A proof of the splitting conjecture of S.-T. Yau (Q910026)

The aim of this paper is to present a proof of the following theorem: Suppose (M,g) is a timelike geodesically complete Lorentzian manifold, satisfying the timelike convergence condition and admitting a unit speed timelike line \(\alpha\) : \({\mathbb{R}}\to M\). Then (M,g) is isometric to (\({\mathbb{R}}\times S, -dt^ 2\oplus h)\), where (S,h) is a complete Riemannian 3-manifold, and \(\alpha\) : \({\mathbb{R}}\to M\) is given by \(t\mapsto (t,p)\) for some \(p\in S\). This theorem has been conjectured by \textit{S. T. Yau} [Problem section, Ann. Math. Stud. 102, 669-706 (1982; Zbl 0479.53001)]. Its proof represents a final step in a longer sequence of research papers. Various restricted results pertaining to this conjecture were first established by \textit{G. J. Galloway} [Commun. Math. Phys. 96, 423-429 (1984; Zbl 0575.53040)] and \textit{J. K. Beem}, \textit{P. E. Ehrlich}, \textit{G. J. Galloway} and \textit{S. Markvorsen} [Global differential geometry and global analysis 1984, Proc. Conf., Berlin 1984, Lect. Notes Math. 1156, 1-13 (1985; Zbl 0567.53046), and J. Differ. Geom. 22, 29-42 (1985; Zbl 0585.53054)]. Adapting to the Lorentzian case the techniques from his joint paper with \textit{E. Heintze} [Ann. Global Anal. Geom. 2, 141-151 (1984; Zbl 0548.53041)], established to give a simplified proof of the Cheeger-Gromoll splitting theorem, \textit{J. Eschenburg} [J. Differ. Geom. 27, No.3, 477-491 (1988; Zbl 0647.53043)] succeeded in proving Yau's conjecture under the additional assumption of global hyperbolicity. \textit{G. J. Galloway} [J. Differ. Geom. 29, 373-387 (1989; Zbl 0667.53048)] gave a proof of a modified conjecture, replacing the assumption of timelike completeness by that of global hyperbolicity. Finally in this paper, combining and refining the techniques of proof presented by Eschenburg and Galloway, the author succeeded in showing the validity of the original Yau's conjecture.