Quasi-spherical metrics and prescribed scalar curvature (Q688313)

The author constructs 3-dimensional Riemannian manifolds \((M,g)\) which are `quasi-spherical', i.e., which admit a foliation by 2-submanifolds of constant Gaussian curvature. He uses adapted coordinates such that the metric has the form \(g = u^ 2dr^ 2 + (\beta_ 1dr + rd\vartheta)^ 2 + (\beta_ 2dr + r\sin\vartheta d\varphi)^ 2\). He observes that for given scalar curvature of \((M,g)\) and given functions \(\beta_ 1\), \(\beta_ 2\) one obtains a semilinear, parabolic partial differential equation for \(u\). This equation is then solved under relatively weak conditions for various boundary conditions (and for asymptotic fall-off conditions). The author gives several applications to general relativity. In particular, he verifies the Penrose inequality (a conjecture about the ADM-mass) for a subclass of quasi-spherical spacetimes.