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.
We analyse the issue of uniqueness of solutions of the static vacuum Einstein equations with prescribed geometric or Bartnik boundary data. Large classes of examples are constructed where uniqueness fails. We then discuss the implications of this behavior for the Bartnik quasi-local mass. A variational characterization of Bartnik boundary data is also given.
We establish a moduli space $\mathbb E$ of stationary vacuum metrics in a spacetime, and set up a well-defined boundary map $Π$ in $\mathbb E$, assigning a metric class with its Bartnik boundary data. Furthermore, we prove the boundary map $Π$ is Fredholm by showing that the stationary vacuum equations (combined with proper gauge terms) and the Bartnik boundary conditions form an elliptic boundary value problem. As an application, we show that the Bartnik boundary data near the standard flat boundary data admits a unique (up to diffeomorphism) stationary vacuum extension locally.
We prove the existence and local uniqueness of asymptotically flat, static vacuum metrics with arbitrarily prescribed Bartnik boundary data that are close to the induced boundary data on any star-shaped hypersurface or a general family of perturbed hypersurfaces in the Euclidean space. It confirms the existence part of the Bartnik static extension conjecture for large classes of boundary data, and the static vacuum metric obtained is geometrically unique in a neighborhood of the Euclidean metric.
We prove that given any smooth metric $γ$ and smooth positive function $H$ on $S^{2}$, there is a constant $λ> 0$, depending on $(γ, H)$, and an asymptotically flat solution $(M, g, u)$ of the static vacuum Einstein equations on $M = {\mathbb R}^{3} \setminus B^{3}$, such that the induced metric and mean curvature of $(M, g, u)$ at $\partial M$ are given by $(γ, λH)$. This gives a partial resolution of a conjecture of Bartnik.
We construct asymptotically flat, scalar flat extensions of Bartnik data $(Σ, γ, H)$, where $γ$ is a metric of positive Gauss curvature on a two-sphere $Σ$, and $H$ is a function that is either positive or identically zero on $Σ$, such that the mass of the extension can be made arbitrarily close to the half area radius of $(Σ, γ)$. In the case of $H \equiv 0$, the result gives an analogue of a theorem of Mantoulidis and Schoen, but with extensions that have vanishing scalar curvature. In the context of initial data sets in general relativity, the result produces asymptotically flat, time-symme…
Given a Riemannian 3-ball $(\bar B, g)$ of non-negative scalar curvature, Bartnik conjectured that $(\bar B, g)$ admits an asymptotically flat (AF) extension (without horizons) of the least possible ADM mass, and that such a mass-minimizer is an AF solution to the static vacuum Einstein equations, uniquely determined by natural geometric conditions on the boundary data of $(\bar B, g)$. We prove the validity of the second statement, i.e.~such mass-minimizers, if they exist, are indeed AF solutions of the static vacuum equations. On the other hand, we prove that the first statement is not true …
We investigate Bartnik's static metric extension conjecture under the additional assumption of axisymmetry of both the given Bartnik data and the desired static extensions. To do so, we suggest a geometric flow approach, coupled to the Weyl-Papapetrou formalism for axisymmetric static solutions to the Einstein vacuum equations. The elliptic Weyl-Papapetrou system becomes a free boundary value problem in our approach. We study this new flow and the coupled flow--free boundary value problem numerically and find axisymmetric static extensions for axisymmetric Bartnik data in many situations, incl…
We study the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the static vacuum Einstein equations in bounded domains, satisfying the Bartnik boundary conditions of prescribed metric and mean curvature on the boundary.
Strict Stability of the ADM Mass and Static Vacuum Extensions
Institute of Geometry and Physics, University of Science and Technology of China（中国科学院几何与物理研究所）；University of Science and Technology of China（中国科学技术大学）；Department of Mathematics, University of Connecticut（康涅狄格大学数学系）
The Bartnik mass is a notion of quasi-local mass which is remarkably difficult to compute. Mantoulidis and Schoen [2016] developed a novel technique to construct asymptotically flat extensions of minimal Bartnik data in such a way that the ADM mass of these extensions is well-controlled, and thus, they were able to compute the Bartnik mass for minimal spheres satisfying a stability condition. In this work, we develop extensions and gluing tools, à la Mantoulidis and Schoen, for time-symmetric initial data sets for the Einstein-Maxwell equations that allow us to compute the value of an ad-hoc n…
In this paper, we prove that the set of solutions of constraint equations for coupled Einstein and scalar fields in classical general relativity possesses Hilbert manifold structure. We follow the work of R. Bartnik [2] and use weighted Sobolev spaces and Implicit Function Theorem to prove our results.
Using the tractor calculus to study smooth metric measure spaces, we adapt results of Gover and Nurowski to give sharp metric obstructions to the existence of quasi-Einstein metrics on suitably generic manifolds. We do this by introducing an analogue of the Weyl tractor $W$ to the setting of smooth metric measure spaces. The obstructions we obtain can be realized as tensorial invariants which are polynomial in the Riemann curvature tensor and its divergence. By taking suitable limits of their tensorial forms, we then find obstructions to the existence of static potentials, generalizing to high…
In a previous work [I. Rodnianski and Y. Shlapentokh-Rothman, Naked Singularities for the Einstein Vacuum Equations: The Exterior Solution, arXiv:1912.08478] we constructed solutions to the Einstein vacuum equations in 3+1 dimensions which corresponded to the exterior region of a naked singularity. In this work we construct solutions which correspond to the interior region and show that the two solutions may be glued together to produce a naked singularity. Fundamental to our construction is the novel type of self-similarity for the Einstein vacuum equations that we introduced in our previous …
In this work we initiate the mathematical study of naked singularities for the Einstein vacuum equations in $3+1$ dimensions by constructing solutions which correspond to the exterior region of a naked singularity. A key element is our introduction of a new type of self-similarity for the Einstein vacuum equations. Connected to this is a new geometric twisting phenomenon which plays the leading role in singularity formation. Prior to this work, the only known examples of naked singularities were the solutions constructed by Christodoulou for the spherically symmetric Einstein-scalar-field syst…
One of the central difficulties of settling the $L^2$-bounded curvature conjecture for the Einstein -Vacuum equations is to be able to control the causal structure of spacetimes with such limited regularity. In this paper we show how to circumvent this difficulty by showing that the geometry of null hypersurfaces of Enstein-Vacuum spacetimes can be controlled in terms of initial data and the total curvature flux through the hypersurface.
Consider a triple of "Bartnik data" $(Σ, γ,H)$, where $Σ$ is a topological 2-sphere with Riemannian metric $γ$ and positive function $H$. We view Bartnik data as a boundary condition for the problem of finding a compact Riemannian 3-manifold $(Ω,g)$ of nonnegative scalar curvature whose boundary is isometric to $(Σ,γ)$ with mean curvature $H$. Considering the perturbed data $(Σ, γ, λH)$ for a positive real parameter $λ$, we find that such a "fill-in" $(Ω,g)$ must exist for $λ$ small and cannot exist for $λ$ large; moreover, we prove there exists an intermediate threshold value. The main applic…
We exhibit large classes of local actions for the vacuum Einstein equations. In presence of fermions, or more generally of matter which couple to the connection, these actions lead to inequivalent equations revealing an arbitrary number of parameters. Even in the pure gravitational sector, any corresponding quantum theory would depend on these parameters.
We develop a local theory for the construction of singular spacetimes in all spacetime dimensions which become asymptotically self-similar as the singularity is approached. The techniques developed also allow us to construct and classify exact self-similar solutions which correspond to the formal asymptotic expansions of Fefferman and Graham's ambient metric.
In this paper, we introduce new methods for solving the vacuum Einstein constraints equations: the first one is based on Schaefer's fixed point theorem (known methods use Schauder's fixed point theorem) while the second one uses the concept of half-continuity coupled with the introduction of local supersolutions. These methods allow to: unify some recent existence results, simplify many proofs (for instance, the main theorem in arXiv:1012.2188) and weaken the assumptions of many recent results.
We study solutions to the static vacuum Einstein equations on exterior domains with prescribed metric and mean curvature on the inner boundary. It is proved that for any such boundary data near the standard round boundary data in Euclidean space, there exists a unique AF solution to the static vacuum equations realizing the boundary data, which is close to the standard flat solution.
It is proved that the only geodesically complete stationary vacuum solution of the Einstein equations is the empty Minkowski space, or a quotient of it by a discrete group of isometries, generalizing a classical result of Lichnerowicz. In addition, we obtain an apriori bound on the curvature of stationary vacuum solutions away from the boundary or horizon.
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.
Given asymptotically flat initial data on M^3 for the vacuum Einstein field equation, and given a bounded domain in M, we construct solutions of the vacuum constraint equations which agree with the original data inside the given domain, and are identical to that of a suitable Kerr slice (or identical to a member of some other admissible family of solutions) outside a large ball in a given end. The data for which this construction works is shown to be dense in an appropriate topology on the space of asymptotically flat solutions of the vacuum constraints. This construction generalizes work of t…
In this paper, we consider very rough solutions to Cauchy problem for the Einstein vacuum equations in CMC spacial harmonic gauge, and obtain the local well-posedness result in $H^s, s>2$. The novelty of our approach lies in that, without resorting to the standard paradifferential regularization over the rough, Einstein metric $\bg$, we manage to implement the commuting vector field approach to prove Strichartz estimate for geometric wave equation $\Box_\bg ϕ=0$ directly.
In this article, we give nonexistence and nonuniqueness results for the vacuum Einstein conformal constraint equations in the far-from-CMC case and also show that in some cases the equations of the conformal method for positive Yamabe metrics and with TT-tensor $σ$ = 0 have a non-trivial solution, and thus answer a question by D. Maxwell.
Let $\M_*=\cup_{t\in [t_0, t_*)} Σ_t$ be a part of vacuum globally hyperbolic space-time $(\bM, \bg)$, foliated by constant mean curvature hypersurfaces $Σ_t$ with $t_0<t_*<0$. We show that the foliation can be extended beyond $t_*$ if the second fundamental form $k$ and the lapse function $n$ satisfy $$ \int_{t_0}^{t_*}(\|k\|_{L^\infty(Σ_t)}+\|\nab \log n\|_{L^\infty(Σ_t)}) dt <\infty. $$ This improves the existing breakdown criteria for Einstein vacuum equations.
We give a sufficient condition, with no restrictions on the mean curvature, under which the conformal method can be used to generate solutions of the vacuum Einstein constraint equations on compact manifolds. The condition requires a so-called global supersolution but does not require a global subsolution. As a consequence, we construct a class of solutions of the vacuum Einstein constraint equations with freely specified mean curvature, extending a recent result of Holst, Nagy, and Tsogtgerel [HNT07] which constructed similar solutions in the presence of matter. We give a second proof of this…
We extend the conformal gluing construction of Isenberg-Mazzeo-Pollack [18] by establishing an analogous gluing result for field theories obtained by minimally coupling Einstein's gravitational theory with matter fields. We treat classical fields such as perfect fluids and the Yang-Mills equations as well as the Einstein-Vlasov system, which is an important example coming from kinetic theory. In carrying out these extensions, we extend the conformal gluing technique to higher dimensions and codify it in such a way as to make more transparent where it can, and can not, be applied. In particular…
We give some uniform estimates for constant mean curvature solutions of the conformal vacuum Einstein constraint equations on compact manifolds. Existence of those solutions was given in a paper by J. Isenberg.
We show how to parameterise solutions of the general relativistic vector constraint equation on Einstein manifolds by unconstrained potentials. We provide a similar construction for the trace-free part of tensors satisfying the linearised scalar constraint. Previous work of ours has provided similar different constructions for solutions of the linearized constraints in the case where the cosmological constant $Λ$ is zero. We use our new potentials to show that one can shield linearised gravitational fields using linearised gravitational fields without imposing the TT gauge (as done in previous…
We construct solutions to the constraint equations in general relativity using the limit equation criterion introduced by Dahl, Humbert and the first author. We focus on solutions over compact 3-manifolds admitting a $\bS^1$-symmetry group. When the quotient manifold has genus greater than 2, we obtain strong far from CMC results.
A complete characterization is obtained of the asymptotic behavior of solutions of the static vacuum Einstein equations which have a (pseudo)-compact horizon or boundary and are complete away from the boundary. It is proved that the time-symmetric space-like hypersurface has only finitely many ends, each of which is either asymptotically flat (AF) or parabolic, as in the (static) Kasner metric. Examples are given with both types of behavior, together with an extensive discussion and new characterization of Weyl metrics. The asymptotics result allows one in most circumstances to drop the AF ass…
In this paper, the radiation field is defined for solutions to Einstein vacuum equations which are close to Minkowski space-time with spacial dimension $n\geq 4$. The regularity properties and asymptotic behavior of those Einstein vacuum solutions are established at the same time. In particular, the map from Cauchy intial data to the radiation field is proved to be an isomorphism when restricting to a small neighborhood of Minkowski data in suitable weighted b-Sobolev spaces.
We prove that any 4-dimensional geodesically complete spacetime with a timelike Killing field satisfying the vacuum Einstein field equation $Ric(g_{M})=λg_{M}$ with nonnegative cosmological constant $λ\geq 0$ is flat. When dim $\geq 5$, if the spacetime is assumed to be static additionally, we prove that its universal cover splits isometrically as a product of a Ricci flat Riemannian manifold and a real line.
We derive a local curvature estimate for four-dimensional stationary solutions to the inheriting Einstein-Maxwell-Klein-Gordon equations. In particular, it implies that any such stationary geodesically complete solution with vanishing Poynting vector and proper coupling constants (like dark energy) is flat. We also generalize the result to higher dimensions.
We first show that the connected sum along submanifolds introduced by the second author for compact initial data sets of the vacuum Einstein system can be adapted to the asymptotically Euclidean and to the asymptotically hyperbolic context. Then, we prove that in any case, and generically, the gluing procedure can be localized, in order to obtain new solutions which coincide with the original ones outside of a neighborhood of the gluing locus.
Let $(M,g)$ be a compact Riemannian manifold on which a trace-free and divergence-free $σ\in W^{1,p}$ and a positive function $τ\in W^{1,p}$, $p > n$, are fixed. In this paper, we study the vacuum Einstein constraint equations using the well known conformal method with data $σ$ and $τ$. We show that if no solution exists then there is a non-trivial solution of another non-linear limit equation on $1$-forms. This last equation can be shown to be without solutions no solution in many situations. As a corollary, we get existence of solutions of the vacuum Einstein constraint equation under explic…
An affirmative answer is given to a conjecture of Myers concerning the existence of 5-dimensional regular static vacuum solutions that balance an infinite number of black holes, which have Kasner asymptotics. A variety of examples are constructed, having different combinations of ring $S^1\times S^2$ and sphere $S^3$ cross-sectional horizon topologies. Furthermore, we show the existence of 5-dimensional vacuum solitons with Kasner asymptotics. These are regular static space-periodic vacuum spacetimes devoid of black holes. Consequently, we also obtain new examples of complete Riemannian manifo…
The main objective of this paper is to control the geometry of null cones with time foliation in Einstein vacuum spacetime under the assumptions of small curvature flux and a weaker condition on the deformation tensor for $\bT$. We establish a series of estimates on Ricci coefficients, which plays a crucial role to prove the improved breakdown criterion in [12].
This is the first in a series Of papers in which we initiate the study Of very rough solutions to the initial value problem for the Einstein Vacuum equations expressed relative to wave coordinates. By very rough we mean solutions which cannot be constructed by the classical techniques Of energy estimates and Sobolev inequalities. Following our previous work on quasilinear wave equations we develop new analytic methods based on Strichartz type inequalities which results in a gain of half a derivative relative to the classical result. Thus our result requires only $H^{2+ε}$ regularity for the da…
We construct a class of time-symmetric initial data sets for the Einstein vacuum equation modeling elementary configurations of multiple ``almost isolated" systems. Each such initial data set consists of a collection of several localized sources of gravitational radiation, and lies in a family of data sets which is closed under scaling out the distances between the systems by arbitrarily large amounts. This class contains data sets which are not asymptotically flat, but to which nonetheless a finite ADM mass can be ascribed. The construction proceeds by a gluing scheme using the Brill--Lindqui…
On a smooth metric measure spacetime $(M,g,e^{-f} dvol_g)$, we define a weighted Einstein tensor. It is given in terms of the Bakry-Émery Ricci tensor as a tensor which is symmetric, divergence-free, concomitant of the metric and the density function. We consider the associated vacuum weighted Einstein field equations and show that isotropic solutions have nilpotent Ricci operator. Moreover, the underlying manifold is a Brinkmann wave if it is $2$-step nilpotent and a Kundt spacetime if it is $3$-step nilpotent. More specific results are obtained in dimension $3$, where all isotropic solutions…
We study Yamabe metrics, and the moduli space of Yamabe metrics, on an arbitrary closed 3-manifold M. The main focus is on the boundary behavior of the moduli space, i.e. the behavior of degenerating sequences of unit volume Yamabe metrics on M. It is proved that such degenerations, when non-trivial in a certain sense, are described by solutions of the static vacuum Einstein equations. Natural conditions are given for the non-triviality of degenerating sequences and relations with Palais-Smale sequences for the Einstein-Hilbert functional are explored. A number of new examples, both trivial an…
This paper is a continuation of I, (same title), and is concerned with the existence, regularity and degeneration of metrics minimizing natural curvature functionals on the space of metrics on 3-manifolds. The functionals chosen are designed to be optimal w.r.t. the issue of geometrization of the underlying 3-manifold, in the sense of Thurston. Two of the main results are Theorems B and C, in comparison with Theorem A of I.
