Null cut loci of spacelike surfaces (Q1114177): Difference between revisions

Let H be a spacelike submanifold of codimension 2 in an n-dimensional time oriented Lorentzian manifold M. Furthermore let \(\gamma\) : [0,a)\(\to M\) be a future-directed null geodesic with \(\gamma\) (0)\(\in H\), \({\dot \gamma}\)(0)\(\perp H\). A point \(q=\gamma (t_ 0)\) is said to be the future null cut point of H along \(\gamma\) if \(t_ 0=\sup \{t\subset [0,a)| d[H,\gamma (t)]=0\}\) and \(0<t_ 0<a\), d denoting Lorentzian distance. In globally hyperbolic space-times, it is shown that the future (past) null cut locus \(C^+_ N(H)\) \((C^-_ N(H))\) of H (being also compact and acausal) is a closed subset of M, and that each \(x\in C^+_ N(H)\) is either a focal point of H along some future directed null geodesic meeting H orthogonally or there exist at least two null geodesics from H to x, realizing the distance between H and x or both. Using the conformal invariance of these notions the Penrose singularity theorem is generalized as follows: A space-time M cannot be null geodesically complete if: a) Ric(u,u)\(\geq 0\) for every null vector \(u\in TM\). b) M contains a closed trapped surfaces. c) There exists a conformal imbedding of M into a space-time \(\bar M\) which contains a noncompact Cauchy hypersurface.