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Published August 1996 | public
Journal Article

Covariant double-null dynamics: (2+2)-splitting of the Einstein equations

Abstract

We develop a (2 + 2)-imbedding formalism adapted to a double foliation of spacetime by a net of two intersecting families of lightlike hypersurfaces. The intersections define a set of 2-spaces with hypersurface-orthogonal lightlike normals. The formalism is two-dimensionally covariant, and leads to simple, geometrically transparent and tractable expressions for the Einstein field equations and the Einstein - Hilbert action, and it should find a variety of applications. It is applied here to elucidate the structure of the characteristic initial-value problem of general relativity.

Additional Information

© 1996 IOP Publishing Ltd. Received 31 October 1995, in final form 29 April 1996. PRB is grateful to Werner Israel for his kind hospitality during visits to the University of Alberta. This work was supported by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and by NSERC of Canada. PRB was also supported by EPSRC of Great Britain.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 24, 2023