English

Characteristic Surface Data for the Eikonal Equation

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2015-06-25 v2

Abstract

A method of solving the eikonal equation, in either flat or curved space-times, with arbitrary Cauchy data, is extended to the case of data given on a characteristic surface. We find a beautiful relationship between the Cauchy and characteristic data for the same solution, namely they are related by a Legendre transformation. From the resulting solutions, we study and describe their associated wave-front singularities.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.gr-qc/9809016,
  title  = {Characteristic Surface Data for the Eikonal Equation},
  author = {Ezra T. Newman and Alejandro Perez},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:gr-qc/9809016},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

16 pages, no figures, Scientific Work-Place 2.5, tex, Corrected typos