Large isoperimetric surfaces in initial data sets

We study the isoperimetric structure of asymptotically flat Riemannian 3-manifolds (M,g) that are C^0-asymptotic to Schwarzschild of mass m>0. Refining an argument due to H. Bray we obtain an effective volume comparison theorem in Schwarzschild. We use it to show that isoperimetric regions exist in (M, g) for all sufficiently large volumes, and that they are close to centered coordinate spheres. This implies that the volume-preserving stable constant mean curvature spheres constructed by G. Huisken and S.-T. Yau as well as R. Ye as perturbations of large centered coordinate spheres minimize area among all competing surfaces that enclose the same volume. This confirms a conjecture of H. Bray. Our results are consistent with the uniqueness results for volume-preserving stable constant mean curvature surfaces in initial data sets obtained by G. Huisken and S.-T. Yau and strengthened by J. Qing and G. Tian. The additional hypotheses that the surfaces be spherical and far out in the asymptotic region in their results are not necessary in our work.Comment: 29 pages. All comments welcome! This is the final version to appear in J. Differential Geo

The Jang Equation Reduction of the Spacetime Positive Energy Theorem in Dimensions Less Than Eight

We extend the Jang equation proof of the positive energy theorem due to Schoen and Yau (Commun Math Phys 79(2):231-260, 1981) from dimension n = 3 to dimensions 3 ≤ n <8. This requires us to address several technical difficulties that are not present when n = 3. The regularity and decay assumptions for the initial data sets to which our argument applies are weaker than those in Schoen and Yau (Commun Math Phys 79(2):231-260, 1981

Topological censorship from the initial data point of view

We introduce a natural generalization of marginally outer trapped surfaces, called immersed marginally outer trapped surfaces, and prove that three dimensional asymptotically flat initial data sets either contain such surfaces or are diffeomorphic to R^3. We establish a generalization of the Penrose singularity theorem which shows that the presence of an immersed marginally outer trapped surface generically implies the null geodesic incompleteness of any spacetime that satisfies the null energy condition and which admits a non-compact Cauchy surface. Taken together, these results can be viewed as an initial data version of the Gannon-Lee singularity theorem. The first result is a non-time-symmetric version of a theorem of Meeks-Simon-Yau which implies that every asymptotically flat Riemannian 3-manifold that is not diffeomorphic to R^3 contains an embedded stable minimal surface. We also obtain an initial data version of the spacetime principle of topological censorship. Under physically natural assumptions, a 3-dimensional asymptotically flat initial data set with marginally outer trapped boundary and no immersed marginally outer trapped surfaces in its interior is diffeomorphic to R^3 minus a finite number of open balls. An extension to higher dimensions is also discussed.Comment: v2: Appendix added, Theorem 5.1 improved, other minor changes. To appear in J. Diff. Geo

Effective versions of the positive mass theorem

The study of stable minimal surfaces in Riemannian $3$-manifolds $(M, g)$ with non-negative scalar curvature has a rich history. In this paper, we prove rigidity of such surfaces when $(M, g)$ is asymptotically flat and has horizon boundary. As a consequence, we obtain an effective version of the positive mass theorem in terms of isoperimetric or, more generally, closed volume-preserving stable CMC surfaces that is appealing from both a physical and a purely geometric point of view. We also include a proof of the following conjecture of R. Schoen: An asymptotically flat Riemannian $3$-manifold with non-negative scalar curvature that contains an unbounded area-minimizing surface is isometric to flat $\mathbb{R}^3$.Comment: All comments welcome! The final version has appeared in Invent. Mat