A recent question Rotation of our Galaxy's inertial frame is about an observational evidence of the space rotation. My question is if such a rotation is conceptually possible in GR. Can we assume that for whatever reason spacetime has evolved in such a way that an empty region of space now rotates relative to the universe? If so, what would be the evolution of this rotation in time? Would the rotation continue forever, stop instantly, or slow down gradually and how fast? Would this region expand or contract in the process?
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Comments to the post (v1): If the region is empty, how do you know it is rotating? Do you allow singularities in the empty rotating region? – Qmechanic Oct 10 '17 at 15:46
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I do not know if that is possible, but if so, it can possibly explain the extra mass needed for uniform rotation curve of spiral galaxies, currently designated as dark matter. A Spiral can hint a space rotation, just like a hurricane spiral. – kpv Oct 10 '17 at 16:16
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@Qmechanic We would know the region is rotating by putting a test object there small enough to not affect the spacetime geometry. The object could be something like two rocks connected by a rope. They would rotate without the rope stretched by a centrifugal force. Does this make sense? No singularities in this question. Perhaps a separate question can be asked if singularities can create a stable rotating region. – safesphere Oct 10 '17 at 19:46
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@kpv This is a natural thought, but it seems problematic. If the space rotation is in the direction of the galaxy rotation, then the galaxy is not rotating in this frame and would collapse under its own gravity. If the space rotation is in the opposite direction and is faster closer to the center, then the galaxy rotation is more uniform, as observed, but slower than observed (unless I am missing anything). – safesphere Oct 10 '17 at 19:50
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@safesphere: It would be in the direction of the galaxy rotation, just enough to count for the uniform curve. Galaxy itself would also be rotating per general gravity/relativity, so that it does not collapse (and does not fly away). The space rotation would only count for the missing mass. – kpv Oct 10 '17 at 20:19
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@kpv --the flatness of galactic rotation curves (in other words, the disc-like uniformity of their rotation) has been attributed to dark matter, but I haven't been able to find any relation between that flatness and the resemblance that spiral galaxies bear to the aerial and satellite photographs of hurricanes. Numerically, I think the stars in spiral galaxies might perhaps be analogized to raindrops, which, in those terrestrial objects, do deliver quite a sting of kinetic energy. Friction with land in the one case, and interstellar particles in the other, might complete the analogy. – Edouard Jul 19 '23 at 09:29
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The answer might surprise you, but this exactly what the Kerr metric is.
The Kerr metric is a vacuum solution i.e. the stress energy tensor is zero everywhere, except at the singularity where it is undefined (we normally remove the singularity from the manifold anyway). So the Kerr metric is exactly a bit of empty space rotating.
But of course the Kerr metric has a parameter $M$ with the dimensions of a mass, so what then is this? Well, it's a geometric property called the ADM mass. For suitable geometries we find there is a mass (or equivalently an energy) associated with the geometry even for a vacuum solution where we have put in no mass. The same is true of the Schwarzschild metric. It too is a vacuum solution but has an ADM mass.
So the answer is that yes we can have areas of rotating vacuum in GR, but unfortunately you'll find they always have a mass associated with them even when no matter is present.
John Rennie
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1and the ADM mass, unlike stress-energy $T_{00}$, can be negative https://arxiv.org/abs/1407.1457 – lurscher Oct 10 '17 at 15:30
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+1 Thanks John, a good insight to ponder. This however is frame dragging and so doesn't exactly answer the question :) – safesphere Oct 13 '17 at 05:50