Related papers: The Null distance encodes causality
The theory of noncommutative geometry provides an interesting mathematical background for developing new physical models. In particular, it allows one to describe the classical Standard Model coupled to Euclidean gravity. However,…
We present an abstract approach to Lorentzian Gromov-Hausdorff distance and convergence, and an alternative approach to Lorentzian length spaces that does not use auxiliary ``positive signature'' metrics or other unobserved fields. We begin…
In general relativity, time functions are crucial objects whose existence and properties are intimately tied to the causal structure of a spacetime and also to the initial value formulation of the Einstein equations. In this work we…
The causal spacetimes admitting a covariantly constant null vector provide a connection between relativistic and non-relativistic physics. We explore this relationship in several directions. We start proving a formula which relates the…
A classical result in Lorentzian geometry states that a strongly causal spacetime is globally hyperbolic if and only if the Lorentzian distance is finite valued for every metric choice in the conformal class. It is proven here that a…
We provide a short introduction to ``Lorentzian metric spaces" i.e., spacetimes defined solely in terms of the two-point Lorentzian distance. As noted in previous work, this structure is essentially unique if minimal conditions are imposed,…
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…
A change of spatial topology in a causal, compact spacetime cannot occur when the metric is globally Lorentzian. One can however construct a causal metric from a Riemannian metric and a Morse function on the background cobordism manifold,…
In a recent work I showed that the family of smooth steep time functions can be used to recover the order, the topology and the (Lorentz-Finsler) distance of spacetime. In this work I present the main ideas entering the proof of the…
The null curvature condition (NCC) is the requirement that the Ricci curvature of a Lorentzian manifold be nonnegative along null directions, which ensures the focusing of null geodesic congruences. In this note, we show that the NCC…
A new general procedure to construct realistic spacetimes is introduced. It is based on the null congruence on a time-oriented Lorentzian manifold associated to a certain timelike vector field. As an application, new examples of stably…
The space of null geodesics of a spacetime carries a canonical contact structure which has proved to be key in the discussion of causality in spacetimes. However, not much progress has been made on its nature and not many explicit…
We define a one-parameter family of canonical volume measures on Lorentzian (pre-)length spaces. In the Lorentzian setting, this allows us to define a geometric dimension - akin to the Hausdorff dimension for metric spaces - that…
We consider spacetime to be a 4-dimensional differentiable manifold that can be split locally into time and space. No metric, no linear connection are assumed. Matter is described by classical fields/fluids. We distinguish electrically…
The oft-neglected issue of the causal structure in the flat spacetime approach to Einstein's theory of gravity is considered. Consistency requires that the flat metric's null cone be respected, but this does not happen automatically. After…
We give a covariant definition of closeness between (time oriented) Lorentzian metrics on a manifold M, using a family of functions which measure the difference in volume form on one hand and the difference in causal structure relative to a…
The time separation function (or Lorentzian distance function) is a fundamental object used in Lorentzian geometry. For smooth spacetimes it is known to be lower semicontinuous, and in fact, continuous for globally hyperbolic spacetimes.…
We consider pseudoconvexity properties in Lorentzian and Riemannian manifolds and their relationship in static spacetimes. We provide an example of a causally continuous and maximal null pseudoconvex spacetime that fails to be causally…
The causal structure of a strongly causal spacetime is particularly well endowed. Not only does it determine the conformal spacetime geometry when the spacetime dimension n >2, as shown by Malament and Hawking-King-McCarthy (MHKM), but also…
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…