Dynamical properties of the space of Lorentzian metrics (Q1417422)

From MaRDI portal
scientific article
Language Label Description Also known as
English
Dynamical properties of the space of Lorentzian metrics
scientific article

    Statements

    Dynamical properties of the space of Lorentzian metrics (English)
    0 references
    0 references
    5 January 2004
    0 references
    Summary: We study the mechanisms of the non properness of the action of the group of diffeomorphisms on the space of Lorentzian metrics of a compact manifold. In particular, we prove that nonproperness entails the presence of lightlike geodesic foliations of codimension 1. On the 2-torus, we prove that a metric with constant curvature along one of its lightlike foliation is actually flat. This allows us to show that the restriction of the action to the set of non-flat metrics is proper and that on the set of flat metrics of volume 1 the action is ergodic. Finally, we show that, contrarily to the Riemannian case, the space of metrics without isometries is not always open.
    0 references
    Space of Lorentzian metrics
    0 references
    Lightlike geodesic foliation
    0 references
    Approximately stable vector
    0 references
    Metrics without isometries
    0 references

    Identifiers

    0 references
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references