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Alan D. Rendall

Publications and source records attributed to Alan D. Rendall.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv1997

Global dynamics of the mixmaster model

The asymptotic behaviour of vacuum Bianchi models of class A near the initial singularity is studied, in an effort to confirm the standard picture arising from heuristic and numerical approaches by mathematical proofs. It is shown that for solutions of types other than VIII and IX the singularity is velocity dominated and that the Kretschmann scalar is unbounded there, except in the explicitly known cases where the spacetime can be smoothly extended through a Cauchy horizon. For types VIII and IX it is shown that there are at most two possibilities for the evolution. When the first possibility is realized, and if the spacetime is not one of the explicitly known solutions which can be smoothly extended through a Cauchy horizon, then there are infinitely many oscillations near the singularity and the Kretschmann scalar is unbounded there. The second possibility remains mysterious and it is left open whether it ever occurs. It is also shown that any finite sequence of distinct points generated by iterating the Belinskii-Khalatnikov-Lifschitz mapping can be realized approximately by a solution of the vacuum Einstein equations of Bianchi type IX.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1996

Existence and non-existence results for global constant mean curvature foliations

The main result of this paper is a proof that there are examples of spatially compact solutions of the Einstein-dust equations which only exist for an arbitrarily small amount of CMC time. While this fact is plausible, it is not trivial to prove. It is necessary to obtain a lower bound for the lapse function of a CMC foliation in a suitable class of inhomogeneous spacetimes. This bound, which shows that in these spacetimes the lapse cannot collapse in finite CMC time, may be of independent interest. This fact is contrasted with the positive results previously obtained for other matter models, e.g. collisionless matter or wave maps.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1996

Constant mean curvature foliations in cosmological spacetimes

Foliations by constant mean curvature hypersurfaces provide a possibility of defining a preferred time coordinate in general relativity. In the following various conjectures are made about the existence of foliations of this kind in spacetimes satisfying the strong energy condition and possessing compact Cauchy hypersurfaces. Recent progress on proving these conjectures under supplementary assumptions is reviewed. The method of proof used is explained and the prospects for generalizing it discussed. The relations of these questions to cosmic censorship and the closed universe recollapse conjecture are pointed out.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1996

Existence of constant mean curvature foliations in spacetimes with two-dimensional local symmetry

It is shown that in a class of maximal globally hyperbolic spacetimes admitting two local Killing vectors, the past (defined with respect to an appropriate time orientation) of any compact constant mean curvature hypersurface can be covered by a foliation of compact constant mean curvature hypersurfaces. Moreover, the mean curvature of the leaves of this foliation takes on arbitrarily negative values and so the initial singularity in these spacetimes is a crushing singularity. The simplest examples occur when the spatial topology is that of a torus, with the standard global Killing vectors, but more exotic topologies are also covered. In the course of the proof it is shown that in this class of spacetimes a kind of positive mass theorem holds. The symmetry singles out a compact surface passing through any given point of spacetime and the Hawking mass of any such surface is non-negative. If the Hawking mass of any one of these surfaces is zero then the entire spacetime is flat.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1996

An introduction to the Einstein-Vlasov system

These lectures are designed to provide a general introduction to the Einstein-Vlasov system and to the global Cauchy problem for these equations. To start with some general facts are collected and a local existence theorem for the Cauchy problem stated. Next the case of spherically symmetric asymptotically flat solutions is examined in detail. The approach taken, using maximal-isotropic coordinates, is new. It is shown that if a singularity occurs in the time evolution of spherically symmetric initial data, the first singularity (as measured by a maximal time coordinate) occurs at the centre. Then it is shown that for small initial data the solution exists globally in time and is geodesically complete. Finally, the proof of the general local existence theorem is sketched. This is intended to be an informal introduction to some of the ideas which are important in proving such theorems rather than a formal proof.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1995

Compact null hypersurfaces and collapsing Riemannian manifolds

Restrictions are obtained on the topology of a compact divergence-free null hypersurface in a four-dimensional Lorentzian manifold whose Ricci tensor is zero or satisfies some weaker conditions. This is done by showing that each null hypersurface of this type can be used to construct a family of three-dimensional Riemannian metrics which collapses with bounded curvature and applying known results on the topology of manifolds which collapse. The result is then applied to general relativity, where it implies a restriction on the topology of smooth compact Cauchy horizons in spacetimes with various types of reasonable matter content.

dg-ga↗
arXiv1995

Solutions of the Einstein equations with matter

Recent results on solutions of the Einstein equations with matter are surveyed and a number of open questions are stated. The first group of results presented concern asymptotically flat spacetimes, both stationary and dynamical. Then there is a discussion of solutions of the equations describing matter in special relativity and Newtonian gravitational theory and their relevance for general relativity. Next spatially compact solutions of the Einstein-matter equations are presented. Finally some remarks are made on the methods which have been used, and could be used in the future, to study solutions of the Einstein equations with matter.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1995

Existence of maximal hypersurfaces in some spherically symmetric spacetimes

We prove that the maximal development of any spherically symmetric spacetime with collisionless matter (obeying the Vlasov equation) or a massless scalar field (obeying the massless wave equation) and possessing a constant mean curvature $S^1 \times S^2$ Cauchy surface also contains a maximal Cauchy surface. Combining this with previous results establishes that the spacetime can be foliated by constant mean curvature Cauchy surfaces with the mean curvature taking on all real values, thereby showing that these spacetimes satisfy the closed-universe recollapse conjecture. A key element of the proof, of interest in itself, is a bound for the volume of any Cauchy surface $Σ$ in any spacetime satisfying the timelike convergence condition in terms of the volume and mean curvature of a fixed Cauchy surface $Σ_0$ and the maximal distance between $Σ$ and $Σ_0$. In particular, this shows that any globally hyperbolic spacetime having a finite lifetime and obeying the timelike-convergence condition cannot attain an arbitrarily large spatial volume.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1995

The initial singularity in solutions of the Einstein-Vlasov system of Bianchi type I

The dynamics of solutions of the Einstein-Vlasov system with Bianchi I symmetry is discussed in the case of massive or massless particles. It is shown that in the case of massive particles the solutions are asymptotic to isotropic dust solutions at late times. The initial singularity is more difficult to analyse. It is shown that the asymptotic behaviour there must be one of a small set of possibilities but it is not clear whether all of these possibilities are realized. One solution is exhibited in the case of massless particles which behaves quite differently near the singularity from any Bianchi I solution with perfect fluid as matter model. In particular the matter is not dynamically negligeable near the singularity for this solution.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1994

Crushing singularities in spacetimes with spherical, plane and hyperbolic symmetry

It is shown that the initial singularities in spatially compact spacetimes with spherical, plane or hyperbolic symmetry admitting a compact constant mean curvature hypersurface are crushing singularities when the matter content of spacetime is described by the Vlasov equation (collisionless matter) or the wave equation (massless scalar field). In the spherically symmetric case it is further shown that if the spacetime admits a maximal slice then there are crushing singularities both in the past and in the future. The essential properties of the matter models chosen are that their energy-momentum tensors satisfy certain inequalities and that they do not develop singularities in a given regular background spacetime.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1994

Global Properties of Locally Spatially Homogeneous Cosmological Models with Matter

The existence and nature of singularities in locally spatially homogeneous solutions of the Einstein equations coupled to various phenomenological matter models is investigated. It is shown that, under certain reasonable assumptions on the matter, there are no singularities in an expanding phase of the evolution and that unless the spacetime is empty a contracting phase always ends in a singularity where at least one scalar invariant of the curvature diverges uniformly. The class of matter models treated includes perfect fluids, mixtures of non-interacting perfect fluids and collisionless matter.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1994

On the Nature of Singularities in Plane Symmetric Scalar Field Cosmologies

The nature of the initial singularity in spatially compact plane symmetric scalar field cosmologies is investigated. It is shown that this singularity is crushing and velocity dominated and that the Kretschmann scalar diverges uniformly as it is approached. The last fact means in particular that a maximal globally hyperbolic spacetime in this class cannot be extended towards the past through a Cauchy horizon. A subclass of these spacetimes is identified for which the singularity is isotropic.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1994

Adjointness Relations as a Criterion for Choosing an Inner Product

This is a contribution to the forthcoming book "Canonical Gravity: {}From Classical to Quantum" edited by J. Ehlers and H. Friedrich. Ashtekar's criterion for choosing an inner product in the quantisation of constrained systems is discussed. An erroneous claim in a previous paper is corrected and a cautionary example is presented.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1993

Global existence of classical solutions to the Vlasov-Poisson system in a three dimensional, cosmological setting

The initial value problem for the Vlasov-Poisson system is by now well understood in the case of an isolated system where, by definition, the distribution function of the particles as well as the gravitational potential vanish at spatial infinity. Here we start with homogeneous solutions, which have a spatially constant, non-zero mass density and which describe the mass distribution in a Newtonian model of the universe. These homogeneous states can be constructed explicitly, and we consider deviations from such homogeneous states, which then satisfy a modified version of the Vlasov-Poisson system. We prove global existence and uniqueness of classical solutions to the corresponding initial value problem for initial data which represent spatially periodic deviations from homogeneous states.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1993

A regularity theorem for solutions of the spherically symmetric Vlasov-Einstein system

In a previous paper two of the authors (G. R. and A. D. R.) showed that there exist global, classical solutions of the spherically symmetric Vlasov-Einstein system for small initial data. The present paper continues this investigation and allows also large initial data. It is shown that if a solution of the spherically symmetric Vlasov-Einstein system develops a singularity at all then the first singularity has to appear at the center of symmetry. The result adds weight to the conjecture that cosmic censorship holds if one replaces dust as matter model for which naked singularities do form by a collisionless gas described by the Vlasov equation. The main tool is an estimate which shows that a solution is global if all the matter remains away from the center of symmetry.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1993

Cosmic Censorship for Some Spatially Homogeneous Cosmological Models

The global properties of spatially homogeneous cosmological models with collisionless matter are studied. It is shown that as long as the mean curvature of the hypersurfaces of homogeneity remains finite no singularity can occur in finite proper time as measured by observers whose worldlines are orthogonal to these hypersurfaces. Strong cosmic censorship is then proved for the Bianchi I, Bianchi IX and Kantowski-Sachs symmetry classes.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1993

The Newtonian Limit for Asymptotically Flat Solutions of the Vlasov-Einstein System

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.

gr-qc↗