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James Isenberg

Publications and source records attributed to James Isenberg.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2007

The Modelling of Degenerate Neck Pinch Singularities in Ricci Flow by Bryant Solitons

In earlier work, carrying out numerical simulations of the Ricci flow of families of rotationally symmetric geometries on $S3$, we have found strong support for the contention that (at least in the rotationally symmetric case) the Ricci flow for a ``critical'' initial geometry - one which is at the transition point between initial geometries (on $S^3$) whose volume-normalized Ricci flows develop a singular neck pinch, and other initial geometries whose volume normalized Ricci flows converge to a round sphere - evolves into a ``degenerate neck pinch.'' That is, we have seen in this earlier work that the Ricci flows for the critical geometries become locally cylindrical in a neighborhood of the initial pinching, and have the maximum amount of curvature at one or both of the poles. Here, we explore the behavior of these flows at the poles, and find strong support for the conjecture that the Bryant steady solitons accurately model this polar flow.

math.DG↗
arXiv2006

The constraint equations for the Einstein-scalar field system on compact manifolds

We study the constraint equations for the Einstein-scalar field system on compact manifolds. Using the conformal method we reformulate these equations as a determined system of nonlinear partial differential equations. By introducing a new conformal invariant, which is sensitive to the presence of the initial data for the scalar field, we are able to divide the set of free conformal data into subclasses depending on the possible signs for the coefficients of terms in the resulting Einstein-scalar field Lichnerowicz equation. For many of these subclasses we determine whether or not a solution exists. In contrast to other well studied field theories, there are certain cases, depending on the mean curvature and the potential of the scalar field, for which we are unable to resolve the question of existence of a solution. We consider this system in such generality so as to include the vacuum constraint equations with an arbitrary cosmological constant, the Yamabe equation and even (all cases of) the prescribed scalar curvature problem as special cases.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2006

Applications of theorems of Jean Leray to the Einstein-scalar field equations

The Einstein-scalar field theory can be used to model gravitational physics with scalar field matter sources. We discuss the initial value formulation of this field theory, and show that the ideas of Leray can be used to show that the Einstein-scalar field system of partial differential equations is well-posed as an evolutionary system. We also show that one can generate solutions of the Einstein-scalar field constraint equations using conformal methods.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2006

Linear stability of homogeneous Ricci solitons

As a step toward understanding the analytic behavior of Type-III Ricci flow singularities, i.e. immortal solutions that exhibit |Rm|<C/t curvature decay, we examine the linearization of an equivalent flow at fixed points discovered recently by Baird--Danielo and Lott: nongradient homogeneous expanding Ricci solitons on nilpotent or solvable Lie groups. For all explicitly known nonproduct examples, we demonstrate linear stability of the flow at these fixed points and prove that the linearizations generate strongly continuous semigroups.

math.DG↗
arXiv2005

The Einstein-scalar field constraints on asymptotically Euclidean manifolds

We use the conformal method to obtain solutions of the Einstein-scalar field gravitational constraint equations. Handling scalar fields is a bit more challenging than handling matter fields such as fluids, Maxwell fields or Yang-Mills fields, because the scalar field introduces three extra terms into the Lichnerowicz equation, rather than just one. Our proofs are constructive and allow for arbitrary dimension (>2) as well as low regularity initial data.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2005

Initial data engineering

We present a local gluing construction for general relativistic initial data sets. The method applies to generic initial data, in a sense which is made precise. In particular the trace of the extrinsic curvature is not assumed to be constant near the gluing points, which was the case for previous such constructions. No global conditions on the initial data sets such as compactness, completeness, or asymptotic conditions are imposed. As an application, we prove existence of spatially compact, maximal globally hyperbolic, vacuum space-times without any closed constant mean curvature spacelike hypersurface.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2005

Half polarized U(1) symmetric vacuum spacetimes with AVTD behavior

In a previous work, we used a polarization condition to show that there is a family of U(1) symmetric solutions of the vacuum Einstein equations such that each exhibits AVTD (Asymptotic Velocity Term Dominated) behavior in the neighborhood of its singularity. Here we consider the general case of U(1) bundles and determine a condition, called the half polarization condition, necessary and sufficient in our context, for AVTD behavior near the singularity.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2005

Ricci flow on locally homogeneous closed 4-manifolds

We discuss the Ricci flow on homogeneous 4-manifolds. After classifying these manifolds, we note that there are families of initial metrics such that we can diagonalize them and the Ricci flow preserves the diagonalization. We analyze the long time behavior of these families. We find that if a solution exists for all time, then the flow exhibits a type III singularity in the sense of Hamilton.

math.DG↗
arXiv2005

A gluing construction for non-vacuum solutions of the Einstein constraint equations

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 show exactly what criteria need to be met in order to apply the construction, in its present form, to any other non-vacuum field theory.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2004

Momentum Maps and Classical Relativistic Fields. Part II: Canonical Analysis of Field Theories

With the covariant formulation in hand from the first paper of this series (physics/9801019), we begin in this second paper to study the canonical (or ``instantaneous'') formulation of classical field theories. The canonical formluation works with fields defined as time-evolving cross sections of bundles over a Cauchy surface, rather than as sections of bundles over spacetime as in the covariant formulation. In Chapter 5 we begin to relate these approaches to classical field theory; in particular, we show how covariant multisymplectic geometry induces the instantaneous symplectic geometry of cotangent bundles of sections of fields over a Cauchy surface. In Chapter 6, we proceed to consider field dynamics. A crucial feature of our discussion here is the degeneracy of the Lagrangian functionals for the field theories of interest. As a consequence of this degeneracy, we have constraints on the choice of initial data, and gauge freedom in the evolution of the fields. Chapter 6 considers the role of initial value constraints and gauge transformations in Hamiltonian field dynamics. In Chapter 7, we then describe how covariant momentum maps defined on the multiphase space induce "energy-momentum maps'' on the instantaneous phase spaces. We show that for a group action which leaves the Cauchy surface invariant, this energy-momentum map coincides with the usual notion of a momentum map. We also show, when the gauge group"includes'' the spacetime diffeomorphism group, that one of the components of the energy-momentum map corresponding to spacetime diffeomorphisms can be identified (up to sign) with the Hamiltonian for the theory.

math-ph↗
arXiv2004

Gluing Initial Data Sets for General Relativity

We establish an optimal gluing construction for general relativistic initial data sets. The construction is optimal in two distinct ways. First, it applies to generic initial data sets and the required (generically satisfied) hypotheses are geometrically and physically natural. Secondly, the construction is completely local in the sense that the initial data is left unaltered on the complement of arbitrarily small neighborhoods of the points about which the gluing takes place. Using this construction we establish the existence of cosmological, maximal globally hyperbolic, vacuum space-times with no constant mean curvature spacelike Cauchy surfaces.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2004

Momentum Maps and Classical Relativistic Fields. Part I: Covariant Field Theory

This is the first paper of a five part work in which we study the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian structure of classical field theories with constraints. Our goal is to explore some of the connections between initial value constraints and gauge transformations in such theories (either relativistic or not). To do this, in the course of these four papers, we develop and use a number of tools from symplectic and multisymplectic geometry. Of central importance in our analysis is the notion of the ``energy-momentum map'' associated to the gauge group of a given classical field theory. We hope to demonstrate that many different and apparently unrelated facets of field theories can be thereby tied together and understood in an essentially new way. In Part I we develop some of the basic theory of classical fields from a spacetime covariant viewpoint. We begin with a study of the covariant Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms, on jet bundles and multisymplectic manifolds, respectively. Then we discuss symmetries, conservation laws, and Noether's theorem in terms of ``covariant momentum maps.''

math-ph↗
arXiv2004

On the area of the symmetry orbits in $T^2$ symmetric spacetimes

We obtain a global existence result for the Einstein equations. We show that in the maximal Cauchy development of vacuum $T^2$ symmetric initial data with nonvanishing twist constant, except for the special case of flat Kasner initial data, the area of the $T^2$ group orbits takes on all positive values. This result shows that the areal time coordinate $R$ which covers these spacetimes runs from zero to infinity, with the singularity occurring at R=0.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2003

Non CMC Conformal Data Sets Which Do Not Produce Solutions of the Einstein Constraint Equations

The conformal formulation provides a method for constructing and parametrizing solutions of the Einstein constraint equations by mapping freely chosen sets of conformal data to solutions, provided a certain set of coupled, elliptic determined PDEs (whose expression depends on the chosen conformal data) admit a unique solution. For constant mean curvature (CMC) data, it is known in almost all cases which sets of conformal data allow these PDEs to have solutions, and which do not. For non CMC data, much less is known. Here we exhibit the first class of non CMC data for which we can prove that no solutions exist.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2003

Critical behavior in Ricci flow

We use numerical techniques to study the formation of singularities in Ricci flow. Comparing the Ricci flows corresponding to a one parameter family of initial geometries on S^3 with varying amounts of S^2 neck pinching, we find critical behavior at the threshold of singularity formation.

math.DG↗
arXiv2003

Oscillatory approach to the singularity in vacuum spacetimes with $T^2$ isometry

We use qualitative arguments combined with numerical simulations to argue that, in the approach to the singularity in a vacuum solution of Einstein's equations with $T^2$ isometry, the evolution at a generic point in space is an endless succession of Kasner epochs, punctuated by bounces in which either a curvature term or a twist term becomes important in the evolution equations for a brief time. Both curvature bounces and twist bounces may be understood within the context of local mixmaster dynamics although the latter have never been seen before in spatially inhomogeneous cosmological spacetimes.

gr-qc↗