Constant Mean Curvature Spacelike Surfaces in Three-Dimensional Generalized Robertson–Walker Spacetimes

Several uniqueness and non-existence results on complete constant mean curvature spacelike surfaces lying between two slices in certain three-dimensional generalized Robertson–Walker spacetimes are given. They are obtained from a local integral estimation of the squared length of the gradient of a distinguished smooth function on a constant mean curvature spacelike surface, under a suitable curvature condition on the ambient spacetime. As a consequence, all the entire bounded solutions to certain family of constant mean curvature spacelike surface differential equations are found.     

Complete spacelike hypersurfaces in orthogonally splitted spacetimes

We provide some “half-space theorems” for spacelike complete non-compact hypersurfaces into orthogonally splitted spacetimes. In particular we generalize some recent work of Rubio and Salamanca on maximal spacelike compact hypersurfaces. Beside compactness, we also relax some of their curvature assumptions and even consider the case of nonconstant mean curvature bounded from above. The analytic tools used in various arguments are based on some forms of the weak maximum principle.     

Biharmonic Submanifolds with Parallel Mean Curvature Vector in Pseudo-Euclidean Spaces

In this paper, we investigate biharmonic submanifolds in pseudo-Euclidean spaces with arbitrary index and dimension. We give a complete classification of biharmonic spacelike submanifolds with parallel mean curvature vector in pseudo-Euclidean spaces. We also determine all biharmonic Lorentzian surfaces with parallel mean curvature vector field in pseudo-Euclidean spaces.     

Some estimates for the curvatures of complete spacelike hypersurfaces in generalized Robertson–Walker spacetimes

In this paper we obtain some estimates for the higher order mean curvatures, the scalar curvature and the Ricci curvature of a complete spacelike hypersurface in a generalized Robertson–Walker spacetime, under certain assumptions on the warped function of the ambient space. Our results will be an application of a generalized maximum principle due to Omori.     

Complete spacelike hypersurfaces in conformally stationary Lorentz manifolds

We derive, for the square operator of Yau, an analogue of the Omori–Yau maximum principle for the Laplacian. We then apply it to obtain nonexistence results concerning complete noncompact spacelike hypersurfaces immersed with constant higher order mean curvature in a conformally stationary Lorentz manifold.     

Spacelike hypersurfaces with constant higher order mean curvature in Minkowski space–time

In this paper, we develop a series of general integral formulae for compact spacelike hypersurfaces with hyperplanar boundary in the (n+1)-dimensional Minkowski space–time . As an application of them, we prove that the only compact spacelike hypersurfaces in having constant higher order mean curvature and spherical boundary are the hyperplanar balls (with zero higher order mean curvature) and the hyperbolic caps (with nonzero constant higher order mean curvature). This extends previous results obtained by the first author, jointly with Pastor, for the case of constant mean curvature [J. Geom. Phys. 28 (1998) 85] and the case of constant scalar curvature [Ann. Global Anal. Geom. 18 (2000) 75].     

Spacelike surfaces with positive definite second fundamental form in 3D spacetimes

For a spacelike surface with positive definite second fundamental form in any 3-dimensional Lorentzian manifold, a new formula relating its mean and Gauss curvature with the Gauss curvature of the second fundamental form is obtained. As an application, necessary and sufficient conditions are established in order to prove that such a compact spacelike surface is totally umbilical.     

A generalization of the concept of constant mean curvature and canonical time

Some compact spaces of achronal hypersurfaces are constructed in various types of space-time. A variational principle is introduced on these spaces, smooth extremals of which are spacelike hypersurfaces of constant mean curvature. The integrand of the variational principle is shown to be upper semicontinuous and the direct methods of the calculus of variations are applied to obtain aC ⁰ extremal, which is defined to be a spacelike hypersurface of generalized constant mean curvature. The family of such hypersurfaces generated by altering the value of the mean curvature is discussed and the mean curvature itself is shown to have many of the properties of a canonical time coordinate.     

Complete spacelike submanifolds with parallel mean curvature vector in a semi-Riemannian space form

In this work we obtain a gap theorem for spacelike submanifolds with parallel mean curvature vector in a semi-Riemannian space form.     

Spacelike hypersurfaces with prescribed boundary values and mean curvature

We consider the boundary-value problem for the mean curvature operator in Minkowski space, and give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of smooth strictly spacelike solutions. Our main results hold for non-constant mean curvature, and make no assumptions about the smoothness of the boundary or boundary data.     

Foliations of space-times by spacelike hypersurfaces of constant mean curvature

The foliations under discussion are of two different types, although in each case the leaves areC ² spacelike hypersurfaces of constant mean curvature. For manifolds, such as that of the Friedmann universe with closed spatial sections, which are topologicallyI×S ³,I an open interval, the leaves will be spacelike hypersurfaces without boundary and the foliation will fill the manifold. In the case of the domain of dependence of a spacelike hypersurface,S, with boundaryB, the leaves will be spacelike hypersurfaces with boundary,B, and the foliation will fillD(S). It is shown that a local energy condition ensures that the constant mean curvature increases monotonically with time through such foliations and that, in the case of a foliation whose leaves are spacelike hypersurfaces without boundary in a manifold where this energy condition is satisfied globally, the foliation is unique.     

Uniqueness of complete spacelike hypersurfaces of constant mean curvature in generalized Robertson-Walker spacetimes

A new technique is introduced in order to solve the following question:When is a complete spacelike hypersurface of constant mean curvature in a generalized Robertson-Walker spacetime totally umbilical and a slice? (Generalized Robertson-Walker spacetimes extend classical Robertson-Walker ones to include the cases in which the fiber has not constant sectional curvature.) First, we determine when this hypersurface must be compact. Then, all these compact hypersurfaces in (necessarily spatially closed) spacetimes are shown to be totally umbilical and, except in very exceptional cases, slices. This leads to proof of a new Bernstein-type result. The power of the introduced tools is also shown by reproving and extending several known results.     

On uniqueness of the foliation by comoving observers restspaces of a Generalized Robertson–Walker spacetime

A characterization of the foliation by spacelike slices of an \((n+1)\)-dimensional spatially closed Generalized Robertson–Walker spacetime is given by means of studying a natural mean curvature type equation on spacelike graphs. Under some natural assumptions, of physical or geometric nature, all the entire solutions of such an equation are obtained. In particular, the case of entire spacelike graphs in de Sitter spacetime is faced and completely solved by means of a new application of a known integral formula.     

Volume comparison between spacelike hypersurfaces in a Lorentzian manifold with integral Ricci curvature bounds

We obtain the volume comparison between spacelike hypersurfaces in a Lorentzian manifold with integral Ricci and mean curvature bounds. Also we extend volume comparisons to weighted volume comparisons with integral norms of the generalized Ricci tensor.     

Comparison theorems in Lorentzian geometry and applications to spacelike hypersurfaces

In this paper we prove Hessian and Laplacian comparison theorems for the Lorentzian distance function in a spacetime with sectional (or Ricci) curvature bounded by a certain function by means of a comparison criterion for Riccati equations. Using these results, under suitable conditions, we are able to obtain some estimates on the higher order mean curvatures of spacelike hypersurfaces satisfying a Omori-Yau maximum principle for certain elliptic operators.     

The upperbound of the volume expansion rate in a Lorentzian manifold

Using the differential equation obtained from spacelike level hypersurfaces in a Lorentzian manifold, the volume expansion rate of an achronal spacelike hypersurface orthogonal to a timelike geodesic is investigated in terms of the integral Ricci and scalar curvature bound.     

Positivity of quasilocal mass

Motivated by the important work of Brown and York on quasilocal energy, we propose definitions of quasilocal energy and momentum surface energy of a spacelike 2-surface with a positive intrinsic curvature in a spacetime. We show that the quasilocal energy of the boundary of a compact spacelike hypersurface which satisfies the local energy condition is strictly positive unless the spacetime is flat along the spacelike hypersurface.     

The structure of the space of solutions of Einstein’s equations coupled with scalar fields

Following the work of Arms, Fischer, Marsden and Moncrief, it is proved that the space of solutions of Einstein’s equations coupled with self-gravitating mass-less scalar fields has conical singularities at each spacetime possessing a compact Cauchy surface of constant mean curvature and a nontrivial set of simultaneous Killing fields, either all spacelike or including one (independent) timelike.