Stochastic integration based on simple, symmetric random walks

A new approach to stochastic integration is described, which is based on an a.s. pathwise approximation of the integrator by simple, symmetric random walks. Hopefully, this method is didactically more advantageous, more transparent, and technically less demanding than other existing ones. In a large part of the theory one has a.s. uniform convergence on compacts. In particular, it gives a.s. convergence for the stochastic integral of a finite variation function of the integrator, which is not c\`adl\`ag in general.Comment: 16 pages, some typos correcte

On the total mass of closed universes

The total mass, the Witten type gauge conditions and the spectral properties of the Sen-Witten and the 3-surface twistor operators in closed universes are investigated. It has been proven that a recently suggested expression ${\tt M}$ for the total mass density of closed universes is vanishing if and only if the spacetime is flat with toroidal spatial topology; it coincides with the first eigenvalue of the Sen-Witten operator; and it is vanishing if and only if Witten's gauge condition admits a non-trivial solution. Here we generalize slightly the result above on the zero-mass configurations: ${\tt M}=0$ if and only if the spacetime is holonomically trivial with toroidal spatial topology. Also, we show that the multiplicity of the eigenvalues of the (square of the) Sen-Witten operator is at least two, and a potentially viable gauge condition is suggested. The monotonicity properties of ${\tt M}$ through the examples of closed Bianchi I and IX cosmological spacetimes are also discussed. A potential spectral characterization of these cosmological spacetimes, in terms of the spectrum of the Riemannian Dirac operator and the Sen-Witten and the 3-surface twistor operators, is also indicated.Comment: 14 pages, plenary talk at the `Spanish Relativity Meeting in Portugal 2012', Guimar\~aes 3-7 September; Final version, appearing in General Relativity and Gravitatio