On the Bartnik extension problem for the static vacuum Einstein equations

We develop a framework for understanding the existence of asymptotically flat solutions to the static vacuum Einstein equations with prescribed boundary data consisting of the induced metric and mean curvature on a 2-sphere. A partial existence result is obtained, giving a partial resolution of a conjecture of Bartnik on such static vacuum extensions. The existence and uniqueness of such extensions is closely related to Bartnik's definition of quasi-local mass.Comment: 33 pages, 1 figure. Minor revision of v2. Final version, to appear in Class. Quantum Gravit

On a Localized Riemannian Penrose Inequality

Consider a compact, orientable, three dimensional Riemannian manifold with boundary with nonnegative scalar curvature. Suppose its boundary is the disjoint union of two pieces: the horizon boundary and the outer boundary, where the horizon boundary consists of the unique closed minimal surfaces in the manifold and the outer boundary is metrically a round sphere. We obtain an inequality relating the area of the horizon boundary to the area and the total mean curvature of the outer boundary. Such a manifold may be thought as a region, surrounding the outermost apparent horizons of black holes, in a time-symmetric slice of a space-time in the context of general relativity. The inequality we establish has close ties with the Riemannian Penrose Inequality, proved by Huisken and Ilmanen, and by Bray.Comment: 16 page

Positive mass theorems for asymptotically AdS spacetimes with arbitrary cosmological constant

We formulate and prove the Lorentzian version of the positive mass theorems with arbitrary negative cosmological constant for asymptotically AdS spacetimes. This work is the continuation of the second author's recent work on the positive mass theorem on asymptotically hyperbolic 3-manifolds.Comment: 17 pages, final version, to appear in International Journal of Mathematic

Far-from-constant mean curvature solutions of Einstein's constraint equations with positive Yamabe metrics

In this article we develop some new existence results for the Einstein constraint equations using the Lichnerowicz-York conformal rescaling method. The mean extrinsic curvature is taken to be an arbitrary smooth function without restrictions on the size of its spatial derivatives, so that it can be arbitrarily far from constant. The rescaled background metric belongs to the positive Yamabe class, and the freely specifiable part of the data given by the traceless-transverse part of the rescaled extrinsic curvature and the matter fields are taken to be sufficiently small, with the matter energy density not identically zero. Using topological fixed-point arguments and global barrier constructions, we then establish existence of solutions to the constraints. Two recent advances in the analysis of the Einstein constraint equations make this result possible: A new type of topological fixed-point argument without smallness conditions on spatial derivatives of the mean extrinsic curvature, and a new construction of global super-solutions for the Hamiltonian constraint that is similarly free of such conditions on the mean extrinsic curvature. For clarity, we present our results only for strong solutions on closed manifolds. However, our results also hold for weak solutions and for other cases such as compact manifolds with boundary; these generalizations will appear elsewhere. The existence results presented here for the Einstein constraints are apparently the first such results that do not require smallness conditions on spatial derivatives of the mean extrinsic curvature.Comment: 4 pages, no figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters. (Abstract shortenned and other minor changes reflecting v4 version of arXiv:0712.0798

A Remark on Boundary Effects in Static Vacuum Initial Data sets

Let (M, g) be an asymptotically flat static vacuum initial data set with non-empty compact boundary. We prove that (M, g) is isometric to a spacelike slice of a Schwarzschild spacetime under the mere assumption that the boundary of (M, g) has zero mean curvature, hence generalizing a classic result of Bunting and Masood-ul-Alam. In the case that the boundary has constant positive mean curvature and satisfies a stability condition, we derive an upper bound of the ADM mass of (M, g) in terms of the area and mean curvature of the boundary. Our discussion is motivated by Bartnik's quasi-local mass definition.Comment: 10 pages, to be published in Classical and Quantum Gravit

A variational principle for stationary, axisymmetric solutions of Einstein's equations

Stationary, axisymmetric, vacuum, solutions of Einstein's equations are obtained as critical points of the total mass among all axisymmetric and $(t,\phi)$ symmetric initial data with fixed angular momentum. In this variational principle the mass is written as a positive definite integral over a spacelike hypersurface. It is also proved that if absolute minimum exists then it is equal to the absolute minimum of the mass among all maximal, axisymmetric, vacuum, initial data with fixed angular momentum. Arguments are given to support the conjecture that this minimum exists and is the extreme Kerr initial data.Comment: 21 page

Just how long can you live in a black hole and what can be done about it?

We study the problem of how long a journey within a black hole can last. Based on our observations, we make two conjectures. First, for observers that have entered a black hole from an asymptotic region, we conjecture that the length of their journey within is bounded by a multiple of the future asymptotic ``size'' of the black hole, provided the spacetime is globally hyperbolic and satisfies the dominant-energy and non-negative-pressures conditions. Second, for spacetimes with ${\Bbb R}^3$ Cauchy surfaces (or an appropriate generalization thereof) and satisfying the dominant energy and non-negative-pressures conditions, we conjecture that the length of a journey anywhere within a black hole is again bounded, although here the bound requires a knowledge of the initial data for the gravitational field on a Cauchy surface. We prove these conjectures in the spherically symmetric case. We also prove that there is an upper bound on the lifetimes of observers lying ``deep within'' a black hole, provided the spacetime satisfies the timelike-convergence condition and possesses a maximal Cauchy surface. Further, we investigate whether one can increase the lifetime of an observer that has entered a black hole, e.g., by throwing additional matter into the hole. Lastly, in an appendix, we prove that the surface area $A$ of the event horizon of a black hole in a spherically symmetric spacetime with ADM mass $M_{\text{ADM}}$ is always bounded by $A \le 16\pi M_{\text{ADM}}^2$, provided that future null infinity is complete and the spacetime is globally hyperbolic and satisfies the dominant-energy condition.Comment: 20 pages, REVTeX 3.0, 6 figures included, self-unpackin

On geometric problems related to Brown-York and Liu-Yau quasilocal mass

We discuss some geometric problems related to the definitions of quasilocal mass proposed by Brown-York \cite{BYmass1} \cite{BYmass2} and Liu-Yau \cite{LY1} \cite{LY2}. Our discussion consists of three parts. In the first part, we propose a new variational problem on compact manifolds with boundary, which is motivated by the study of Brown-York mass. We prove that critical points of this variation problem are exactly static metrics. In the second part, we derive a derivative formula for the Brown-York mass of a smooth family of closed 2 dimensional surfaces evolving in an ambient three dimensional manifold. As an interesting by-product, we are able to write the ADM mass \cite{ADM61} of an asymptotically flat 3-manifold as the sum of the Brown-York mass of a coordinate sphere $S_r$ and an integral of the scalar curvature plus a geometrically constructed function $\Phi(x)$ in the asymptotic region outside $S_r$. In the third part, we prove that for any closed, spacelike, 2-surface $\Sigma$ in the Minkowski space $\R^{3,1}$ for which the Liu-Yau mass is defined, if $\Sigma$ bounds a compact spacelike hypersurface in $\R^{3,1}$, then the Liu-Yau mass of $\Sigma$ is strictly positive unless $\Sigma$ lies on a hyperplane. We also show that the examples given by \'{O} Murchadha, Szabados and Tod \cite{MST} are special cases of this result.Comment: 28 page

Complex Conjugate Pairs in Stationary Sturmians

Sturmian eigenstates specified by stationary scattering boundary conditions are particularly useful in contexts such as forming simple separable two nucleon t matrices, and are determined via solution of generalised eigenvalue equation using real and symmetric matrices. In general, the spectrum of such an equation may contain complex eigenvalues. But to each complex eigenvalue there is a corresponding conjugate partner. In studies using realistic nucleon--nucleon potentials, and in certain positive energy intervals, these complex conjugated pairs indeed appear in the Sturmian spectrum. However, as we demonstrate herein, it is possible to recombine the complex conjugate pairs and corresponding states into a new, sign--definite pair of real quantities with which to effect separable expansions of the (real) nucleon--nucleon reactance matrices.Comment: (REVTEX) 8 Pages, Padova DFPD 93/TH/78 and University of Melbourn

On the existence of initial data containing isolated black holes

We present a general construction of initial data for Einstein's equations containing an arbitrary number of black holes, each of which is instantaneously in equilibrium. Each black hole is taken to be a marginally trapped surface and plays the role of the inner boundary of the Cauchy surface. The black hole is taken to be instantaneously isolated if its outgoing null rays are shear-free. Starting from the choice of a conformal metric and the freely specifiable part of the extrinsic curvature in the bulk, we give a prescription for choosing the shape of the inner boundaries and the boundary conditions that must be imposed there. We show rigorously that with these choices, the resulting non-linear elliptic system always admits solutions.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, RevTeX