arXiv research

We show that any vacuum initial data set containing a marginally outer trapped surface S and satisfying a "no KIDs" condition can be perturbed near S so that S becomes strictly outer trapped in the new vacuum initial data set. This, together with the results in [9], gives a precise sense in which generic initial data c…

We derive integral and sup-estimates for the curvature of stably marginally outer trapped surfaces in a sliced space-time. The estimates bound the shear of a marginally outer trapped surface in terms of the intrinsic and extrinsic curvature of a slice containing the surface. These estimates are well adapted to situatio…

We solve the Plateau problem for marginally outer trapped surfaces in general Cauchy data sets. We employ the Perron method and tools from geometric measure theory to force and control a blow-up of Jang's equation. Substantial new geometric insights regarding the lower order properties of marginally outer trapped surfa…

We introduce a natural generalization of marginally outer trapped surfaces, called immersed marginally outer trapped surfaces, and prove that three dimensional asymptotically flat initial data sets either contain such surfaces or are diffeomorphic to R^3. We establish a generalization of the Penrose singularity theorem…

Study stability and rigidity of axisymmetric marginally outer trapped surfaces.

In this article we investigate the restrictions imposed by the dominant energy condition (DEC) on the topology and conformal type of \textsl{possibly non-compact} marginally outer-trapped surfaces (thus extending Hawking's classical theorem on the topology of black holes). We first prove that an unbounded, stable margi…

Marginally outer trapped surfaces are widely considered as the best quasi-local replacements for event horizons of black holes in General Relativity. However, this equivalence is far from being proved, even in stationary and static situations. In this paper we study an important aspect of this equivalence, namely wheth…

Study improves curvature estimate for stable marginally outer trapped hypersurfaces with a free boundary.

Study proves existence of MOTTs in de Sitter spacetime.

In a recent paper (gr-qc/0509107) the author and Rick Schoen obtained a generalization to higher dimensions of a classical result of Hawking concerning the topology of black holes. It was proved that, apart from certain exceptional circumstances, cross sections of the event horizon, in the stationary case, and 'weakly …

Study of mean curvature flow on null hypersurfaces leading to MOTS.

Study shows how charged MOTS restrict spacetime configurations.

Rigidity results for initial data sets related to the positive mass theorem.

Small deformations of marginally outer trapped surfaces (MOTS) are studied by using the stability operator introduced by Andersson-Mars-Simon. Novel formulae for the principal eigenvalue are presented. A characterization of the many marginally outer trapped tubes (MOTT) passing through a given MOTS is given, and the po…

We solve Einstein vacuum equations in a spacetime region up to the "center" of gravitational collapse. Within this region, we construct a sequence of marginally outer trapped surfaces (MOTS) with areas going to zero. These MOTS form a marginally outer trapped tube (apparent horizon). It emerges from a point and is smoo…

Paper proves rigidity of initial data sets with boundary and capillary MOTS.

The paper proves a Penrose inequality involving quasi-local mass and outer trapped surfaces.

Small deformations of marginally (outer) trapped surfaces are considered by using their stability operator. In the case of spherical symmetry, one can use these deformations on any marginally trapped round sphere to prove several interesting results. The concept of 'core' of a black hole is introduced: it is a minimal …

We examine some common features of minimal surfaces, nonzero constant mean curvature surfaces and marginally outer trapped surfaces, concerning their stability and rigidity, and consider some applications to Riemannian geometry and general relativity.

Study shows instability of certain MOTSs with continuous symmetry.

Eight different refinements of trapped surfaces are proposed, of three basic types, each intended as potential stability conditions. Minimal trapped surfaces are strictly minimal with respect to the dual expansion vector. Outer trapped surfaces have positivity of a certain curvature, related to surface gravity. Increas…

New positive mass theorems for ALH manifolds with toroidal ends.

Study stability of surfaces in spacetimes, proving new estimates and theorems.

As discussed in the paper, in a matter-filled spacetime, perhaps with positive cosmological constant, a stable marginally outer trapped 2-sphere must satisfy a certain area inquality. Namely, its area must be bounded above by $4π/c$, where $c > 0$ is a lower bound on a natural energy momentum term. In this note we cons…

In a matter-filled spacetime, perhaps with positive cosmological constant, a stable marginally outer trapped 2-sphere must satisfy a certain area inequality. Namely, as discussed in the paper, its area must be bounded above by $4π/c$, where $c > 0$ is a lower bound on a natural energy-momentum term. We then consider th…

The paper explores rigid geometric structures near surfaces with equality in area-charge inequalities.

In a recent paper, Eichmair, Galloway and Pollack have proved a Gannon-Lee-type singularity theorem based on the existence of marginally outer trapped surfaces (MOTS) on noncompact initial data sets for globally hyperbolic spacetimes. This result requires that the MOTS be generic in a suitable sense. In the same spirit…

In a recent paper, Eichmair, Galloway and Pollack have proved a Gannon-Lee-type singularity theorem based on the existence of marginally outer trapped surfaces (MOTS) on noncompact initial data sets for globally hyperbolic spacetimes. However, one might wonder whether the corresponding incomplete geodesics could still …

Proves existence of solutions to Einstein constraints with specific boundary conditions and verifies Penrose inequality.

We investigate the geometric properties of marginally trapped surfaces (surfaces which have null mean curvature vector) in the spaces of oriented geodesics of Euclidean 3-space and hyperbolic 3-space, endowed with their canonical neutral Kaehler structures. We prove that every rank one surface in these four manifolds i…

Generic singularities found in spacetimes with weakly trapped submanifolds.

Study of marginally trapped surfaces in a perturbed Schwarzschild spacetime.

This note shows surfaces in stable 3D data are bounded by area and diameter.

Extends results on marginally outer trapped surfaces to general null expansion.

The paper introduces canonical parameters for marginally trapped surfaces in Minkowski space.

Let (M, g, k) be an initial data set for the Einstein equations of general relativity. We prove that there exist solutions of the Plateau problem for marginally outer trapped surfaces (MOTSs) that are stable in the sense of MOTSs. This answers a question of G. Galloway and N. O'Murchadha and is an ingredient in the pro…

We show that degenerate horizons exhibit a new trapping effect. Specifically, we obtain a non-degenerate Morawetz estimate for the wave equation in the domain of outer communications of extremal Reissner-Nordstrom up to and including the future event horizon. We show that such an estimate requires 1) a higher degree of…

We prove some related results concerning blow-up solutions for the Jang equation. First: it has been shown that, given an outermost marginally outer trapped surface (MOTS) Σ, there exists a solution to Jang's equation which blows up at Σ. Here we show that in addition, large classes of spherically symmetric initial dat…

Study of hypersurfaces with specific expansion properties.

A marginally trapped surface in the four-dimensional Minkowski space is a spacelike surface whose mean curvature vector is lightlike at each point. In the present paper we find all marginally trapped surfaces with pointwise 1-type Gauss map. We prove that a marginally trapped surface is of pointwise 1-type Gauss map if…

This paper considers some fundamental questions concerning marginally trapped surfaces, or apparent horizons, in Cauchy data sets for the Einstein equation. An area estimate for outermost marginally trapped surfaces is proved. The proof makes use of an existence result for marginal surfaces, in the presence of barriers…

New method to find surfaces in null cones with constant curvature near black hole indicators.

Overview of marginally trapped surfaces in various spacetimes.

We derive the Space-Time Positive Mass theorem in arbitrary dimensions, without topological constraints. The main new tools are skin structures and surgeries on minimal and marginally outer trapped hypersurfaces.

We prove in this paper that, under suitable coinditions on an initial data set, we can obtain Area and Curvature Estimates for simple marginally outer trapped surfaces (or MOTS). Using this estimates, we derive a Compactness Theorem for MOTS. Moreover, the Compactness Theorem will allow us to adapt the recent Degree Th…

The purpose of the present work is to study (marginally) trapped submanifolds lying in a null hypersurface. Let $(M,g,N)\to\Bm(c)$ be a null hypersurface of a space-time with constant sectional curvature $c$, endowed with a Screen Integrable and Conformal rigging $N$. The (Marginally) Trapped Submanifolds we are intere…

In the present paper we provide new examples of marginally trapped surfaces and tubes in FLRW spacetimes by using a basic relation between these objects and CMC surfaces in 3-manifolds. We also provide a new method to construct marginally trapped surfaces in closed FLRW spacetimes, which is based on the classical Hopf …

Global properties of maximal future Cauchy developments of stationary, m-dimensional asymptotically flat initial data with an outer trapped boundary are analyzed. We prove that, whenever the matter model is well posed and satisfies the null energy condition, the future Cauchy development of the data is a black hole spa…