GeodesicViewer – A tool for exploring geodesics in the theory of relativity

The GeodesicViewer realizes exocentric two- and three-dimensional illustrations of lightlike and timelike geodesics in the general theory of relativity. By means of an intuitive graphical user interface, all parameters of a spacetime as well as the initial conditions of the geodesics can be modified interactively.

New version program summary

Program title: GeodesicViewerCatalogue identifier: AEFP_v2_0Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEFP_v2_0.htmlProgram obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen?s University, Belfast, N. IrelandLicensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.htmlNo. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 76 202No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1 722 290Distribution format: tar.gzProgramming language: C++, OpenGLComputer: All platforms with a C++ compiler, Qt, OpenGLOperating system: Linux, Mac OS X, WindowsRAM: 24 MBytesClassification: 1.5External routines:

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  Motion4D (included in the package)

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  Gnu Scientific Library (GSL) (http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/)

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  Qt (http://qt.nokia.com/downloads)

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  OpenGL (http://www.opengl.org/)

Catalogue identifier of previous version: AEFP_v1_0Journal reference of previous version: Comput. Phys. Comm. 181 (2010) 413Does the new version supersede the previous version?: YesNature of problem: Illustrate geodesics in four-dimensional Lorentzian spacetimes.Solution method: Integration of ordinary differential equations. 3D-Rendering via OpenGL.Reasons for new version: The main reason for the new version was to visualize the parallel transport of the Sachs legs and to show the influence of curved spacetime on a bundle of light rays as is realized in the new version of the Motion4D library (http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEEX_v3_0.html).Summary of revisions:

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  By choosing the new geodesic type “lightlike_sachs”, the parallel transport of the Sachs basis and the integration of the Jacobi equation can be visualized.

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  The 2D representation via Qwt was replaced by an OpenGL 2D implementation to speed up the visualization.

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  Viewing parameters can now be stored in a configuration file (.cfg).

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  Several new objects can be used in 3D and 2D representation.

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  Several predefined local tetrads can be choosen.

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  There are some minor modifications: new mouse control (rotate on sphere); line smoothing; current last point in coordinates is shown; mutual-coordinate representation extended; current cursor position in 2D; colors for 2D view.

Running time: Interactive. The examples given take milliseconds.