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A compact chronological target supplies a causal endpoint
Statement
Let be globally hyperbolic in the causal-exterior interface, and let be a compact spacelike two-surface in the null-screen interface. Let be a temporal function and suppose with . Then some satisfies and , whereas . No acausality of is assumed.
Facts & Assumptions
Work in ZFC; the axiom of choice includes the countable and dependent choice assumptions of the causal suppliers. The Axiom of Choice
All chronological and causal relations, boundaries, temporal functions and global hyperbolicity are relative to . Causal exterior, chronological boundaries and Cauchy data
A spacelike two-surface is a nonempty smooth embedded two-manifold without boundary with positive-definite induced metric. Null expansions, screen quotients and focal data
In a globally hyperbolic spacetime, is closed for compact . In a globally hyperbolic manifold the causal relation is closed and truncated causal cones over compact sets are compact
The chronological past of each point is open. Openness of the chronological future and past, openness of the chronological relation, and closure of future and past sets
Arbitrary unions of open sets are open, by topology axiom (T2). Topology on a set, open and closed sets, clopen sets, the closed-set axiomatisation, and the coarser/finer comparison
A continuous real-valued function on a nonempty compact space attains its minimum, by the extreme-value clause (2). The restriction of a continuous function to a subspace is continuous. A continuous image of a compact space is compact; a continuous real-valued map on a nonempty compact space attains a maximum and a minimum; and a continuous bijection from a compact space to a Hausdorff space is a homeomorphism
Proof
Given: The data and hypotheses in the Statement.
Goal: Establish the asserted conclusion.
The set is open by [F4] and [F5], so its boundary is disjoint from it. Every point of that set lies in ; its closure also lies there by [F3]. Thus .
The temporal function is continuous by [F1], so is continuous by [F6]. The space is nonempty by [F2] and compact by hypothesis; clause (2) of [F6] therefore makes well defined. By the definition of there is a with . If , minimality would give , contrary to the strict temporal inequality. Thus and . Together with step 1.1 this proves the assertion without any condition on causal relations among different points of .
Depends on
- Causal exterior, chronological boundaries and Cauchy data
- Null expansions, screen quotients and focal data
- In a globally hyperbolic manifold the causal relation is closed and truncated causal cones over compact sets are compact
- Openness of the chronological future and past, openness of the chronological relation, and closure of future and past sets
- The Axiom of Choice
- A continuous image of a compact space is compact; a continuous real-valued map on a nonempty compact space attains a maximum and a minimum; and a continuous bijection from a compact space to a Hausdorff space is a homeomorphism
- Topology on a set, open and closed sets, clopen sets, the closed-set axiomatisation, and the coarser/finer comparison
Used by · 5
- Compact-target null generators and the required endpoint conditions
- A compact-target boundary point has a null geodesic segment
- The entire target segment stays on the chronological boundary
- Endpoint orthogonality without an acausal target assumption
- Boundary membership excludes interior focal points from the target
Dependency tree · 2 levels
Each result is drawn at its shortest distance from this item. Arrows run from prerequisites to the items that use them; this item has a heavier outline. External source nodes link directly to the cited text. The view shows up to two dependency steps; open a prerequisite to continue.