7. Sebastian J. Szybka
Some remarks on the first image of a black hole
Philosophical Problems in Science, vol. 68, pp. 281-294 (2020).
[abstract] [journal] [pdf]

Abstract:
On the 10th of April, 2019 the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration presented the first image of the black hole. The image was obtained with a planet-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescopes. The observation relied on a technique called very long base interferometry which synchronises telescope facilities around the world. The image of a black hole together with the recent detections of gravitational waves confirms one of the most intriguing predictions of Einstein’s gravity theory, namely, the existence of black holes. I will provide more details on this remarkable observation and explore its consequences for our understanding of nature. The physical reality of black holes is strongly supported by recent advances of astronomy. I claim that this fact is the key to understanding the relation between our world and the world of mathematics.

8. Sebastian J. Szybka, Mieszko Rutkowski
Einstein clusters as models of inhomogeneous spacetimes
Eur. Phys. J. C, vol. 80, p. 397 (2020).
[abstract] [preprint] [journal] [springer]

Abstract:
We study the effect of small-scale inhomogeneities for Einstein clusters. We construct a spherically symmetric static spacetime with small-scale radial inhomogeneities and propose the Gedankenexperiment. An hypothetical observer at the center constructs, using limited observational knowledge, a simplified homogeneous model of the configuration. An idealization introduces side effects. The inhomogeneous spacetime and the effective homogeneous spacetime are given by simple solutions to Einstein equations. They provide a basic toy-model for studies of the effect of small-scale inhomogeneities in general relativity. We show that within our highly inhomogeneous model the effect of small-scale inhomogeneities remains small for a central observer. The homogeneous model fits very well to all hypothetical observations as long as their precision is not high enough to reveal a tension.

9. Sebastian J. Szybka, Adam Cieślik
Standing waves in general relativity
Phys. Rev. D: Part. Fields , vol. 100, p. 064025 (2019).
[abstract] [preprint] [download]

Abstract:
We propose a covariant definition of standing gravitational waves in general relativity.

10. Piotr T. Chruściel, Sebastian J. Szybka, Paul Tod
Towards a classification of vacuum near-horizons geometries
Class. Quantum Grav. 35 (2018) 015002, vol. 35, p. 015002 (2018).
[abstract] [preprint] [journal]

Abstract:
We prove uniqueness of the near-horizon geometries arising from degenerate Kerr black holes within the collection of nearby vacuum near-horizon geometries.

11. Sebastian J. Szybka, Michał J. Wyrȩbowski
Backreaction for Einstein-Rosen waves coupled to a massless scalar field
Phys. Rev. D: Part. Fields , vol. 94, p. 024059 (2016).
[abstract] [preprint] [journal]

Abstract:
We present a one-parameter family of exact solutions to Einstein's equations that may be used to study the nature of the Green-Wald backreaction framework. Our explicit example is a family of Einstein-Rosen waves coupled to a massless scalar field.

12. A. Woszczyna, W. Czaja, K. Głód, Z. A. Golda, R. A. Kycia, A. Odrzywołek, P. Plaszczyk, L. M. Sokołowski, S. J. Szybka
ccgrg: The symbolic tensor analysis package with tools for general relativity
Wolfram Library Archive, vol. 8848 (2014).
[abstract] [journal]

Abstract:
Riemann and Weyl curvature, covariant derivative, Lie derivative, the first and the second fundamental form on hyper-surfaces, as well as basic notions of relativistic hydrodynamics (expansion, vorticity, shear) are predefined functions of the package. New tensors are easy to define. Instructions, basic examples, and some more advanced examples are attached to the package. Characteristic feature of the ccgrg package is the specific coupling between the functional programming and the Parker-Christensen index convention. This causes that no particular tools to rising/lowering tensor indices neither to the tensor contractions are needed. Tensor formulas are written in the form close to that of classical textbooks in GRG, with the only difference that the summation symbol appears explicitly. Tensors are functions, not matrixes, and their components are evaluated lazily. This means that only these components which are indispensable to realize the final task are computed. The memoization technique prevents repetitive evaluation of the same quantities. This saves both, time and memory.