On the final definition of the causal boundary and its relation with the conformal boundary

DOI10.4310/ATMP.2011.V15.N4.A3zbMATH Open1251.83008arXiv1001.3270MaRDI QIDQ451138FDOQ451138

Miguel Sánchez, José Luis Flores, Jónatan Herrera

Publication date: 21 September 2012

Published in: Advances in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The notion of causal boundary $partialM$ for a strongly causal spacetime $M$ has been a controversial topic along last decades: on one hand, some attempted definitions were not fully consistent, on the other, there were simple examples where an open conformal embedding $i:Mhookarrow{M}_0$ could be defined, but the corresponding conformal boundary $partia{l}_{i}M$ disagreed drastically with the causal one. Nevertheless, the recent progress in this topic suggests a definitive option for $partialM$, which is developed here in detail. Our study has two parts: (I) To give general arguments on a boundary in order to ensure that it is admissible as a causal boundary at the three natural levels, i.e., as a point set, as a chronological space and as a topological space. Then, the essential uniqueness of our choice is stressed, and the relatively few admissible alternatives are discussed. (II) To analyze the role of the conformal boundary $partia{l}_{i}M$. We show that, in general, $partia{l}_{i}M$ may present a very undesirable structure. Nevertheless, it is well-behaved under certain general assumptions, and its accessible part $partia{l}_i^{*}M$ agrees with the causal boundary. This study justifies both boundaries. On one hand, the conformal boundary $partia{l}_i^{*}M$, which cannot be defined for a general spacetime but is easily computed in particular examples, appears now as a special case of the causal boundary. On the other, the new redefinition of the causal boundary not only is free of inconsistencies and applicable to any strongly causal spacetime, but also recovers the expected structure in the cases where a natural conformal boundary is available. The cases of globally hyperbolic spacetimes and asymptotically conformally flat ends are especially studied.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1001.3270

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Wave equation (35L05) Applications of differential geometry to physics (53Z05) Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems) (83C05) Exact solutions to problems in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C15) Black holes (83C57) Space-time singularities, cosmic censorship, etc. (83C75)

Cited In (33)

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• Examples of covering properties of boundary points of space-times
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• The chart based approach to studying the global structure of a spacetime induces a coordinate invariant boundary
• Finsler metrics and relativistic spacetimes
• The influence of Penrose's singularity theorem in general relativity
• Hausdorff separability of the boundaries for spacetimes and sequential spaces
• Addendum to ‘Hausdorff closed limits and the c-boundary I: a new topology for the c-completion of spacetimes’
• Convex regions of stationary spacetimes and Randers spaces. Applications to lensing and asymptotic flatness
• A conformal boundary for space-times based on light-like geodesics: The 3-dimensional case
• Causal boundaries and holography on wave type spacetimes
• Wind Finslerian structures: from Zermelo's navigation to the causality of spacetimes
• The space of light rays: causality and \(L\)-boundary
• L-extensions and L-boundary of conformal spacetimes
• Spacelike causal boundary at finite distance and continuous extension of the metric: a preliminary report
• The C-Boundary Construction of SpaceTimes: Application to Stationary Kerr SpaceTime
• Structure of globally hyperbolic spacetimes-with-timelike-boundary
• A note on causality in the bulk and stability on the boundary
• The endpoint theorem ^*
• Hausdorff closed limits and the c-boundary I: a new topology for the c-completion of spacetimes
• Hausdorff closed limits and the c -boundary II: null infinity and black holes
• A correspondence between distances and embeddings for manifolds: new techniques for applications of the abstract boundary
• A novel notion of null infinity for c-boundaries and generalized black holes
• The c-completion of Lorentzian metric spaces
• Causality and c-completion of multiwarped spacetimes
• Isometries of Lorentz surfaces and convergence groups
• Causal completions as Lorentzian pre-length spaces
• Complete affine connection in the causal boundary: static, spherically symmetric spacetimes
• An account on links between Finsler and Lorentz geometries for Riemannian geometers
• Lorentzian causality theory
• Spacetime coverings and the causal boundary
• Title not available (Why is that?)

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