@phdthesis{dissertation, author = {Mädler, Thomas Frank Valentin}, title = {Axially Symmetric Space-Times and the Characteristic Formulation of General Relativity}, year = {2011}, school = {Technische Universität München}, pages = {}, language = {en}, abstract = {In the characteristic formulation of General Relativity, space-time is foliated with respect to null hypersurfaces (light cones). This thesis concerns about such space-times with the additional simplification of axial symmetry and when the metric is Bondi-Sachs. This metric is singular at the vertices of the light cones and we regularize it by using Fermi normal coordinates and determine its behaviour in the neighbourhood of the vertices. The usual Einstein equations in Bondi-Sachs coordinates are written as a system of first-order partial differential equations which has the advantage of being implemented easily in a computer program. In addition, we present initial models for axially symmetric linearized waves in a vacuum and for slowly, rotating neutron stars.}, keywords = {General Relativity, Neutron stars}, note = {}, url = {https://mediatum.ub.tum.de/1085635}, }