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James A. Vickers

Publications and source records attributed to James A. Vickers.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2024

Synthetic versus distributional lower Ricci curvature bounds

We compare two standard approaches to defining lower Ricci curvature bounds for Riemannian metrics of regularity below $C^2$. These are, on the one hand, the synthetic definition via weak displacement convexity of entropy functionals in the framework of optimal transport, and the distributional one based on non-negativity of the Ricci-tensor in the sense of Schwartz. It turns out that distributional bounds imply entropy bounds for metrics of class $C^1$ and that the converse holds for $C^{1,1}$-metrics under an additional convergence condition on regularisations of the metric.

math.DG↗
arXiv2019

Nonlinear generalised functions on manifolds

This paper lays the foundations for a nonlinear theory of differential geometry that is developed in a subsequent paper which is based on Colombeau algebras of tensor distributions on manifolds. We adopt a new approach and construct a global theory of algebras of generalised functions on manifolds based on the concept of smoothing operators. This produces a generalisation of previous theories in a form which is suitable for applications to differential geometry. The generalised Lie derivative is introduced and shown to commute with the embedding of distributions. It is also shown that the covariant derivative of a generalised scalar field commutes with this embedding at the level of association.

math.FA↗
arXiv2019

A nonlinear theory of distributional geometry

This paper builds on the theory of generalised functions begun in [1]. The Colombeau theory of generalised scalar fields on manifolds is extended to a nonlinear theory of generalised tensor fields which is diffeomorphism invariant and has the sheaf property. The generalised Lie derivative for generalised tensor fields is introduced and it is shown that this commutes with the embedding of distributional tensor fields. It is also shown that the covariant derivative of generalised tensor fields commutes with the embedding at the level of association. The concept of generalised metric is introduced and used to develop a nonsmooth theory of differential geometry. It is shown that the embedding of a continuous metric results in a generalised metric with well defined connection and curvature. It is also shown that a twice continuously differentiable metric which is a solution of the vacuum Einstein equations may be embedded into the algebra of generalised tensor fields and has generalised Ricci curvature associated to zero. Thus, the embedding preserves the Einstein equations at the level of association. Finally, we consider an example of a metric which lies outside the Geroch-Traschen class and show that in our diffeomorphism invariant theory the curvature of a cone is associated to a delta function.

math.FA↗
arXiv2016

Generalised hyperbolicity in spacetimes with Lipschitz regularity

In this paper, we obtain general conditions under which the wave equation is well-posed in spacetimes with metrics of Lipschitz regularity. In particular, the results can be applied to spacetimes where there is a loss of regularity on a hypersurface such as shell-crossing singularities, thin shells of matter and surface layers. This provides a framework for regarding gravitational singularities, not as obstructions to the world lines of point-particles, but rather as an obstruction to the dynamics of test fields.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2016

Generalised hyperbolicity in spacetimes with string-like singularities

In this paper we present well-posedness results of the wave equation in $H^{1}$ for spacetimes that contain string-like singularities. These results extend a framework able to characterise gravitational singularities as obstruction to the dynamics of test fields rather than point particles. In particular, we discuss spacetimes with cosmic strings and the relation of our results to the Strong Cosmic Censorship Conjecture.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2015

Hawking's singularity theorem for $C^{1,1}$-metrics

We provide a detailed proof of Hawking's singularity theorem in the regularity class $C^{1,1}$, i.e., for spacetime metrics possessing locally Lipschitz continuous first derivatives. The proof uses recent results in $C^{1,1}$-causality theory and is based on regularisation techniques adapted to the causal structure.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2009

Sheaves of nonlinear generalized functions and manifold-valued distributions

This paper is part of an ongoing program to develop a theory of generalized differential geometry. We consider the space $\mathcal{G}[X,Y]$ of Colombeau generalized functions defined on a manifold $X$ and taking values in a manifold $Y$. This space is essential in order to study concepts such as flows of generalized vector fields or geodesics of generalized metrics. We introduce an embedding of the space of continuous mappings $\mathcal{C}(X,Y)$ into $\mathcal{G}[X,Y]$ and study the sheaf properties of $\mathcal{G}[X,Y]$. Similar results are obtained for spaces of generalized vector bundle homomorphisms. Based on these constructions we propose the definition of a space $\mathcal{D}'[X,Y]$ of distributions on $X$ taking values in $Y$. $\mathcal{D}'[X,Y]$ is realized as a quotient of a certain subspace of $\mathcal{G}[X,Y]$.

math.FA↗
arXiv2008

On the Geroch-Traschen class of metrics

We compare two approaches to Semi-Riemannian metrics of low regularity. The maximally "reasonable" distributional setting of Geroch and Traschen is shown to be consistently contained in the more general setting of nonlinear distributional geometry in the sense of Colombeau.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2006

The use of Generalised Functions and Distributions in General Relativity

In this paper we review the extent to which one can use classical distribution theory in describing solutions of Einstein's equations. We show that there are a number of physically interesting cases which cannot be treated using distribution theory but require a more general concept. We describe a mathematical theory of nonlinear generalised functions based on Colombeau algebras and show how this may be applied in general relativity. We end by discussing the concept of singularity in general relativity and show that certain solutions with weak singularities may be regarded as distributional solutions of Einstein's equations.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2006

Global Gronwall Estimates for Integral Curves on Riemannian Manifolds

We prove Gronwall-type estimates for the distance of integral curves of smooth vector fields on a Riemannian manifold. Such estimates are of central importance for all methods of solving ODEs in a verified way, i.e., with full control of roundoff errors. Our results may therefore be seen as a prerequisite for the generalization of such methods to the setting of Riemannian manifolds.

math.DG↗
arXiv2004

Generalised Connections and Curvature

The concept of generalised (in the sense of Colombeau) connection on a principal fibre bundle is introduced. This definition is then used to extend results concerning the geometry of principal fibre bundles to those that only have a generalised connection. Some applications to singular solutions of Yang-Mills theory are given.

math.FA↗
arXiv2003

Generalized flows and singular ODEs on differentiable manifolds

Based on the concept of manifold valued generalized functions we initiate a study of nonlinear ordinary differential equations with singular (in particular: distributional) right hand sides in a global setting. After establishing several existence and uniqueness results for solutions of such equations and flows of singular vector fields we compare the solution concept employed here with the purely distributional setting. Finally, we derive criteria securing that a sequence of smooth flows corresponding to a regularization of a given singular vector field converges to a measurable limiting flow.

math.FA↗
arXiv2002

Intrinsic characterization of manifold-valued generalized functions

The concept of generalized functions taking values in a differentiable manifold is extended to a functorial theory. We establish several characterization results which allow a global intrinsic formulation both of the theory of manifold-valued generalized functions and of generalized vector bundle homomorphisms. As a consequence, a characterization of equivalence that does not resort to derivatives (already known for the scalar-valued cases of Colombeau's construction) is achieved. These results are employed to derive a point value description of all types of generalized functions valued in manifolds and to show that composition can be carried out unrestrictedly. Finally, a new concept of association adapted to the present setting is introduced.

math.FA↗
arXiv2001

Metric-affine gravity and the Nester-Witten 2-form

In this paper we redefine the well-known metric-affine Hilbert Lagrangian in terms of a spin-connection and a spin-tetrad. On applying the Poincaré-Cartan method and using the geometry of gauge-natural bundles, a global gravitational superpotential is derived. On specializing to the case of the Kosmann lift, we recover the result originally found by Kijowski (1978) for the metric (natural) Hilbert Lagrangian. On choosing a different, suitable lift, we can also recover the Nester-Witten 2-form, which plays an important role in the energy positivity proof and in many quasi-local definitions of mass.

gr-qc↗