Searcharxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1810.03978

Space-time singularities and the theory of retracts

Nasr Ahmed·H. Rafat
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

In previous publications, we have started investigating some possible applications to the retraction theory in gravitational physics and showed that it can be very useful in providing proofs and explaining the topological bases. In the current work, we investigate the role of the retraction theory in the mathematical study of space-time singularities and suggest a topological restriction on the formation of singularities. Although we present a toy model using a 5D cosmological metric as an example, the current study applies for any collapsing system under the influence of gravity such as a massive star or the whole universe. After showing that the cosmological space-time $M$ can be retracted into lower dimensional circles $S_i \subset M $, we prove the existence of a homotopy between this retraction and the identity map which defines a deformation retract on $M$. Since a circle doesn't deformation retract onto a point but it does retract to a point, the defined deformation retract stops any circle $S_i$ from retracting into a point which means no singularity is formed. The paper underlines the role of algebraic topology in the mathematical study of space-time singularities and represents a new application of the retraction theory in mathematical physics.

Explore related subjects

physics.gen-ph

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Nasr Ahmed, H. Rafat. 2019-03-21. Space-time singularities and the theory of retracts. https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896%2Fab171d

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Constraining $f(R)$ gravity and evolving dark energy via large-scale structure and phase-space trajectories

We present a joint observational analysis confronting viable $f(R)$ modified gravity theories, specifically the Hu \& Sawicki and Starobinsky models, with background and large-scale structure (LSS) data. Utilizing Monte-Carlo Markov chain (MCMC) sampling across datasets including baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO), type Ia supernovae (SNeIa), cosmic microwave background (CMB) distance priors, and linear growth measurements ($f\sigma_8$, $f$, $\sigma_8$), we place tight constraints on the model parameters governing deviations from General Relativity. For the full dataset combination, we obtain $\log_{10} b_\mathrm{HS} = -6.325_{-1.138}^{+1.216}$ for the Hu \& Sawicki model and $b_\mathrm{S} = (0.8\pm61.0)\times10^{-4}$ for the Starobinsky model. Model comparison based on the Akaike Information Criterion indicates that these $f(R)$ extensions are statistically favored over flat $\Lambda\text{CDM}$ ($|\Delta\text{AIC}| \ge 3.99$) for the combined data. However, when considering the Bayesian Information Criterion, the evidence for support is significantly reduced. Furthermore, we construct two-dimensional phase-space diagrams in the $(\mu, \gamma)$ and $(\mu, \Sigma)$ planes across several redshifts, establishing a novel diagnostic null-test allowing us to probe for deviations from $\Lambda\text{CDM}$, corresponding to the fixed point $(1,1)$ in both planes, using LSS observables. Should future weak-lensing and galaxy surveys provide data points with $\mu-1<0$ and $\gamma-1>1$ or $\Sigma-1 < 0 $, then the aforementioned models could be directly ruled out.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2026

Bound states in the continuum of gravitational waves

Bound states in the continuum (BICs) are ubiquitous wave phenomena, but have not yet been demonstrated for gravitational waves (GWs). Here, in-plane periodic perturbations, exponentially localized at the plane $z = 0$, are shown to lead to distributional surface energy tensors at this plane and to be regular vacuum solutions ($T_{\mu \nu} = 0$) of the linearized Einstein field equations outside of it. These are achieved by explicitly calculating the Ricci tensor components and the Ricci scalar from the metric perturbation tensor. To fulfill each vacuum solution ($R_{{\sigma \nu}_{(+, \times)}} = 0$ and $R_{{}_{(+, \times)}} = 0$), different surface polariton-like dispersions are required. These bound perturbations decay exponentially to a flat metric ($h_{{BIC}_{(+,\times)}} \propto e^{- k_z |z|}$), and each localized metric has a correspondence to a different planar GW polarization ($+,\times$). The Lorenz gauge-fulfilling solutions exist at the $\Gamma$ point in momentum space, dwelling within the continuum of wavevectors of propagating GWs. The strains in the unit cell of the periodic perturbations have opposite parities relative to the corresponding planar GWs under a $C_2$ in-plane rotation, making them incompatible by symmetry with their propagating counterpart, indicating localization via symmetry protection.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2026

Sector-Resolved Bayesian Model Averaging for DESI-Era Cosmology

We present a quotient-space Bayesian formulation for DESI-era anomaly interpretation. Given a pattern-labeled catalog with map \(i\mapsto \Act(i)\), the induced posterior \(p(\Act\mid D)\), sector inclusion probabilities \(P_\alpha\), co-activation probabilities \(P_{\alpha\beta}\), and grouped Bayes factors \(B_\alpha(D)\) are exact summaries over predeclared physical activation events. Pairwise comparisons such as \(\lcdm\) versus \(\wacdm\) remain ordinary Bayes-factor tests between specified families; the quotient construction addresses the coarser question of which physical sector carries posterior support when different sectors are represented by unequal numbers of catalog elements. We derive a sector-resolved DESI-CMB-SN likelihood specification for late-time background, early-time ruler, supernova calibration, perturbation, and gravitational-wave propagation sectors. The construction includes an Alcock-Paczynski/isotropic-scale BAO decomposition, a pure-ruler projection, analytic marginalization of low-rank supernova calibration modes, Fisher-normalized sector priors, inactive-sector leakage tests, log-evidence uncertainty propagation, and prior/sector-partition diagnostics. The result is a quantitative procedure for reporting model-comparison support at the level of physically interpretable sectors.

physics.gen-ph↗