arXiv · 2505.22590
Local well-posedness of the initial value problem in Einstein-Cartan theory
Abstract
We study the initial value problem in Einstein-Cartan theory which includes torsion and, therefore, a non-symmetric connection on the spacetime manifold. Generalizing the path of a classical theorem by Choquet-Bruhat and York for the Einstein equations, we use a $n+1$ splitting of the manifold and compute the evolution and constraint equations for the Einstein-Cartan system. In the process, we derive the Gauss-Codazzi-Ricci equations including torsion. We prove that the constraint equations are preserved during evolution. Imposing a generalized harmonic gauge, it is shown that the evolution equations can be cast as a quasilinear system in a Cauchy regular form with a characteristic determinant having a non-trivial multiplicity of characteristics. Using the Leray-Ohya theory for non-strictly hyperbolic systems we then establish the local geometric well-posedness of the Cauchy problem, for sufficiently regular initial data. For vanishing torsion we recover the classical results for the Einstein equations.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Paulo Luz, Filipe C. Mena. 2025-05-28. Local well-posedness of the initial value problem in Einstein-Cartan theory. https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.22590
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.