The Null distance encodes causality

DOI10.1063/5.0118979arXiv2208.01975MaRDI QIDQ6406845FDOQ6406845

Authors: Anna Sakovich, Christina Sormani 

Publication date: 3 August 2022

Abstract: A Lorentzian manifold endowed with a time function, $au$, can be converted into a metric space using the null distance, $hat{d}_{a}u$, defined by Sormani and Vega. We show that if the time function is a proper regular cosmological time function as studied by Andersson, Galloway and Howard, and also by Wald and Yip, or if, more generally, it satisfies the anti-Lipschitz condition of Chru'sciel, Grant and Minguzzi, then the causal structure is encoded by the null distance in the following sense: ${\displaystyle }$ hat{d}_ au(p,q)= au(q)- au(p) iff q extrm{ lies in the causal future of } p. ${\displaystyle }$ As a consequence, in dimension $n+1$, $nge2$, we prove that if there is a bijective map between two such spacetimes, $F:M_{1}o{M}_2$, which preserves the cosmological time function, $a{u}_2(F(p))=a{u}_1(p)$ for any $pin{M}_1$, and preserves the null distance, $hat{d}_{a{u}_2}(F(p),F(q))=hat{d}_{a{u}_1}(p,q)$ for any $p,qin{M}_1$, then there is a Lorentzian isometry between them, $F_{\ast }{g}_1=g_2$. This yields a canonical procedure allowing us to convert such spacetimes into unique metric spaces with causal structures and time functions. This will be applied in our upcoming work to define Spacetime Intrinsic Flat Convergence.

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Global differential geometry of Lorentz manifolds, manifolds with indefinite metrics (53C50) Applications of differential geometry to physics (53Z05) Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems) (83C05) Relativistic cosmology (83F05)

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