Linking and causality in globally hyperbolic space-times (Q2517913)

Let \(M^m\) be a space-like Cauchy surface in a globally hyperbolic space-time \((X^{m+1}, g)\). The spherical cotangent bundle \(ST^*M\) can be identified with the space \(\mathcal N\) of all null geodesics in \((X, g)\), and the space of null geodesics passing through a point \(x\in X\) gives an embedded \((m-1)\)-sphere \(G_x\) in \(\mathcal N\) called the sky of \(x\). The dimensionality of these spheres and of \(\mathcal N\) are appropriate for linking. \textit{R. J. Low} [Classical Quantum Gravity 7, No.~2, 177--187 (1990; Zbl 0683.53058), ibid. 11, No.~2, 453--456 (1994; Zbl 0792.53074)] observed that two events are causally related if their skies are linked in \(\mathcal N\). In the present paper, the authors study relations between link theory and causality. They develop a definition of linking number alk\((G_x,G_y)\) for \(x,y \in X\), and show that alk\((G_x,G_y)\) is a well defined \({\mathbb Z}\)-valued invariant of the link \((G_x,G_y)\) if \(M\) is not an odd-dimensional rational homology sphere with finite homotopy group \(\pi_1\). Under this topological restriction on \(M\), they prove that if the metric \(g\) is conformal to one all of whose time-like sectional curvatures are non-negative, then two points \(x, y \in X\) (that do not lie on the same null geodesic) are causally related if and only if alk\((G_x,G_y)\not=0\); so \(x\) and \(y\) are causally unrelated if and only if \((G_x,G_y)\) is a trivial link in \(\mathcal N\). Moreover, they show that if alk takes values in \({\mathbb Z}\) and \(y\) is in the causal future of \(x\), then alk\((G_x,G_y)\) is the intersection number of a generic time-like curve from \(y\) to the Cauchy surface containing \(x\) with the surface generated by all null geodesics through \(x\). Finally, some consequences of the nonrefocussing condition on \(X\) are considered. They prove that \(x, y\) are causally unrelated if and only if \((G_x,G_y)\) can be deformed to a pair of fibres of \({\mathcal N}=ST^*M\).