Existence of maximal surfaces in asymptotically flat spacetimes

We prove the existence of maximal surfaces in asymptotically flat spacetime satisfying an interior condition. This uses a priori estimates which can also be applied to prescribed mean curvature surfaces in cosmological spacetimes and the Dirichlet problem.     

Lichnerowicz-York equation and conformal deformations on maximal slicings in asymptotically flat space-times

The solvability of the Lichnerowicz-York equation is discussed on each sliceS _t=IR³ of a spacelike, asymptotically Euclidean maximal foliation {S _τ}. Following Cantor, the problem is reduced to a discussion of the properties of a smooth, time-dependent, family of conformal transformations,ø _t, relating the physical metrich _tofS _t to a metric ? _t =ø ⁴h_t, with vanishing scalar curvature. An estimate is provided for infø _t. This allows us to examine the properties of the scale geometry on eachS _twhen strong field regions are probed. It is shown that in such regions ? _t tends to become degenerate exponentially as a suitable average of the scalar curvature of (S _t, h _t ) increases. This is interpreted as representing the approach to a singular regime for (S _t, h _t ). An estimate is also provided for the lapse function-N _t defining {S _t}. This is found to be in agreement with a similar estimate suggested, on heuristic grounds, by Smarr and York. This latter result indicates that asymptotically flat maximal slicings in general (but not always) avoid reaching regions where the above singular regime is approached.     

The existence of non-trivial asymptotically flat initial data for vacuum spacetimes

This paper demonstrates the existence of non-trivial solutions (g, k) to the constraint equations of the initial value formulation of the Einstein field equations over ³ withg _ij – _ij |x|^–1 as |x| . Using the conformal methods of Lichnerowicz and York, this problem is divided into two parts. First, using weighted Sobolev spaces it is shown the set of pairs (g, k) withg a conformal metric andk transverse-traceless with respect tog forms a smooth vector bundleP with infinite dimensional fiber. Second, it is shown that the elements of a large open set inP uniquely determine a solution to the scalar constraint equation with the appropriate growth at infinity, and thereby determine solution to the constraint equations.     

Maximal hypersurfaces in stationary asymptotically flat spacetimes

Existence of maximal hypersurfaces and of foliations by maximal hypersurfaces is proven in two classes of asymptotically flat spacetimes which possess a one parameter group of isometries whose orbits are timelike near infinity.. The first class consists of strongly causal asymptotically flat spacetimes which contain no black hole or white hole (but may contain ergoregions where the Killing orbits fail to be timelike). The second class of spacetimes possess a black hole and a white hole, with the black and white hole horizons intersecting in a compact 2-surfaceS.Supported in part by KBN grant #2 1047 9101Supported in part by NSF grant PHY-8918388.     

On maximal surfaces in asymptotically flat space-times

Existenc of maximal and almost maximal hypersurfaces in asymptotically flat space-times is established under boundary conditions weaker than those considered previously. We show in particular that every vacuum evolution of asymptotically flat data for the Einstein equations can be foliated by slices maximal outside a spatially compact set and that every (strictly) stationary asymptotically flat space-time can be foliated by maximal hypersurfaces. Amongst other uniqueness results, we show that maximal hypersurfaces can be used to partially fix an asymptotic Poincaré group.Supported in part by the NSF grant PHY 8503072 to Yale University     

Correspondence between asymptotically flat spacetimes and nonrelativistic conformal field theories

We find a surprising connection between asymptotically flat spacetimes and nonrelativistic conformal systems in one lower dimension. The Bondi-Metzner-Sachs (BMS) group is the group of asymptotic isometries of flat Minkowski space at null infinity. This is known to be infinite dimensional in three and four dimensions. We show that the BMS algebra in 3 dimensions is the same as the 2D Galilean conformal algebra (GCA) which is of relevance to nonrelativistic conformal symmetries. We further justify our proposal by looking at a Penrose limit on a radially infalling null ray inspired by nonrelativistic scaling and obtain a flat metric. The BMS4 algebra is also discussed and found to be the same as another class of GCA, called semi-GCA, in three dimensions. We propose a general BMS-GCA correspondence. Some consequences are discussed.     

Particle creation in asymptotically Minkowskian spacetimes

Exact solutions of Klein–Gordon and Dirac equations are obtained for two classes of Robertson–Walker (RW) spacetimes with asymptotically Minkowskian regions. One class is Minkowskian in the remote past and future. In this class in$in$ and out$out$ vacua are well defined, because the scale factor reduces to a constant at the asymptotic regions. Another class is asymptotically flat only in the far past. Using the obtained exact solutions we calculate the density of scalar and Dirac particles created through the Bogolubov transformations technique. For Dirac field it is shown that the rates of creation of particles and antiparticles are equal.     

The holographic Hadamard condition on asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes

In the setting of asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes, we consider Klein–Gordon fields subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions, with mass satisfying the Breitenlohner–Freedman bound. We introduce a condition on the \(\mathrm{b}\)-wave front set of two-point functions of quantum fields, which locally in the bulk amounts to the usual Hadamard condition, and which moreover allows to estimate wave front sets for the holographically induced theory on the boundary. We prove the existence of two-point functions satisfying this condition and show their uniqueness modulo terms that have smooth Schwartz kernel in the bulk and have smooth restriction to the boundary. Finally, using Vasy’s propagation of singularities theorem, we prove an analogue of Duistermaat and Hörmander’s theorem on distinguished parametrices.     

On existence and behaviour of asymptotically flat solutions to the stationary Einstein equations

We show existence and uniqueness of asymptotically flat solutions to the stationary Einstein equations inS=³–B _r , whereB _r is a ball of radiousr>0, when a small enough continuous complex function û on S is given. Regularity and decay estimates imply that these solutions are analytic in the interior ofS and also at infinity, when suitably conformally rescaled.     

Kinemaitcs in spatially flat FLRW spacetimes

The kinematics on spatially flat FLRW spacetimes is presented for the first time in local charts with physical coordinates, i.e., the cosmic time and proper Cartesian space coordinates of Painlevé-type. It is shown that there exists a conserved momentum that determines the form of the covariant four-momentum on geodesics in terms of physical coordinates. Moreover, with the help of this conserved momentum, the peculiar momentum can be defined, thus separating the peculiar and recessional motions without ambiguity. It is shown that the energy and peculiar momentum satisfy the mass-shell condition of special relativity while the recessional momentum does not produce energy. In this framework, the measurements of the kinetic quantities along geodesics performed by different observers are analyzed, pointing out an energy loss of the massive particles similar to that producing the photon redshift. The examples of the kinematics on the de Sitter expanding universe and a new Milne-type spacetime are extensively analyzed.     

On asymptotically flat space-times

The allowed asymptotic behavior of the Ricci tensor is determined for asymptotically flat space-times. With the aid of Penrose's conformai technique the asymptotic behavior of the components of the metric tensor, Weyl tensor, and spin coefficients in a suitable frame is calculated for such a space-time. For Einstein-Maxwell space-times these results reduce to those of Exton, Newman, Penrose, Unti, and Kozarzewski.     

Positive mass theorems for asymptotically de Sitter spacetimes

We use planar coordinates as well as hyperbolic coordinates to separate the de Sitter spacetime into two parts. These two ways of cutting the de Sitter give rise to two different spatial infinities. For spacetimes which are asymptotic to either half of the de Sitter spacetime, we are able to provide definitions of the total energy, the total linear momentum, the total angular momentum, respectively. And we prove two positive mass theorems, corresponding to these two sorts of spatial infinities, for spacelike hypersurfaces whose mean curvatures are bounded by certain constant from above.     

On the existence of asymptotically flat initial data sets for space-times containing manifolds with ends

A 3-manifoldM is said to have ends if the complement of a compact set inM is the finite disjoint union of sets diffeomorphic to the exterior of a sphere in ³. This paper gives a necessary and sufficient condition for when an asymptotically flat initial data set ( ) onM is determined by a set of freely specifiable York data.This research was partially supported by the National Science Foundation grant No. 7901801.     

The topology of asymptotically locally flat gravitational instantons

In this Letter we demonstrate that the intersection form of the Hausel–Hunsicker–Mazzeo compactification of a four-dimensional ALF gravitational instanton is definite and diagonalizable over the integers if one of the Kähler forms of the hyper-Kähler gravitational instanton metric is exact. This leads to their topological classification.     

An asymptotically flat vacuum solution

An asympototically flat algebraically general vacuum metric is obtained. The solution is characterized by two commuting spacelike Killing vectors with flat integral surfaces and depends on one arbitrary function.