Characterization of some causality conditions through the continuity of the Lorentzian distance (Q1029475)

It is proved that causal simplicity and causal continuity can be characterized through the continuity properties of the Lorentzian distance at those pairs of events where it vanishes. The non-total imprisoning space-time is causally simple if and only if for every metric choice in the conformal class the Lorentzian distance is continuous wherever it vanishes. Similarly, a strongly causal space-time is causally continuous if and only if there is at least one choice of metric in the conformal class such that the Lorentzian distance is continuous wherever it vanishes.