The Jang equation reduction of the spacetime positive energy theorem in dimensions less than eight (Q1950368)

The author examines and extends the proof of \textit{P. S. Jang} [``On the positivity of energy in general relativity'', J. Math. Phys. 19, 1152--1155 (1978; \url{doi:10.1063/1.523776})], which dealt with the celebrated proof of the positive energy theorem given by R. Schoen and S. T. Yau. His work extends the result from dimension \(n=3\) to \(3\leq n< 8\), and settles several technical issues that are not present in the case \(n=3\). In particular, he shows that the assumptions on the initial data sets involving the regularity and decay are weaker than those used by \textit{R. Schoen} and \textit{S. T. Yau} [ibid. 79, No. 1, 47--51 (1981; Zbl 0934.83031); ibid. 79, 231--260 (1981; Zbl 0494.53028)]. Contents include: Introduction (containing a review of the literature); Geometric solutions of the Jang equation; The conformal structure; The proof that \(E\geq 0\); Rigidity: the case when \(E=0\); Appendix; References (thirty-two items).