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An achronal set that is not acausal: two null-related points
Statement refuted
Statement refuted: "every achronal subset of a time-oriented smooth Lorentzian four-manifold is acausal" (Spacelike hypersurfaces, acausal sets, Cauchy sets, domains of dependence and Cauchy horizons clause (b)).
Facts & Assumptions
Assume Countable Choice and Dependent Choice (The Axiom of Countable Choice (), The axiom of dependent choice: a relation in which every element is related to something admits an -indexed chain) for the general absolutely continuous causal-curve conclusions used here.
Given: The flat model of The flat model: Minkowski space R^4, its standard Lorentz form, inertial charts and cone sets, written , with its global inertial chart , and the two events , .
For all events in the flat model, exactly when and exactly when , with and in the global inertial chart. For the straight path realizes the relation when the displayed condition holds; for , instead follows from the equality alternative, without a constant causal curve (The flat model is globally hyperbolic and its inertial level sets are Cauchy hypersurfaces clause (a), The causal cones of the flat model in inertial coordinates, and closure of the future cone under sums clauses (a), (b), Time orientation, future and past timelike/null/causal vectors, and the closed cones, Timelike, null, spacelike and causal vectors of a Lorentz vector space).
For events of the model: when there is a future timelike curve from to , and when or there is a future causal curve from to ; a set is achronal when no two distinct of its points are chronologically related and acausal when no two distinct of its points are causally related (Causal curves, chronological and causal reachability, and inextendibility clause (c), Spacelike hypersurfaces, acausal sets, Cauchy sets, domains of dependence and Cauchy horizons clause (b)).
Counterexample
(The two points.) The displacement has coordinates , so and : it is a future null vector. By [L1], its closed-cone membership gives , while it is not in the open cone , so the full reachability equivalence gives .
(Achronality.) Suppose ; then by [L1] , i.e. , a contradiction. In the other direction, would require , i.e. , also false. Hence the two distinct points are not chronologically related in either direction and the set is achronal by [L2].
(Conclusion.) By step 1.1 the distinct points satisfy , so is not acausal by [L2]. By step 2.1 the set is achronal. Hence an achronal set need not be acausal, which refutes the displayed statement.
Remarks
- Why the two notions differ. Achronality excludes only timelike relations, acausality also excludes null ones; the lightlike separation of two events is the elementary witness. Both notions are defined for arbitrary subsets; the two-point set is not a hypersurface, and no regularity is claimed for it.
- Use. The example shows that the implication "acausal implies achronal" of Spacelike hypersurfaces, acausal sets, Cauchy sets, domains of dependence and Cauchy horizons clause (b) cannot be reversed, so a proof that only establishes achronality does not establish acausality.
Depends on
The axiom of dependent choice: a relation in which every element is related to something admits an -indexed chain
The Axiom of Countable Choice ()
Spacelike hypersurfaces, acausal sets, Cauchy sets, domains of dependence and Cauchy horizons
Causal curves, chronological and causal reachability, and inextendibility
The flat model: Minkowski space R^4, its standard Lorentz form, inertial charts and cone sets
The causal cones of the flat model in inertial coordinates, and closure of the future cone under sums
Time orientation, future and past timelike/null/causal vectors, and the closed cones
Timelike, null, spacelike and causal vectors of a Lorentz vector space
The flat model is globally hyperbolic and its inertial level sets are Cauchy hypersurfaces
Dependency tree · 2 levels
Sources
- E. Minguzzi, Lorentzian causality theory, Living Reviews in Relativity 22 (2019), article 3: achronal sets (Definition 2.19 printed p. 34), acausal sets (Definition 2.95 printed p. 63) and the local theory of achronality, sections 2.14-2.15 printed pp. 59-66
- S. M. Carroll, Lecture Notes on General Relativity, arXiv:gr-qc/9712019v1 (1997): light cones and null-separated events, printed p. 7 (PDF p. 14)