Related papers: Penrose's singularity theorem and the Kerr space-t…
The Kerr spacetime of spinning black holes is one of the most intriguing predictions of Einstein's theory of general relativity. The special role this spacetime plays in the theory of gravity is encapsulated in the no-hair theorem, which…
How do regular black holes evade the Penrose singularity theorem? Various models of stationary regular black holes globally satisfy the null convergence condition (NCC). At first glance this might seem puzzling, as the NCC must generically…
The Newman-Penrose map, which is closely related to the classical double copy, associates certain exact solutions of Einstein's equations with self-dual solutions of the vacuum Maxwell equations. Here we initiate an extension of the…
We present a number of open problems within general relativity. After a brief introduction to some technical mathematical issues and the famous singularity theorems, we discuss the cosmic censorship hypothesis and the Penrose inequality,…
A spherically symmetric spacetime is presented with an initial data set that is asymptotically flat, satisfies the dominant energy condition, and such that on this initial data $M<\sqrt{A/16\pi}$, where M is the total (ADM) mass and A is…
Geodesic completeness is typically regarded as a basic criterion to determine whether a given spacetime is regular or singular. However, the principle of general covariance does not privilege any family of observers over the others and,…
In this paper a theorem is derived in order to provide a wide sufficient condition for an orthogonally transitive cylindrical spacetime to be singularity-free. The applicability of the theorem is tested on examples provided by the…
In a previous paper [9], we proved the following singularity theorem applicable to cosmological models with a positive cosmological constant: if a four-dimensional spacetime satisfying the null energy condition contains a compact Cauchy…
The classic singularity theorems of General Relativity rely on energy conditions that can be violated in semiclassical gravity. Here, we provide motivation for an energy condition obeyed by semiclassical gravity: the smeared null energy…
Let an initial data metric $\overline{g}$ be, outside a ball $B_{R_0}$ centered in the origin, the induced metric on $\Sigma_0$ of a Kerr spacetime (with a mass $M$ and angular momentum $J$ whose ratio, $J/M$, depends on the size of $R_0$)…
It was recently discovered that Killing horizons in the generic Kerr-NUT-(anti) de Sitter spacetimes are projectively singular, i.e. their spaces of the null generators have singular geometry. Only if the cosmological constant takes the…
The ultimate extension of Penrose's Spin Geometry Theorem is given. It is shown how the \emph{local} geometry of any \emph{curved} Lorentzian 4-manifold (with $C^2$ metric) can be derived in the classical limit using only the observables in…
The Kerr solution is defined by a null congruence which is geodesic and shear free and has a singular line contained in a bounded region of space. A generalization of the Kerr congruence for nonstationary case is obtained. We find a…
A theorem, giving necessary and sufficient condition for naked singularity formation in spherically symmetric non static spacetimes under hypotheses of physical acceptability, is formulated and proved. The theorem relates existence of…
The Kerr theorem is revisited as part of the twistor program in six dimensions. The relationship between pure spinors and integrable 3-planes is investigated. The real condition for Lorentzian spacetimes is seen to induce a projective…
The purpose of this letter is to point out an argument which may ultimately lead to a rigorous proof of the Penrose inequality in the general case. The argument is a variation of Geroch's original proposal for a proof of the positive energy…
The causal boundary construction of Geroch, Kronheimer, and Penrose has some universal properties of importance for general studies of spacetimes, particularly when equipped with a topology derived from the causal structure. Properties of…
We show that, contrary to what is usually claimed in the literature, the zero mass limit of Kerr spacetime is not flat Minkowski space but a spacetime whose geometry is only locally flat. This limiting spacetime, as the Kerr spacetime…
Gravitational collapse singularities are undesirable, yet inevitable to a large extent in General Relativity. When matter satisfying null energy condition collapses to the extent a closed trapped surface is formed, a singularity is…
A set of simple rules for constructing the maximal (e.g. analytic) extensions for any metric with a Killing field in an (effectively) two-dimensional spacetime is formulated. The application of these rules is extremely straightforward, as…