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Marcus Khuri

Publications and source records attributed to Marcus Khuri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Electrovacuum Black Hole Uniqueness

We prove the black hole uniqueness conjecture in the axially symmetric, stationary, electrovacuum setting, subject to the refined asymptotic analysis of the associated singular harmonic maps, which includes an analyticity hypothesis at the axes. More precisely, it is shown that any asymptotically flat solution of the Einstein--Maxwell equations in this class, with more than one black hole horizon component is either: Majumdar--Papapetrou, up to a duality rotation, in which case all logarithmic angle defects vanish, or every finite axis rod logarithmic angle defect is strictly negative and hence every interaction force is strictly attractive. The proof extends the singular harmonic map method used for vacuum Kerr uniqueness in [18].

gr-qc↗
arXiv2026

Kerr Black Hole Uniqueness

We prove the black hole uniqueness conjecture in the axially symmetric, stationary vacuum setting: there is no regular, asymptotically flat equilibrium configuration with more than one horizon component. More precisely, we establish that in every such multi-horizon configuration, the logarithmic angle defect along every bounded axis rod is negative, which implies that the net interaction force across each such segment is attractive. The proof is based on a refined asymptotic analysis of the associated singular harmonic maps, partially drawn from the companion work [16], together with a global maximum principle bound for the Weyl conformal factor arising from a novel scalar curvature related differential inequality.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2026

Riemannian Positive Mass Theorem in All Dimensions in the Presence of Low-Codimension Singularities

We prove the Riemannian positive mass theorem in all dimensions for asymptotically flat $L^\infty$-metrics with subcritical singular sets. More precisely, we consider complete asymptotically flat manifolds whose metrics are smooth away from a compact singular set of Minkowski dimension less than $n-3+\frac{2}{n}$, and whose scalar curvature is nonnegative on the regular set. We show that the ADM mass of each asymptotically flat end is nonnegative, and that the mass vanishes in some end only in the Euclidean case. For the rigidity statement, we require additionally that the Minkowski dimension of the singular set is not larger than $n-3+\frac{1}{n-1}$. This gives an asymptotically flat analogue of Schoen's codimension-three conjecture for positive scalar curvature. The proof combines a density theorem for singular asymptotically flat metrics, capacity estimates across the singular set, conformal blow-up inspired by Bi-Hao-He-Shi-Zhu [3], and a $\mu$-bubble dimension-descent argument adapted from Brendle-Wang [6].

math.DG↗
arXiv2026

Spacetime Bartnik Mass Positivity and Temporal Monotonicity for Black Holes

We define a quasilocal mass of Bartnik type, and establish its positivity and temporal monotonicity properties for two classes of domains associated with black holes. More precisely, we first show that the quasilocal mass is strictly positive for spacelike hypersurfaces that are: compact with apparent horizon boundary or noncompact with asymptotically flat ends and containing an apparent horizon in any admissible extension. Secondly, we show that the quasilocal mass is monotonically nondecreasing in time within evolutionary scenarios related to the two aforementioned settings.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2026

A Comparison Theorem For the Mass of ALE and ALF Toric 4-Manifolds

We establish sharp lower bounds for the mass of asymptotically locally Euclidean (ALE) and asymptotically locally flat (ALF) toric 4-manifolds, in terms of equilibrium geometries consisting of gravitational instantons. More precisely, the mass of a complete ALE or ALF toric 4-manifold with nonnegative scalar curvature is bounded below by a sum comprised of the following quantities: the mass of the corresponding toric gravitational instanton having the same orbit space (rod) structure as the original ALE/ALF manifold, and an expression determined by the conical angle defects of totally geodesic 2-spheres within the instanton that serve as generators for its second homology. The inequality may be generalized to the situation in which the ALE/ALF manifold also possesses conical singularities as well as orbifold singularities, and it suggests a refined notion of `total mass' in which the result simply states that the total mass of the ALE/ALF manifold is not less than that of the corresponding gravitational instanton. Furthermore, we prove rigidity for these statements, namely the inequality is saturated only when the ALE/ALF manifold is Ricci flat and in fact agrees with the corresponding instanton. These results may be viewed in the context of positive mass theorems, providing an explanation of how positivity can fail in the ALE/ALF setting. Moreover, the main theorem may be interpreted as yielding a variational characterization of the relevant toric gravitational instantons.

math.DG↗
arXiv2025

Mass Lower Bounds for Asymptotically Locally Flat Manifolds

We establish positive mass type theorems for asymptotically locally flat (ALF) manifolds, which have asymptotic ends modeled on circle bundles over a Euclidean base with fibers of constant length. In particular for dimensions $n\leq 7$, the mass of AF manifolds is shown to be nonnegative under the assumption of nonnegative scalar curvature if a codimension-two coordinate sphere in the asymptotic end is trivial in homology, with zero mass achieved only for the product $\mathbb{R}^{n-1}\times S^1$. The same conclusions are obtained in dimension four for ALF manifolds admitting an almost free $U(1)$ action. Moreover, in this setting the mass is shown to be bounded below by a multiple of the degree of the circle bundle at infinity. This is the first such result illustrating how nontrivial topology of the end contributes to the mass.

math.DG↗
arXiv2025

The Positive Mass Theorem for Creased Initial Data

We establish a spacetime positive mass theorem and rigidity statement for asymptotically flat spin initial data sets with a codimension one singularity controlled by a matching Bartnik data condition involving spacetime rotations, and discuss applications. This generalizes several previous works on the topic, including results of Miao, Tsang, and Shi-Tam.

math.DG↗
arXiv2025

Proof of the Spacetime Penrose Inequality With Suboptimal Constant in the Asymptotically Flat and Asymptotically Hyperboloidal Regimes

We establish mass lower bounds of Penrose-type in the setting of $3$-dimensional initial data sets for the Einstein equations satisfying the dominant energy condition, which are either asymptotically flat or asymptotically hyperboloidal. More precisely, the lower bound consists of a universal constant multiplied by the square root of the minimal area required to enclose the outermost apparent horizon. Here the outermost apparent horizon may contain both marginally outer trapped (MOTS) and marginally inner trapped (MITS) components. The proof is based on the harmonic level set approach to the positive mass theorem, combined with the Jang equation and techniques arising from the stability argument of Dong-Song \cite{Dong-Song}. As a corollary, we also obtain a version of the Penrose inequality for 3-dimensional asymptotically hyperbolic Riemannian manifolds.

math.DG↗
arXiv2025

The Mass-Angular Momentum Inequality for Multiple Black Holes

This is the second in a series of two papers to address the conjectured mass-angular momentum inequality for multiple black holes. Our main result has two parts. In the first part, it is shown that either there is a counterexample to black hole uniqueness, in the form of a regular axisymmetric stationary vacuum spacetime with an asymptotically flat end and multiple degenerate horizons which is `ADM minimizing', or the following statement holds. Complete, simply connected, maximal initial data sets for the Einstein equations with multiple ends that are either asymptotically flat or asymptotically cylindrical, admit an ADM mass lower bound given by the square root of total angular momentum, under the assumption of nonnegative energy density and axisymmetry. Moreover, equality is achieved in this mass lower bound only for a constant time slice of an extreme Kerr spacetime. Consequently, due to the nonexistence of stationary vacuum two-black hole configurations, the mass-angular momentum conjecture is verified for two black holes. In the second part, the mass-angular momentum inequality is established unconditionally, but with a suboptimal constant of $\frac{1}{2}$. The proof is based on a novel flow of singular harmonic maps with hyperbolic plane target, under which the renormalized harmonic map energy is monotonically nonincreasing. Relevant properties of the flow are achieved through a refined asymptotic analysis of solutions to the harmonic map equations and their linearization. Additionally, we establish and utilize the Penrose inequality for manifolds with asymptotically cylindrical ends.

math.DG↗
arXiv2024

The Spacetime Penrose Inequality for Cohomogeneity One Initial Data

We prove the spacetime Penrose inequality for asymptotically flat $2(n+1)$-dimensional initial data sets for the Einstein equations, which are invariant under a cohomogeneity one action of $\mathrm{SU}(n+1)$. Analogous results are obtained for asymptotically hyperbolic initial data that arise as spatial hypersurfaces in asymptotically Anti de-Sitter spacetimes. More precisely, it is shown that with the dominant energy condition, the total mass is bounded below by an explicit function of the outermost apparent horizon area. Furthermore, the inequality is saturated if and only if the initial data isometrically embed into a Schwarzschild(-AdS) spacetime. This generalizes the only previously known case of the conjectured spacetime Penrose inequality, established under the assumption of spherical symmetry. Additionally, in the time symmetric case, we observe that the inequality holds for $4(n+1)$-dimensional and 16-dimensional initial data invariant under cohomogeneity one actions of $\mathrm{Sp}(n+1)$ and $\mathrm{Spin}(9)$, respectively, thus treating the inequality for all cohomogeneity one actions in this regime.

math.DG↗
arXiv2024

Boundary Behavior of Compact Manifolds With Scalar Curvature Lower Bounds and Static Quasi-Local Mass of Tori

A classic result of Shi and Tam states that a 2-sphere of positive Gauss and mean curvature bounding a compact 3-manifold with nonnegative scalar curvature, must have total mean curvature not greater than that of the isometric embedding into Euclidean 3-space, with equality only for domains in this reference manifold. We generalize this result to 2-tori of Guass curvature greater than $-1$, which bound a compact 3-manifold having scalar curvature not less than $-6$ and at least one other boundary component satisfying a 'trapping condition'. The conclusion is that the total weighted mean curvature is not greater than that of an isometric embedding into the Kottler manifold, with equality only for domains in this space. Examples are given to show that the assumption of a secondary boundary component cannot be removed. The result gives a positive mass theorem for the static Brown-York mass of tori, in analogy to the Shi-Tam positivity of the standard Brown-York mass, and represents the first such quasi-local mass positivity result for non-spherical surfaces. Furthermore, we prove a Penrose-type inequality in this setting.

math.DG↗
arXiv2023

A Quasi-Local Mass

We define a new gauge independent quasi-local mass and energy, and show its relation to the Brown-York Hamilton-Jacobi analysis. A quasi-local proof of the positivity, based on spacetime harmonic functions, is given for admissible closed spacelike 2-surfaces which enclose an initial data set satisfying the dominant energy condition. Like the Wang-Yau mass, the new definition relies on isometric embeddings into Minkowski space, although our notion of admissibility is different from that of Wang-Yau. Rigidity is also established, in that vanishing energy implies that the 2-surface arises from an embedding into Minkowski space, and conversely the mass vanishes for any such surface. Furthermore, we show convergence to the ADM mass at spatial infinity, and provide the equation associated with optimal isometric embedding.

math.DG↗
arXiv2023

Rigid comparison geometry for Riemannian bands and open incomplete manifolds

Comparison theorems are foundational to our understanding of the geometric features implied by various curvature constraints. This paper considers manifolds with a positive lower bound on either scalar, 2-Ricci, or Ricci curvature, and contains a variety of theorems which provide sharp relationships between this bound and notions of {\em{width}}. Some inequalities leverage geometric quantities such as boundary mean curvature, while others involve topological conditions in the form of linking requirements or homological constraints. In several of these results open and incomplete manifolds are studied, one of which partially addresses a conjecture of Gromov in this setting. The majority of results are accompanied by rigidity statements which isolate various model geometries -- both complete and incomplete -- including a new characterization of round lens spaces, and other models that have not appeared elsewhere. As a byproduct, we additionally give new and quantitative proofs of several classical comparison statements such as Bonnet-Myers' and Frankel's Theorem, as well as a version of Llarull's Theorem and a notable fact concerning asymptotically flat manifolds. The results that we present vary significantly in character, however a common theme is present in that the lead role in each proof is played by \emph{spacetime harmonic functions}, which are solutions to a certain elliptic equation originally designed to study mass in mathematical general relativity.

math.DG↗
arXiv2023

Spectral Torical Band Inequalities and Generalizations of the Schoen-Yau Black Hole Existence Theorem

Generalized torical band inequalities give precise upper bounds for the width of compact manifolds with boundary in terms of positive pointwise lower bounds for scalar curvature, assuming certain topological conditions. We extend several incarnations of these results in which pointwise scalar curvature bounds are replaced with spectral scalar curvature bounds. More precisely, we prove upper bounds for the width in terms of the principal eigenvalue of the operator $-Δ+cR$, where $R$ denotes scalar curvature and $c>0$ is a constant. Three separate strategies are employed to obtain distinct results holding in different dimensions and under varying hypotheses, namely we utilize spacetime harmonic functions, $μ$-bubbles, and spinorial Callias operators. In dimension 3, where the strongest result is produced, we are also able to treat open and incomplete manifolds, and establish the appropriate rigidity statements. Additionally, a version of such spectral torus band inequalities is given where tori are replaced with cubes. Finally, as a corollary we generalize classical work of Schoen and Yau, on the existence of black holes due to concentration of matter, to higher dimensions and with alternate measurements of size.

math.DG↗
arXiv2023

Existence and Uniqueness of Stationary Solutions in 5-Dimensional Minimal Supergravity

We study the problem of stationary bi-axially symmetric solutions of the $5$-dimensional minimal supergravity equations. Essentially all possible solutions with nondegenerate horizons are produced, having the allowed horizon cross-sectional topologies of the sphere $S^3$, ring $S^1\times S^2$, and lens $L(p,q)$, as well as the three different types of asymptotics. The solutions are smooth apart from possible conical singularities at the fixed point sets of the axial symmetry. This analysis also includes the solutions known as solitons in which horizons are not present but are rather replaced by nontrivial topology called bubbles which are sustained by dipole fluxes. Uniqueness results are also presented which show that the solutions are completely determined by their angular momenta, electric and dipole charges, and rod structure which fixes the topology. Consequently we are able to identify the finite number of parameters that govern a solution. In addition, a generalization of these results is given where the spacetime is allowed to have orbifold singularities.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2022

Asymptotic Analysis of Harmonic Maps With Prescribed Singularities

This is the first in a series of two papers to establish the mass-angular momentum inequality for multiple black holes. We study singular harmonic maps from domains of 3-dimensional Euclidean space to the hyperbolic plane having bounded hyperbolic distance to extreme Kerr harmonic maps. We prove that every such harmonic map admits a unique tangent harmonic map at the extreme black hole horizon. The possible tangent maps are classified and shown to be shifted `extreme Kerr' geodesics in the hyperbolic plane that depend on two parameters, one determined by angular momentum and another by conical singularities. In addition, rates of convergence to the tangent map are established. Similarly, expansions in the asymptotically flat end are presented. These results, together with those of Li-Tian [24,25] and Weinstein [35,36], provide a complete regularity theory for harmonic maps from $\mathbb R^3\setminus z\text{-axis}$ to $\mathbb H^2$ with these prescribed singularities. The analysis is additionally utilized to prove existence of the so called near horizon limit, and to compute the associated near horizon geometries of extreme black holes.

math.DG↗
arXiv2022

The Positive Energy Theorem for Asymptotically Hyperboloidal Initial Data Sets With Toroidal Infinity and Related Rigidity Results

We establish the positive energy theorem and a Penrose-type inequality for 3-dimensional asymptotically hyperboloidal initial data sets with toroidal infinity, weakly trapped boundary, and satisfying the dominant energy condition. In the umbilic case, a rigidity statement is proven showing that the total energy vanishes precisely when the initial data manifold is isometric to a portion of the canonical slice of the associated Kottler spacetime. Furthermore, we provide a new proof of the recent rigidity theorems of Eichmair-Galloway-Mendes [10] in dimension 3, with weakened hypotheses in certain cases. These results are obtained through an analysis of the level sets of spacetime harmonic functions.

math.DG↗