Constraints and evolution in cosmology

We review some old and new results about strict and non strict hyperbolic formulations of the Einstein equations.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the first Aegean summer school in General Relativity, S. Cotsakis ed. Springer Lecture Notes in Physic

Relativistic Lagrange Formulation

It is well-known that the equations for a simple fluid can be cast into what is called their Lagrange formulation. We introduce a notion of a generalized Lagrange formulation, which is applicable to a wide variety of systems of partial differential equations. These include numerous systems of physical interest, in particular, those for various material media in general relativity. There is proved a key theorem, to the effect that, if the original (Euler) system admits an initial-value formulation, then so does its generalized Lagrange formulation.Comment: 34 pages, no figures, accepted in J. Math. Phy

Proof of the Thin Sandwich Conjecture

We prove that the Thin Sandwich Conjecture in general relativity is valid, provided that the data $(g_{ab},\dot g_{ab})$ satisfy certain geometric conditions. These conditions define an open set in the class of possible data, but are not generically satisfied. The implications for the ``superspace'' picture of the Einstein evolution equations are discussed.Comment: 8 page

Potential for ill-posedness in several 2nd-order formulations of the Einstein equations

Second-order formulations of the 3+1 Einstein equations obtained by eliminating the extrinsic curvature in terms of the time derivative of the metric are examined with the aim of establishing whether they are well posed, in cases of somewhat wide interest, such as ADM, BSSN and generalized Einstein-Christoffel. The criterion for well-posedness of second-order systems employed is due to Kreiss and Ortiz. By this criterion, none of the three cases are strongly hyperbolic, but some of them are weakly hyperbolic, which means that they may yet be well posed but only under very restrictive conditions for the terms of order lower than second in the equations (which are not studied here). As a result, intuitive transferences of the property of well-posedness from first-order reductions of the Einstein equations to their originating second-order versions are unwarranted if not false.Comment: v1:6 pages; v2:7 pages, discussion extended, to appear in Phys. Rev. D; v3: typos corrected, published versio

The Cauchy problem on a characteristic cone for the Einstein equations in arbitrary dimensions

We derive explicit formulae for a set of constraints for the Einstein equations on a null hypersurface, in arbitrary dimensions. We solve these constraints and show that they provide necessary and sufficient conditions so that a spacetime solution of the Cauchy problem on a characteristic cone for the hyperbolic system of the reduced Einstein equations in wave-map gauge also satisfies the full Einstein equations. We prove a geometric uniqueness theorem for this Cauchy problem in the vacuum case.Comment: 83 pages, 1 figur

Existence and uniqueness of Bowen-York Trumpets

We prove the existence of initial data sets which possess an asymptotically flat and an asymptotically cylindrical end. Such geometries are known as trumpets in the community of numerical relativists.Comment: This corresponds to the published version in Class. Quantum Grav. 28 (2011) 24500

On two theorems for flat, affine group schemes over a discrete valuation ring

We include short and elementary proofs of two theorems characterizing reductive group schemes over a discrete valuation ring, in a slightly more general context.Comment: 10 pages. To appear in C. E. J.

The Well-posedness of the Null-Timelike Boundary Problem for Quasilinear Waves

The null-timelike initial-boundary value problem for a hyperbolic system of equations consists of the evolution of data given on an initial characteristic surface and on a timelike worldtube to produce a solution in the exterior of the worldtube. We establish the well-posedness of this problem for the evolution of a quasilinear scalar wave by means of energy estimates. The treatment is given in characteristic coordinates and thus provides a guide for developing stable finite difference algorithms. A new technique underlying the approach has potential application to other characteristic initial-boundary value problems.Comment: Version to appear in Class. Quantum Gra

Differential Forms and Wave Equations for General Relativity

Recently, Choquet-Bruhat and York and Abrahams, Anderson, Choquet-Bruhat, and York (AACY) have cast the 3+1 evolution equations of general relativity in gauge-covariant and causal ``first-order symmetric hyperbolic form,'' thereby cleanly separating physical from gauge degrees of freedom in the Cauchy problem for general relativity. A key ingredient in their construction is a certain wave equation which governs the light-speed propagation of the extrinsic curvature tensor. Along a similar line, we construct a related wave equation which, as the key equation in a system, describes vacuum general relativity. Whereas the approach of AACY is based on tensor-index methods, the present formulation is written solely in the language of differential forms. Our approach starts with Sparling's tetrad-dependent differential forms, and our wave equation governs the propagation of Sparling's 2-form, which in the ``time-gauge'' is built linearly from the ``extrinsic curvature 1-form.'' The tensor-index version of our wave equation describes the propagation of (what is essentially) the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner gravitational momentum.Comment: REVTeX, 26 pages, no figures, 1 macr

The quadratic spinor Lagrangian, axial torsion current, and generalizations

We show that the Einstein-Hilbert, the Einstein-Palatini, and the Holst actions can be derived from the Quadratic Spinor Lagrangian (QSL), when the three classes of Dirac spinor fields, under Lounesto spinor field classification, are considered. To each one of these classes, there corresponds a unique kind of action for a covariant gravity theory. In other words, it is shown to exist a one-to-one correspondence between the three classes of non-equivalent solutions of the Dirac equation, and Einstein-Hilbert, Einstein-Palatini, and Holst actions. Furthermore, it arises naturally, from Lounesto spinor field classification, that any other class of spinor field (Weyl, Majorana, flagpole, or flag-dipole spinor fields) yields a trivial (zero) QSL, up to a boundary term. To investigate this boundary term we do not impose any constraint on the Dirac spinor field, and consequently we obtain new terms in the boundary component of the QSL. In the particular case of a teleparallel connection, an axial torsion 1-form current density is obtained. New terms are also obtained in the corresponding Hamiltonian formalism. We then discuss how these new terms could shed new light on more general investigations.Comment: 9 pages, RevTeX, to be published in Int.J.Mod.Phys.D (2007