Convex functions and spacetime geometry

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/18/21/314MaRDI QIDQ2769509zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Akihiro Ishibashi, Gary W. Gibbons

Publication date 7 October 2002

Published in Classical and Quantum Gravity (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0011055

zbMATH Keywords

Euclidean solutions of Einstein's equationhomothetic Killing vector fieldsKilling vectorlevel setsPenrose diagramRiemannian manifoldsSchwarzschild black holespacelike submanifoldsspacetime convex functionsspacetime geometry

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of global differential geometry to the sciences (53C80) Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems) (83C05) Black holes (83C57) Relativistic cosmology (83F05)

Abstract: Convexity and convex functions play an important role in theoretical physics. To initiate a study of the possible uses of convex functions in General Relativity, we discuss the consequences of a spacetime $(M,g_{muu})$ or an initial data set $(Sigma,h_{ij},K_{ij})$ admitting a suitably defined convex function. We show how the existence of a convex function on a spacetime places restrictions on the properties of the spacetime geometry.

Review text

The authors show how the existence of a convex function on a spacetime places restrictions on the properties of the spacetime geometry. They consider convex functions on Riemannian manifolds which are regarded as spacelike submanifolds embedded in a spacetime or as Euclidean solutions of Einstein's equation. The existence of convex functions of strictly or uniformly convex type is incompatible with the existence of closed minimal submanifolds. The relation between the convex functions and Killing vector fields is discussed. Two definitions for convex functions on Lorentzian manifolds are given: a classical convex function and a spacetime convex function. The connection between spacetime convex functions and homothetic Killing vector fields is discussed. It is shown that, if a spacetime admits a spacetime convex function, then such a spacetime cannot have a marginally inner and outer trapped surface. The case when a cosmological spacetime admits a spacetime convex function is considered. The existence of a spacetime convex function on specific spacetimes, de Sitter, anti-de Sitter and black hole spacetimes, is also examined. The level sets of convex functions and foliations are discussed. Then, constant mean curvature foliations, barriers and convex functions are considered.

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Cited in

(6)

• Space-time convex functions and sectional curvature
• Compact null hypersurfaces in Lorentzian manifolds
• Lorentzian Calderón problem under curvature bounds
• Convex functions and geodesic connectedness of space-times
• Convexity in triangular norm of fuzzy sets
• CONVEXITY CONDITIONS ON THE BOUNDARY OF A STATIONARY SPACETIME AND APPLICATIONS

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