An Isaac Newton Institute Programme

Global Problems in Mathematical Relativity

A global solution for a characteristic problem for the Einstein vacuum equations with small initial data

21st October 2005

Author: Nicolo, F (University of Rome Tor Vergata)

Abstract

In this work, using some techniques started by Christodoulou and Klainerman, we prove a small data global existence result for the Einstein vacuum equations with initial data assigned on the union of two null hypersurfaces. The two main issues are the initial data constraints and the control of appropriate energy norms to start the bootstrap machinery.