A new proof of the Riemannian Penrose inequality (Q6149223)

The Penrose conjecture is a longstanding open problem in mathematical relativity. It says that the ADM mass of an asymptotically flat initial datum for the Einstein field equations is at least as large as the one of a reference space-like Schwarzschild manifold, whose horizon boundary has the same area as the horizon of the given initial datum. Its validity has been established within the class of time-symmetric initial data, i.e., for initial data whose second fundamental form is vanishing inside their globally hyperbolic development, as well as in dimension three. In this paper the authors give a simplified proof of the Penrose inequality in the case of a single black hole, which can be stated as follows: Theorem. Let \((M,g)\) be a three-dimensional, complete, connected, noncompact Riemannian manifold with a smooth, compact, connected boundary and one single end. Assume that: (1) The metric \(g\) has nonnegative scalar curvature; (2) \((M, g)\) is asymptotically flat with decay rate \(\tau=1;\) (3) \(\partial M\) is the unique closed minimal surface in \((M,g)\). Then, the ADM mass satisfies \[ m_{ADM} \geq \sqrt{\frac{\mathrm{Area}(\partial M)}{16\pi}}. \]