Improved existence for the characteristic initial value problem with the conformal Einstein field equations (Q2226087)

The paper deals with the characteristic initial value problem for the \textit{Friedrich}'s [Commun. Math. Phys. 91, 445--472 (1983; Zbl 0555.35116)] conformal Einstein field equations. Let \(({M}, \tilde{g})\) be a vacuum spacetime. The conformal Einstein field equation is a conformally invariant system of equations for the conformally scaled (physical) metric \(\mathcal{J}^2 g\), the conformal factor \(\mathcal{J}\) and their concommitants, which are regular up to the conformal boundary \(\partial { M} = \{ \mathcal{J}=0\} \). The authors assume that the spacetime is asymptotically simple that is the boundary is the null infinity and consists of the end points of null geodesics. The main result is the proof of local existence of solutions of the conformal Einstein equation in a neighborhood of the set on which the data are given. In particular, the authors prove existence of solutions along a narrow rectangle along null infinity which, in turn, corresponds to an infinite domain in the asymptotic region of the physical spacetime. The analysis of the conformal Einstein equations is based of the Newman-Penrose formalism and a gauge due to \textit{J. Stewart} [Advanced general relativity. Cambridge etc.: Cambridge University Press (1990; Zbl 0752.53048)].