Existence of maximal surfaces in asymptotically flat spacetimes (Q799251)

Two a priori estimates are used to prove a number of theorems about the existence of prescribed mean curvature surfaces in Lorentzian manifolds. In particular, it is shown that an asymptotically flat spacetime with slowly expanding interior admits maximal surfaces. The methods can be generalized to include spacetimes with moving interior (''boost'' problem) and interiors consisting of several systems in relative motion.