Null geometry and the Einstein equations
Introduction: This paper is based on a series of lectures given by the author at the Carg`ese Summer School on Mathematical General Relativity and Global Properties of Solutions of Einstein's Equations, held in Corsica, July 29 -- August 10, 2002. The general aim of those lectures was to illustrate with some current examples how the methods of global Lorentzian geometry and causal theory may be used to obtain results about the global behavior of solutions to the Einstein equations. This, of course, is a long standing program, dating back to the singularity theorems of \textit{S. W. Hawking} and \textit{R. Penrose} [Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A 314, No. 1519, 529--548 (1970; Zbl 0954.83012), see also \textit{S. W. Hawking} and \textit{G. F. R. Ellis}, The large scale structure of space-time. Cambridge Univ. Press (1973; Zbl 0265.53054)]. Here we consider some properties of asymptotically de Sitter solutions to the Einstein equations with (by our sign conventions) positive cosmological constant, \(\Lambda >0\). We obtain, for example, some rather strong topological obstructions to the existence of such solutions, and, in another direction, present a uniqueness result for de Sitter space, associated with the occurrence of eternal observer horizons. As described later, these results have rather strong connections with \textit{H. Friedrich}\ 's results [Commun. Math. Phys. 107, 587--609 (1986; Zbl 0659.53056), J. Differ. Geom. 34, No. 2, 275--345 (1991; Zbl 0737.53070)] on the nonlinear stability of asymptotically simple solutions to the Einstein equations with \(\Lambda >0\); see also Friedrich's article elsewhere in this volume. The main theoretical tool from global Lorentzian geometry used to prove these results is the so-called null splitting theorem [cf. the author, Ann. Henri Poincaré 1, No. 3, 543--567 (2000; Zbl 0965.53048)]. This theorem is discussed here, along with relevant background material. The paper is divided into sections as follows. In Section 2 we present the basic elements of causal theory, emphasizing those parts of the subject needed for our work. In Section 3 we give a self-contained treatment of the geometry of smooth null hypersurfaces, and present a maximum principle for such hypersurfaces. In Section 4 we extend this maximum principle to the essential \(C^0\) setting, and discuss the null splitting theorem. In Section 5 we consider the aforementioned applications. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1048.83001].
- Maximum principles for null hypersurfaces and null splitting theorems
- Lightlike manifolds and Cartan geometries
- Tractor geometry of asymptotically flat spacetimes
- Extension of Killing vector fields beyond compact Cauchy horizons
- Bernstein-type theorem for zero mean curvature hypersurfaces without time-like points in Lorentz-Minkowski space
- A curvature inequality characterizing totally geodesic null hypersurfaces
- On the geometry of null hypersurfaces in Minkowski space
- The general solution to the Einstein equations on a null surface
- More about vacuum spacetimes with toroidal null infinities
- Some global results for asymptotically simple space-times
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 6867846 (Why is no real title available?)
- Cartan's equivalence method and null coframes in general relativity
- Vacuum spacetimes with toroidal null infinities
- Smoothness of compact horizons
- Null shells: general matching across null boundaries and connection with cut-and-paste formalism
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 5035781 (Why is no real title available?)
- Null geodesic congruences, asymptotically-flat spacetimes and their physical interpretation
- Black hole regions containing no trapped surfaces
- Topological censorship for Kaluza-Klein space-times
- Dynamics of apparent horizon and a null comparison principle
- The constraint tensor for null hypersurfaces
- The Penrose singularity theorem, MOTS stability, and horizon topology in weighted spacetimes
- On the existence of null sections with constant surface gravity on non-smooth null hypersurfaces
- Exponential vector fields in Riemannian manifolds and weakly parallel null hypersurfaces in Lorentzian manifolds
- Obstructions for trapped submanifolds
- Global flatness for asymptotically flat spacetimes
- Cartan geometries with model the future lightlike cone of Lorentz-Minkowski spacetime
- Null hypersurfaces in Lorentzian manifolds with the null energy condition
This page was built for publication: Null geometry and the Einstein equations
Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q3155142)
