinear Einstein equations. The one-sphere cross tow-sphere models have even more complicated equations, but at least one family of analytic solutions can be given as a reinterpretation of known solutions. Various properties of this family of solutions are studied.