A new topology on the space of Lorentzian metrics on a fixed manifold

We give a covariant definition of closeness between (time oriented) Lorentzian metrics on a manifold M, using a family of functions which measure the difference in volume form on one hand and the difference in causal structure relative to a volume scale on the other hand. These functions will distinguish two geometric properties of the Alexandrov sets $A(p,q), \tilde{A} (p,q)$ relative to two space time points $q$ and $p$ and metrics $g$ and $\tilde{g}$. It will be shown that this family generates uniformities and consequently a topology on the space of Lorentzian metrics which is Hausdorff when restricted to strongly causal metrics. This family of functions will depend on parameters for a volume scale, a length scale (relative to the volume scale) and an index which labels a submanifold with compact closure of the given manifold M.Comment: 33 page

The limit space of a Cauchy sequence of globally hyperbolic spacetimes

In this second paper, I construct a limit space of a Cauchy sequence of globally hyperbolic spacetimes. In the second section, I work gradually towards a construction of the limit space. I prove the limit space is unique up to isometry. I als show that, in general, the limit space has quite complicated causal behaviour. This work prepares the final paper in which I shall study in more detail properties of the limit space and the moduli space of (compact) globally hyperbolic spacetimes (cobordisms). As a fait divers, I give in this paper a suitable definition of dimension of a Lorentz space in agreement with the one given by Gromov in the Riemannian case.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Classical and Quantum gravity, seriously improved presentatio

A Lorentzian Gromov-Hausdoff notion of distance

This paper is the first of three in which I study the moduli space of isometry classes of (compact) globally hyperbolic spacetimes (with boundary). I introduce a notion of Gromov-Hausdorff distance which makes this moduli space into a metric space. Further properties of this metric space are studied in the next papers. The importance of the work can be situated in fields such as cosmology, quantum gravity and - for the mathematicians - global Lorentzian geometry.Comment: 20 pages, 0 figures, submitted to Classical and quantum gravity, seriously improved presentatio