Ellery Ames: Numerical Investigations of Axisymmetric Solutions to the Einstein-Vlasov System

Galaxies and star clusters consist of large numbers of stellar objects interacting gravitationally. Collisionless matter (satisfying the Vlasov equation) provides a model for such systems when coupled to equations for the (Newtonian or general relativistic) gravitational interaction. Of particular interest are the questions of existence and stability of steady state solutions to the model equations. In this talk I will present numerical results for stationary solutions in axisymmetry. The solutions we construct have net rotation, and exhibit toroidal, oblate, or spindle-like spatial density functions. Work in progress on the evolution problem, with the aims of studying stability of the above mentioned stationary solutions as well as gravitational collapse, will also be discussed.