A null focal theorem on Lorentz manifolds (Q2732152)

Let \(P\) be a spacelike submanifold of codimension 2 in an \(n\)-dimensional Lorentz manifold and \(\sigma\) a null geodesic starting perpendicular to \(P\) at \(p = \sigma (0)\). Moreover, let \(h\) be the Lorentzian product of \(\sigma '(0)\) with the mean curvature vector of \(P\) at \(p\). Then it is known that the coditions (1) \(h > 0\) and (2) Ric\((\sigma ', \sigma ') \geq 0\) guarantee the existence of a focal point \(P\) along \(\sigma\), provided \(\sigma\) can be extended sufficiently far. In the paper under review the author proves a similar result for the case that the conditions are modified to (1) \(h > \sqrt{-m/(n-2)}\) and (2) Ric\((\sigma ', \sigma ') \geq m\) with some negative constant \(m\).