The Strauss conjecture on asymptotically flat space-times

By assuming a certain localized energy estimate, we prove the existence portion of the Strauss conjecture on asymptotically flat manifolds, possibly exterior to a compact domain, when the spatial dimension is 3 or 4. In particular, this result applies to the 3 and 4-dimensional Schwarzschild and Kerr (with small angular momentum) black hole backgrounds, long range asymptotically Euclidean spaces, and small time-dependent asymptotically flat perturbations of Minkowski space-time. We also permit lower order perturbations of the wave operator. The key estimates are a class of weighted Strichartz estimates, which are used near infinity where the metrics can be viewed as small perturbations of the Minkowski metric, and the assumed localized energy estimate, which is used in the remaining compact set.Comment: Final version, to appear in SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis. 17 page

Long time existence for semilinear wave equations on asymptotically flat space-times

We study the long time existence of solutions to nonlinear wave equations with power-type nonlinearity (of order $p$) and small data, on a large class of $(1+n)$-dimensional nonstationary asymptotically flat backgrounds, which include the Schwarzschild and Kerr black hole space-times. Under the assumption that uniform energy bounds and a weak form of local energy estimates hold forward in time, we give lower bounds of the lifespan when $n=3, 4$ and $p$ is not bigger than the critical one. The lower bounds for three dimensional subcritical and four dimensional critical cases are sharp in general. For the most delicate three dimensional critical case, we obtain the first existence result up to $\exp(c\epsilon^{-2\sqrt{2}})$, for many space-times including the nontrapping exterior domain, nontrapping asymptotically Euclidean space and Schwarzschild space-time.Comment: Final version, to appear in Communications in Partial Differential Equations. 24 page

Global existence for a coupled wave system related to the Strauss conjecture

A coupled system of semilinear wave equations is considered, and a small data global existence result related to the Strauss conjecture is proved. Previous results have shown that one of the powers may be reduced below the critical power for the Strauss conjecture provided the other power sufficiently exceeds such. The stability of such results under asymptotically flat perturbations of the space-time where an integrated local energy decay estimate is available is established.Comment: 12 page

Local decay of waves on asymptotically flat stationary space-times

In this article we study the pointwise decay properties of solutions to the wave equation on a class of stationary asymptotically flat backgrounds in three space dimensions. Under the assumption that uniform energy bounds and a weak form of local energy decay hold forward in time we establish a $t^{-3}$ local uniform decay rate for linear waves. This work was motivated by open problems concerning decay rates for linear waves on Schwarzschild and Kerr backgrounds, where such a decay rate has been conjectured by R. Price. Our results apply to both of these cases.Comment: 33 pages; minor corrections, updated reference

The Einstein-Vlasov system/Kinetic theory

The main purpose of this article is to provide a guide to theorems on global properties of solutions to the Einstein-Vlasov system. This system couples Einstein's equations to a kinetic matter model. Kinetic theory has been an important field of research during several decades in which the main focus has been on nonrelativistic and special relativistic physics, {\it i.e.} to model the dynamics of neutral gases, plasmas, and Newtonian self-gravitating systems. In 1990, Rendall and Rein initiated a mathematical study of the Einstein-Vlasov system. Since then many theorems on global properties of solutions to this system have been established. The Vlasov equation describes matter phenomenologically and it should be stressed that most of the theorems presented in this article are not presently known for other such matter models ({\it i.e.} fluid models). This paper gives introductions to kinetic theory in non-curved spacetimes and then the Einstein-Vlasov system is introduced. We believe that a good understanding of kinetic theory in non-curved spacetimes is fundamental to good comprehension of kinetic theory in general relativity.Comment: 40 pages, updated version, to appear in Living Reviews in Relativit