On the space of null geodesics of a spacetime: the compact case, Engel geometry and retrievability

DOI10.1007/S00209-023-03412-5arXiv2112.06955OpenAlexW4389476871MaRDI QIDQ6139852FDOQ6139852

Adrià Marín-Salvador, Roberto Rubio

Publication date: 19 December 2023

Published in: Mathematische Zeitschrift (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We compute the contact manifold of null geodesics of the family of spacetimes ${(S^{2}imes{S}^1,g_{c}irc-frac{d}^2{c}^{2}d{t}^2)}_{d,cinmathbb{N}^{+}extcoprime}$, with $g_{c}irc$ the round metric on $mathbb{S}^2$ and $t$ the $mathbb{S}^1$-coordinate. We find that these are the lens spaces $L(2c,1)$ together with the pushforward of the canonical contact structure on $STmathbb{S}^{2}congL(2,1)$ under the natural projection $L(2,1)oL(2c,1)$. We extend this computation to $Zimesmathbb{S}^1$ for $Z$ a Zoll manifold. On the other hand, motivated by these examples, we show how Engel geometry can be used to describe the manifold of null geodesics of a certain class of three-dimensional spacetimes, by considering the Cartan deprolongation of their Lorentz prolongation. We characterize the three-dimensional contact manifolds that are contactomorphic to the space of null geodesics of a spacetime. The characterization consists in the existence of an overlying Engel manifold with a certain foliation and, in this case, we also retrieve the spacetime.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.06955

zbMATH Keywords

contact manifoldsLorentzian manifoldsnull geodesicsZollfrei manifolds

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Geodesics in global differential geometry (53C22) Global differential geometry of Lorentz manifolds, manifolds with indefinite metrics (53C50) Global theory of symplectic and contact manifolds (53D35)

Cites Work

• Cosmology in (2 + 1) -Dimensions, Cyclic Models, and Deformations of M2,1. (AM-121)
• Geometric approach to Goursat flags
• An Introduction to Contact Topology
• Non-negative Legendrian isotopy in \(ST^{\ast}M\)
• On smooth Cauchy hypersurfaces and Geroch's splitting theorem
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Spaces of causal paths and naked singularities
• Legendrian links, causality, and the low conjecture
• Diagonalization of three-dimensional pseudo-Riemannian metrics
• Existence \(h\)-principle for Engel structures
• Conformally embedded spacetimes and the space of null geodesics
• Linking, Legendrian linking and causality
• Celestial spheres, light cones, and cuts
• The space of null geodesics.
• A counterexample to Guillemin's Zollfrei conjecture
• On the classification of prolongations up to Engel homotopy
• On the space of light rays of a spacetime and a reconstruction theorem by Low
• The contact structure on the space of null geodesics of causally simple spacetimes
• Engel structures with trivial characteristic foliations
• The canonical contact structure on the space of oriented null geodesics of pseudospheres and products

This page was built for publication: On the space of null geodesics of a spacetime: the compact case, Engel geometry and retrievability

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6139852)