Abstract
We show the following two extensions of the standard positive mass theorem (one for either sign): Let \(\mathcal{N}\),g) and \(\mathcal{N}\),g' be asymptotically flat Riemannian 3-manifolds with compact interior and finite mass, such that g and g' are C 2,α and related via the conformal rescaling g' = φ 4 g with a C 2,α -function φ > 0. Assume further that the corresponding Ricci scalars satisfy R ± φ 4 R'≥; 0. Then the corresponding masses satisfy m±m' ≥ 0. Moreover, in the case of the minus sign, equality holds iff g and g' are isometric, whereas equality holds for the plus sign iff both \(\mathcal{N}\),g) and \(\mathcal{N}\),g') are flat Euclidean spaces. While the proof of the case with the minus signs is rather obvious, the case with the plus signs requires a subtle extension of Witten's proof of the standard positive mass theorem. The idea for this extension is due to Masood-ul-Alam who, in the course of an application, proved the rigidity part m+m' = 0 of this theorem, for a special conformal factor. We observe that Masood-ul-Alam's method extends to the general situation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnowitt, R., Deser, S. and Misner, C.: Phys. Rev. 122 (1961), 997.
Bartnik, R.: Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 39 (1986), 661.
Bunting, G., Masood-ul-Alam, A. K. M.: Gen. Relativity Gravitation 19 (1987), 147.
Cantor, M.: Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 5 (1981), 235.
Chruściel, P. T.: Classical Quantum Gravity 16 (1999), 661.
Chruściel, P. T.: Classical Quantum Gravity 16 (1999), 689.
Chruściel, P. T., In: P. Bergmann and V. deSabbata (eds), Topological Properties and Global Structure of Space-Time, Plenum Press, New York, 1986, p. 43.
Chruściel, P. T.: J. Math. Phys. 30 (1989), 2090.
Gibbons, G. W.: Nuclear Phys. B 207 (1982), 337.
Herzlich, M.: Comm. Math. Phys. 188 (1997), 121.
Heusler, M.: Classical Quantum Gravity 10 (1993), 791.
Israel, W.: Phys. Rev. 164 (1967), 1776.
Lee, J. M. and Parker, T. H.: Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 17 (1987), 37.
Lockhart, R.: Duke Math. J. 48 (1981), 289.
Masood-ul-Alam, A. K. M.: Classical Quantum Gravity 10 (1993), 2649.
Masood-ul-Alam, A. K. M.: Classical Quantum Gravity 9 (1992), L53.
Morrey, C. B.: Multiple Integrals in the Calculus of Variations, Springer, Berlin, 1966, sect. 6.
Parker, T. H. and Taubes, C. H.: Comm. Math. Phys. 84 (1982), 223.
Ruback, P.: Classical Quantum Gravity 5 (1988), L155.
Schoen, R. and Yau, S.T.: Comm. Math. Phys. 79 (1981), 231.
Schrödinger, E.: Sitz. Ber. Preuss. Akad. Wiss., phys.-math. Kl. (1932), 105.
Simon, W.: Classical Quantum Gravity 9 (1992), 241.
Witten, E.: Comm. Math. Phys. 80 (1981), 381.
York, J.: Phys. Rev. Lett. 26 (1971), 1656.
Zannias, T. J. Math. Phys. 36 (1995), 6970.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Simon, W. Conformal Positive Mass Theorems. Letters in Mathematical Physics 50, 275–281 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007637205709
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007637205709