Extending the results of an earlier article we give a complete description of the asymptotically flat, conformally non-flat, static vacuum data which admit non-trivial, asymptotically smooth conformal mappings onto other such data. These data form a 3-parameter family which decomposes into 1-parameter families of data which are conformal to each other. The data and the associated static vacuum solutions are given explicitly in terms of elliptic and, in a special case, elementary functions.
For mathematical convenience initial data sets in numerical relativity are often taken to be conformally flat. Employing the dual-foliation formalism, we investigate the physical consequences of this assumption. Working within a large class of asymptotically flat spacetimes we show that the ADM linear momentum is governed by the leading Lorentz part of a boost even in the presence of supertranslation-like terms. Following up, we find that in spacetimes that are asymptotically flat, and admit spatial slices with vanishing linear momentum that are sufficiently close to conformal flatness, any bo…
Given a time symmetric initial data set for the vacuum Einstein field equations which is conformally flat near infinity, it is shown that the solutions to the regular finite initial value problem at spatial infinity extend smoothly through the critical sets where null infinity touches spatial infinity if and only if the initial data coincides with Schwarzschild data near infinity.
This is the third paper in a series describing a numerical implementation of the conformal Einstein equation. This paper describes a scheme to calculate (three) dimensional data for the conformal field equations from a set of free functions. The actual implementation depends on the topology of the spacetime. We discuss the implementation and exemplary calculations for data leading to spacetimes with one spherical null infinity (asymptotically Minkowski) and for data leading to spacetimes with two toroidal null infinities (asymptotically A3). We also outline the (technical) modifications of the…
A framework conceptually based on the conformal techniques employed to study the structure of the gravitational field at infinity is set up in the context of loop quantum gravity to describe asymptotically anti-de Sitter quantum spacetimes. A conformal compactification of the spatial slice is performed, which, in terms of the rescaled metric, has now finite volume, and can thus be conveniently described by spin networks states. The conformal factor used is a physical scalar field, which has the necessary asymptotics for many asymptotically AdS black hole solutions.
We introduce a class of "weakly asymptotically hyperbolic" geometries whose sectional curvatures tend to $-1$ and are $C^0$, but are not necessarily $C^1$, conformally compact. We subsequently investigate the rate at which curvature invariants decay at infinity, identifying a conformally invariant tensor which serves as an obstruction to "higher order decay" of the Riemann curvature operator. Finally, we establish Fredholm results for geometric elliptic operators, extending the work of Rafe Mazzeo and John M. Lee to this setting. As an application, we show that any weakly asymptotically hyperb…
We report exact black hole solutions in asymptotically flat or (A)dS four-dimensional spacetime with a conformally coupled self-interacting scalar field in $f(R)$ gravity. We first consider the asymptotically flat model $f(R) = R -2α\sqrt{R}$ and derive an exact black hole solution. Then, we consider the asymptotically (A)dS model $f(R) =R -2 Λ-2 α\sqrt{R-4 Λ}$ and derive an exact black hole solution. In both cases the modified gravity parameter $α$, which has the dimension of the inverse mass, cannot be set to zero and the self-interacting potential is determined from the Klein-Gordon equatio…
We present exact dynamical and inhomogeneous solutions in three-dimensional AdS gravity with a conformally coupled scalar field. They contain stealth configurations of the scalar field overflying the BTZ spacetime and also solutions with a non-vanishing energy-momentum tensor. The latter non-stealth class consists of the solution obtained by Xu and its analytic extension. It is shown that this proper extension represents: (i) an eternally shrinking dynamical black hole, (ii) a curious spacetime which admits an event horizon without any trapped surface, or (iii) gravitational collapse of a scal…
The definition of quantum singularity is extended from static space-times to conformally static space-times. After the usual definitions of classical and quantum singularities are reviewed, examples of quantum singularities in static space-times are given. These include asymptotically power-law space-times, space-times with diverging higher-order differential invariants, and a space-time with a 2-sphere singularity. The theory behind quantum singularities in conformally static space-times is followed by an example, a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker space-time with cosmic string. The paper concludes…
The existence of symmetries in asymptotically flat space-times are studied from the point of view of initial value problems. General necessary and sufficient (implicit) conditions are given for the existence of Killing vector fields in the asymptotic characteristic and in the hyperboloidal initial value problem (both of them are formulated on the conformally compactified space-time manifold).
In this paper we show positive mass theorems and Penrose type inequalities for the Gauss-Bonnet-Chern mass, which was introduced recently in \cite{GWW}, for asymptotically flat CF manifolds and its rigidity.
We study a higher order conformally coupled scalar tensor theory endowed with a covariant geometric constraint relating the scalar curvature with the Gauss-Bonnet scalar. It is a particular Horndeski theory including a canonical kinetic term but without shift or parity symmetry for the scalar. The theory also stems from a Kaluza-Klein reduction of a well defined higher dimensional metric theory. Properties of an asymptotically flat spherically symmetric black hole are analyzed, and new slowly rotating and radiating extensions are found. Through disformal transformations of the static configura…
An important problem is to determine under which circumstances a metric on a conformally compact manifold is conformal to a Poincaré--Einstein metric. Such conformal rescalings are in general obstructed by conformal invariants of the boundary hypersurface embedding, the first of which is the trace-free second fundamental form and then, at the next order, the trace-free Fialkow tensor. We show that these tensors are the lowest order examples in a sequence of conformally invariant higher fundamental forms determined by the data of a conformal hypersurface embedding. We give a construction of the…
A three dimensional black hole solution of Einstein equations with negative cosmological constant coupled to a conformal scalar field is given. The solution is static, circularly symmetric, asymptotically anti-de Sitter and nonperturbative in the conformal field. The curvature tensor is singular at the origin while the scalar field is regular everywhere. The condition that the Euclidean geometry be regular at the horizon fixes the temperature to be $T=\frac{9\, r_+}{16πl^2}$. Using the Hamiltonian formulation including boundary terms of the Euclidean action, the entropy is found to be $\frac{2…
The present work includes an analytical investigation of a collapsing spherical star in f (R) gravity. The interior of the collapsing star admits a conformal flatness. Information regarding the fate of the collapse is extracted from the matching conditions of the extrinsic curvature and the Ricci curvature scalar across the boundary hypersurface of the star. The radial distribution of the physical quantities such as density, anisotropic pressure and radial heat flux are studied. The inhomogeneity of the collapsing interior leads to a non-zero acceleration. The divergence of this acceleration a…
The Conformal Einstein equations and the representation of spatial infinity as a cylinder introduced by Friedrich are used to analyse the behaviour of the gravitational field near null and spatial infinity for the development of data which are asymptotically Euclidean, conformally flat and time asymmetric. Our analysis allows for initial data whose second fundamental form is more general than the one given by the standard Bowen-York Ansatz. The Conformal Einstein equations imply upon evaluation on the cylinder at spatial infinity a hierarchy of transport equations which can be used to calculat…
The conformally flat families of initial data typically used in numerical relativity to represent boosted black holes are not those of a boosted slice of the Schwarzschild spacetime. If such data are used for each black hole in a collision, the emitted radiation will be partially due to the ``relaxation'' of the individual holes to ``boosted Schwarzschild'' form. We attempt to compute this radiation by treating the geometry for a single boosted conformally flat hole as a perturbation of a Schwarzschild black hole, which requires the use of second order perturbation theory. In this we attempt t…
We consider the Einstein-Maxwell-fluid constraint equations, and make use of the conformal method to construct and parametrize constant-mean-curvature hyperboloidal initial data sets that satisfy the shear-free condition. This condition is known to be necessary in order that a spacetime development admit a regular conformal boundary at future null infinity. We work with initial data sets in a variety of regularity classes, primarily considering those data sets whose geometries are weakly asymptotically hyperbolic, as defined in [arXiv:1506.03399]. These metrics are $C^{1,1}$ conformally compac…
We consider the massive wave equation on asymptotically AdS spaces. We show that the timelike scri behaves like a finite timelike boundary, on which one may impose the equivalent of Dirichlet, Neumann or Robin conditions for a range of (negative) mass parameter which includes the conformally coupled case. We demonstrate well posedness for the associated initial-boundary value problems at the $H^1$ level of regularity. We also prove that higher regularity may be obtained, together with an asymptotic expansion for the field near scri. The proofs rely on energy methods, tailored to the modified e…
We analyze in detail conformally flat spherically symmetric fluid distributions, satisfying a polytropic equation of state. Among the two possible families of relativistic polytropes, only one contains models which satisfy all the required physical conditions. The ensuing configurations are necessarily anisotropic and show interesting physical properties. Prospective applications of the presented models to the study of super-Chandrasekhar white dwarfs, are discussed.
We prove the existence of a large class of initial data for the vacuum Einstein equations which possess a finite number of asymptotically Euclidean and asymptotically conformally cylindrical or periodic ends. Aside from being asymptotically constant, only mild conditions on the mean curvature of these initial data sets are imposed.
It is shown that there exist families of asymptotically flat solutions of the Einstein equations coupled to the Vlasov equation describing a collisionless gas which have a Newtonian limit. These are sufficiently general to confirm that for this matter model as many families of this type exist as would be expected on the basis of physical intuition. A central role in the proof is played by energy estimates in unweighted Sobolev spaces for a wave equation satisfied by the second fundamental form of a maximal foliation.
We obtain a purely local characterisation that singles out the Majumdar-Papapetrou class, the near-horizon Bertotti-Robinson geometry and the Reissner-Nordström exterior solution, together with its plane and hyperbolic counterparts, among the static electrovacuum spacetimes. These five classes are found to form the whole set of static Einstein-Maxwell fields without sources and conformally flat space of orbits, this is, the conformastat electrovacuum spacetimes. The main part of the proof consists in showing that a functional relationship between the gravitational and electromagnetic potential…
For a spherically symmetric self-gravitating scalar field we study self similar and quasi-self similar solutions in asymptotically flat and AdS spacetimes in various dimensions. Our main approach relies on reducing the Einstein-Klein-Gordon system of equations under the self similarity assumption to a dynamical system. Applying standard techniques in the analysis of dynamical system we study the corresponding phase diagrams, gaining some insight into the short and long-term evolution of the system. In the asymptotically flat case the fixed points of the dynamical system correspond to conformal…
Null geodesics are invariant under a conformal transformation, and thus it might seem natural to assume that the observables corresponding to the shadow of a space-time are also conformally invariant. Here, we argue instead, that since the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner mass and the active gravitational mass of an asymptotically flat space-time are not, in general, invariant under such conformal transformations, the shadow radius for photon motion in a space-time would be quantitatively different, when viewed from two different conformally related frames, although the expression for the shadow radius i…
We show that a set of conformally invariant equations derived from the Fefferman-Graham tensor can be used to construct global solutions of the vacuum Einstein equations, in all even dimensions. This gives, in particular, a new, simple proof of Friedrich's result on the future hyperboloidal stability of Minkowski space-time, and extends its validity to even dimensions.
We study the theory of Weyl conformal gravity with matter degrees of freedom in a conformally invariant interaction. Specifically, we consider a triplet of scalar fields and SO(3) non-abelian gauge fields, i.e. the Georgi-Glashow model conformally coupled to Weyl gravity. We show that the equations of motion admit solutions spontaneously breaking the conformal symmetry and the gauge symmetry, providing a mechanism for supplying a scale in the theory. The vacuum solution corresponds to anti-de-Sitter space-time, while localized soliton solutions correspond to magnetic monopoles in asymptoticall…
For asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds of dimension $n$ with scalar curvature at least equal to $-n(n-1)$ the conjectured positive mass theorem states that the mass is non-negative, and vanishes only if the manifold is isometric to hyperbolic space. In this paper we study asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds which are also conformally hyperbolic outside a ball of fixed radius, and for which the positive mass theorem holds. For such manifolds we show that the conformal factor tends to one as the mass tends to zero.
Vanishing of the Fefferman-Graham obstruction tensor was used by Andersson and Chru{ś}ciel to show stability of the asymptotically de Sitter spaces in even dimensions. However, existing proofs of hyperbolicity of this equation contain gaps. We show in this paper that it is indeed a well-posed hyperbolic system with unique up to diffeomorphism and conformal transformations smooth development for smooth Cauchy data. Our method applies also to equations defined by various versions Graham-Jenne-Mason-Sparling operators. In particular, we use one of these operators to propagate Gover's condition of…
(Abridged) By asymptotically matching a post-Newtonian (PN) metric to two tidally perturbed Schwarzschild metrics, we generate approximate initial data (in the form of a 4-metric) for a nonspinning black hole binary in a circular orbit. We carry out this matching through O(v^4) in the binary's orbital velocity v, so the resulting data are conformally curved. Far from the holes, we use the appropriate PN metric that accounts for retardation, which we construct using the highest-order PN expressions available to compute the binary's past history. The data set's uncontrolled remainders are thus O…
We consider three-dimensional gravity with negative cosmological constant in the presence of a scalar and an Abelian gauge field. Both fields are conformally coupled to gravity, the scalar field through a nonminimal coupling with the curvature and the gauge field by means of a Lagrangian given by a power of the Maxwell one. A sixth-power self-interaction potential, which does not spoil conformal invariance is also included in the action. Using a circularly symmetric ansatz, we obtain black hole solutions dressed with the scalar and gauge fields, which are regular on and outside the event horiz…
We define a mass-type invariant for asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds with a noncompact boundary which are modelled at infinity on the hyperbolic half-space and prove a sharp positive mass inequality in the spin case under suitable dominant energy conditions. As an application we show that any such manifold which is Einstein and either has a totally geodesic boundary or is conformally compact and has a mean convex boundary is isometric to the hyperbolic half-space.
It is shown that the only static asymptotically flat non-extrema black hole solution of the Einstein-conformally invariant scalar field equations having the scalar field bounded on the horizon, is the Schwarzschild one. Thus black holes cannot be endowed with conformal scalar hair of finite length.
We prove that in a certain class of conformal data on an asymptotically cylindrical manifold, if the conformally decomposed Einstein constraint equations do not admit a solution, then one can always find a nontrivial solution to the limit equation first explored by Dahl, Gicquaud, and Humbert in [DGH11]. We also give an example of a Ricci curvature condition on the manifold which precludes the existence of a solution to this limit equation, showing that such a limit criterion can be a useful tool for studying the Einstein constraint equations on manifolds with asymptotically cylindrical ends.
We consider asymptotically flat Riemannian manifolds with nonnegative scalar curvature that are conformal to $\R^{n}\setminus Ω, n\ge 3$, and so that their boundary is a minimal hypersurface. (Here, $Ω\subset \R^{n}$ is open bounded with smooth mean-convex boundary.) We prove that the ADM mass of any such manifold is bounded below by $(V/β_{n})^{(n-2)/n}$, where $V$ is the Euclidean volume of $Ω$ and $β_{n}$ is the volume of the Euclidean unit $n$-ball. This gives a partial proof to a conjecture of Bray and Iga \cite{brayiga}. Surprisingly, we do not require the boundary to be outermost.
Certain aspects of the behaviour of the gravitational field near null and spatial infinity for the developments of asymptotically Euclidean, conformally flat initial data sets are analysed. Ideas and results from two different approaches are combined: on the one hand the null infinity formalism related to the asymptotic characteristic initial value problem and on the other the regular Cauchy initial value problem at spatial infinity which uses Friedrich's representation of spatial infinity as a cylinder. The decay of the Weyl tensor for the developments of the class of initial data under consi…
The conformal field equations are used to discuss the local existence of spherically symmetric solutions to the Einstein-Yang-Mills system which behave asymptotically like the anti-de Sitter spacetime. By using a gauge based on conformally privileged curves we obtain a formulation of the problem in terms of an initial boundary value problem on which a general class of maximally dissipative boundary conditions can be discussed. The relation between these boundary conditions and the notion of mass on asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes is analysed.
In the Cauchy problem for asymptotically flat vacuum data the solution-jets along the cylinder at space-like infinity develop in general logarithmic singularities at the critical sets at which the cylinder touches future/past null infinity. The tendency of these singularities to spread along the null generators of null infinity obstructs the development of a smooth conformal structure at null infinity. For the solution-jets arising from time reflection symmetric data to extend smoothly to the critical sets it is necessary that the Cotton tensor of the initial three-metric h satisfies a certain…
We derive necessary conditions for the spinorial Witten-Nester energy to be well-defined for asymptotically locally AdS spacetimes. We find that the conformal boundary should admit a spinor satisfying certain differential conditions and in odd dimensions the boundary metric should be conformally Einstein. We show that these conditions are satisfied by asymptotically AdS spacetimes. The gravitational energy (obtained using the holographic stress energy tensor) and the spinorial energy are equal in even dimensions and differ by a bounded quantity related to the conformal anomaly in odd dimension…
We define and study asymptotic Killing and conformal Killing vectors in $d$-dimensional Minkowski, (A)dS, $\mathbb{R}\times S^{d-1}$ and ${\rm AdS}_2\times S^{d-2}$. We construct the associated quantum charges for an arbitrary CFT and show they satisfy a closed algebra that includes the BMS as a sub-algebra (i.e. supertranslations and superrotations) plus a novel transformation we call `superdilations'. We study representations of this algebra in the Hilbert space of the CFT, as well as the action of the finite transformations obtained by exponentiating the charges. In the context of the AdS/C…
The existence of localized, approximately stationary, lumps of the classical gravitational and electromagnetic field -- $geons$ -- was conjectured more than half a century ago. If one insists on exact stationarity, topologically trivial configurations in electro-vacuum are ruled out by no-go theorems for solitons. But stationary, asymptotically flat geons found a realization in scalar-vacuum, where everywhere non-singular, localized field lumps exist, known as (scalar) boson stars. Similar geons have subsequently been found in Einstein-Dirac theory and, more recently, in Einstein-Proca theory.…
It has been observed by Maldacena that one can extract asymptotically anti-de Sitter Einstein $4$-metrics from Bach-flat spacetimes by imposing simple principles and data choices. We cast this problem in a conformally compact Riemannian setting. Following an approach pioneered by Fefferman and Graham for the Einstein equation, we find formal power series for conformally compactifiable, asymptotically hyperbolic Bach-flat 4-metrics expanded about conformal infinity. We also consider Bach-flat metrics in the special case of constant scalar curvature and in the special case of constant $Q$-curvat…
A new method is described for constructing initial data for a binary neutron-star (BNS) system in quasi-equilibrium circular orbit. Two formulations for non-conformally flat data, waveless (WL) and near-zone helically symmetric (NHS), are introduced; in each formulation, the Einstein-Euler system, written in 3+1 form on an asymptotically flat spacelike hypersurface, is exactly solved for all metric components, including the spatially non-conformally flat potentials, and for irrotational flow. A numerical method applicable to both formulations is explained with an emphasis on the imposition of …
On conformally compact manifolds of arbitrary signature, we use conformal geometry to identify a natural (and very general) class of canonical boundary problems. It turns out that these encompass and extend aspects of already known holographic bulk-boundary problems, the conformal scattering description of boundary conformal invariants, and corresponding questions surrounding a range of physical bulk wave equations. These problems are then simultaneously solved asymptotically to all orders by a single universal calculus of operators that yields what may be described as a solution generating al…
In this dissertation, we prove a number of results regarding the conformal method of finding solutions to the Einstein constraint equations. These results include necessary and sufficient conditions for the Lichnerowicz equation to have solutions, global supersolutions which guarantee solutions to the conformal constraint equations for near-constant-mean-curvature (near-CMC) data as well as for far-from-CMC data, a proof of the limit equation criterion in the near-CMC case, as well as a model problem on the relationship between the asymptotic constants of solutions and the ADM mass. We also pr…
Asymptotically flat black holes in $2+1$ dimensions are a rarity. We study the recently found black flower solutions (asymptotically flat black holes with deformed horizons), static black holes, rotating black holes and the dynamical black flowers (black holes with radiative gravitons ) of the purely quadratic version of new massive gravity. We show how they appear in this theory and we also show that they are also solutions to the infinite order extended version of the new massive gravity, that is the Born-Infeld extension of new massive gravity with an amputated Einsteinian piece. The same m…
We consider the normalized Ricci flow evolving from an initial metric which is conformally compactifiable and asymptotically hyperbolic. We show that there is a unique evolving metric which remains in this class, and that the flow exists up to the time where the norm of the Riemann tensor diverges. Restricting to initial metrics which belong to this class and are rotationally symmetric, we prove that if the sectional curvature in planes tangent to the orbits of symmetry is initially nonpositive, the flow starting from such an initial metric exists for all time. Moreover, if the sectional curva…
We study conformal gravity as an alternative theory of gravitation. For conformal gravity to be phenomenologically viable requires that the conformal symmetry is not manifest at the energy scales of the other known physical forces. Hence we require a mechanism for the spontaneous breaking of conformal invariance. In this paper we study the possibility that conformal invariance is spontaneously broken due to interactions with conformally coupled matter fields. The vacuum of the theory admits conformally non-invariant solutions corresponding to maximally symmetric space-times and variants thereo…
We extend the study of the vacuum Einstein constraint equations on manifolds with ends of cylindrical type initiated by Chruściel and Mazzeo by finding a class of solutions to the fully coupled system on such manifolds. We show that given a Yamabe positive metric g, which is conformally asymptotically cylindrical on each end, and a 2-tensor K such that (tr K)^2 is bounded below away from zero and asymptotically constant, then we may find an initial data set (g',K') such that g' lies in the conformal class of g.
We report on numerical constructions of fully non-linear geons in asymptotically anti-de Sitter (AdS) spacetimes in four dimensions. Our approach is based on 3+1 formalism and spectral methods in a gauge combining maximal slicing and spatial harmonic coordinates. We are able to construct several families of geons seeded by different families of spherical harmonics. We can reach unprecedentedly high amplitudes, with mass of order $\sim 1/2$ of the AdS length, and with deviations of the order of 50\% compared to third order perturbative approaches. The consistency of our results with numerical r…
In the Einstein gravity, it is well-known that strictly stationary and vacuum regular spacetime should be the Minkowski spacetime. In the Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory, we shall show the similar statement, that is, strictly static(no event horizon), vacuum and asymptotically flat spacetimes with conformally static slices are the Minkowski spacetime when the curvature corrections are small.
