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We introduce an analogue of the theory of length spaces into the setting of Lorentzian geometry and causality theory. The r\^ole of the metric is taken over by the time separation function, in terms of which all basic notions are…

Differential Geometry · Mathematics 2019-11-07 Michael Kunzinger , Clemens Sämann

We present a new test of the validity of the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric, based on comparing the distance from redshift 0 to $z_1$ and from $z_1$ to $z_2$ to the distance from $0$ to $z_2$. If the universe is described…

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Physics 2015-09-16 Syksy Rasanen , Krzysztof Bolejko , Alexis Finoguenov

We introduce the notion of causally-null-compactifiable space-times which can be canonically converted into a compact timed-metric-spaces using the cosmological time of Andersson-Howard-Galloway and the null distance of Sormani-Vega. We…

Differential Geometry · Mathematics 2025-10-16 Anna Sakovich , Christina Sormani

The problem of finding null geodesics in a stationary Lorentzian spacetime is known to to be equivalent to finding the geodsics of a Randers-Finlser structure. This latter problem is equivalent to finding the motion of charged particles…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2017-08-10 G. W. Gibbons

We consider Lorentzian manifolds as examples of partially ordered measure spaces, sets endowed with compatible partial order relations and measures, in this case given by the causal structure and the volume element defined by each…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2013-11-20 Luca Bombelli , Johan Noldus , Julio Tafoya

I propose that Physics should be formulated using minimal mathematical structure, beginning with its foundational arena: spacetime. This paper opens with a concise overview of several research directions explored in previous work. Among…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2025-08-19 Ettore Minguzzi

The null distance of Sormani and Vega encodes the manifold topology as well as the causality structure of a (smooth) spacetime. We extend this concept to Lorentzian length spaces, the analog of (metric) length spaces, which generalize…

Differential Geometry · Mathematics 2024-09-02 Michael Kunzinger , Roland Steinbauer

Robertson-Walker spacetimes within a large class are geometrically extended to larger cosmologies that include spacetime points with zero and negative cosmological times. In the extended cosmologies, the big bang is lightlike, and though…

Mathematical Physics · Physics 2018-01-23 David Klein , Jake Reschke

The properties of the stable distance over stable spacetimes are used as a reference to propose a simplified, abstract notion of spacetime. The discussion shows that spacetime, with its topology, causal order and (upper semi-continuous)…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2026-01-23 Ettore Minguzzi

Let $(M,g)$ be a spacetime. That is, $M$ is a real manifold of dimension $4$ equipped with a Lorentzian metric $g$. We show that any separation of time and space in $M$ is equivalent to introducing a (non-smooth) Riemann metric $h$. If $h$…

Mathematical Physics · Physics 2014-06-27 Tuyen Trung Truong

Some analysis on the Lorentzian distance in a spacetime with controlled sectional (or Ricci) curvatures is done. In particular, we focus on the study of the restriction of such distance to a spacelike hypersurface satisfying the Omori-Yau…

Differential Geometry · Mathematics 2009-02-16 Luis J. Alias , Ana Hurtado , Vicente Palmer

Sakovich--Sormani introduced several notions of distance between certain classes of Lorentzian manifolds. These distances use the Hausdorff and Gromov-Hausdorff distances and therefore extend naturally to a broader class of spaces. Here we…

Differential Geometry · Mathematics 2026-05-29 Raquel Perales

I present an analysis of the physical assumptions needed to obtain the metric structure of space-time. For this purpose I combine the axiomatic approach pioneered by Robb with ideas drawn from works on Weyl's "Raumproblem". The concept of a…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2010-09-29 Jochen Rau

Let $M$ be a complete Riemannian manifold and $F\subset M$ a set with a nonempty interior. For every $x\in M$, let $D_x$ denote the function on $F\times F$ defined by $D_x(y,z)=d(x,y)-d(x,z)$ where $d$ is the geodesic distance in $M$. The…

Differential Geometry · Mathematics 2019-03-19 Sergei Ivanov

We propose the metric for general rotating spacetimes. These spacetimes are stationary, axially symmetric and spatially asymptotically flat. They can be the spacetimes outside of rotating black holes or rotating celestial bodies such as the…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2022-06-22 Changjun Gao

Very few studies involve how to construct the efficient RBFs by means of problem features. Recently the present author presented general solution RBF (GS-RBF) methodology to create operator-dependent RBFs successfully [1]. On the other…

Computational Engineering, Finance, and Science · Computer Science 2007-05-23 W. Chen

We consider the problem of distance between two particles in the universe, where space is taken to be Liebnizian rather than Newtonian, this being the present day approach. We then argue that with latest inputs from physics, it is possible…

General Physics · Physics 2010-10-29 Burra G. Sidharth

Timelike sectional curvature bounds play an important role in spacetime geometry, both for the understanding of classical smooth spacetimes and for the study of Lorentzian (pre-)length spaces introduced in \cite{kunzinger2018lorentzian}. In…

Differential Geometry · Mathematics 2026-01-01 Tobias Beran , Michael Kunzinger , Argam Ohanyan , Felix Rott

We discuss some properties of the distance functions on Riemannian manifolds and we relate their behavior to the geometry of the manifolds. This leads to alternative proofs of some "classical" theorems connecting curvature and topology.

Differential Geometry · Mathematics 2026-02-20 Carlo Mantegazza , Francesca Oronzio

Given a fixed closed manifold M, we exhibit an explicit formula for the distance function of the canonical L^2 Riemannian metric on the manifold of all smooth Riemannian metrics on M. Additionally, we examine the (metric) completion of the…

Differential Geometry · Mathematics 2011-07-28 Brian Clarke