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This paper is a tribute to Robert Bartnik and his work and conjectures on quasi-local mass. We present a framework in which to clearly analyse Bartnik's static vacuum extension conjecture. While we prove that this conjecture is not true in general, it remains a fundamental open problem to understand the realm of its validity., Comment: 32 pages

We discuss relations between the initial boundary value problem (IBVP) and quasi-local Hamiltonians in GR. The latter have traditionally been based on Dirichlet boundary conditions, which however are shown here to be ill-posed for the IBVP. We present and analyse several other choices of boundary conditions which are better behaved with respect to the IBVP and carry out a corresponding Hamiltonian analysis, using the framework of the covariant phase space method., Comment: 22 pages

We formulate an initial boundary value problem (IBVP) for the vacuum Einstein equations by describing the boundary conditions of a spacetime metric in its associated gauge. This gauge is determined, equivariantly with respect to diffeomorphisms, by the spacetime metric. The vacuum spacetime metric $g$ and its associated gauge $\phi_g$ are solved simultaneously in local harmonic coordinates. Further we show that vacuum spacetimes satisfying fixed initial-boundary conditions and corner conditions are geometrically unique near the initial surface. Finally, in analogy to the solution of the Cauchy problem, we also construct a unique maximal globally hyperbolic solution of the IBVP., Comment: 48 pages; The Introduction has been rewritten to clarify the exposition and results, more detailed discussion of the corner geometry is added, and minor mistakes in the previous manuscript have been corrected

This paper surveys recent progress on issues related to the Bartnik quasi-local mass $m_B$. In addition, we formulate a number of new problems and conjectures regarding foundational properties of the mass $m_B$. This work is dedicated with pleasure to Robert Bartnik in honor of his 60th birthday., Comment: 14 pages

In this work, we use the global analysis and degree-theoretic methods introduced by Smale to study the existence and multiplicity of solutions of the vacuum Einstein constraint equations given by the conformal method of Lichnerowicz-Choquet-Bruhat-York. In particular this approach gives a new proof of the existence result of Maxwell and Holst-Nagy-Tsogtgerel. We also relate the method to the limit equation of Dahl-Gicquaud-Humbert and the non-existence result of Nguyen., Comment: Final version, 31 pages, To appear in ATMP

Given a Riemannian 3-ball $(\bar B, g)$ of non-negative scalar curvature, Bartnik conjectured that $(\bar B, g)$ admits an asymptotically flat (AF) extension (without horizons) of the least possible ADM mass, and that such a mass-minimizer is an AF solution to the static vacuum Einstein equations, uniquely determined by natural geometric conditions on the boundary data of $(\bar B, g)$. We prove the validity of the second statement, i.e.~such mass-minimizers, if they exist, are indeed AF solutions of the static vacuum equations. On the other hand, we prove that the first statement is not true in general; there is a rather large class of bodies $(\bar B, g)$ for which a minimal mass extension does not exist., Comment: 38 pages, 4 figures

We prove that given any smooth metric $\gamma$ and smooth positive function $H$ on $S^{2}$, there is a constant $\lambda > 0$, depending on $(\gamma, H)$, and an asymptotically flat solution $(M, g, u)$ of the static vacuum Einstein equations on $M = {\mathbb R}^{3} \setminus B^{3}$, such that the induced metric and mean curvature of $(M, g, u)$ at $\partial M$ are given by $(\gamma, \lambda H)$. This gives a partial resolution of a conjecture of Bartnik., Comment: Substantial simplification of proof of main theorem. To appear in Class. Quantum Gravity

We study solutions to the static vacuum Einstein equations on exterior domains with prescribed metric and mean curvature on the inner boundary. It is proved that for any such boundary data near the standard round boundary data in Euclidean space, there exists a unique AF solution to the static vacuum equations realizing the boundary data, which is close to the standard flat solution., Comment: 5 pages

We study the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the static vacuum Einstein equations in bounded domains, satisfying the Bartnik boundary conditions of prescribed metric and mean curvature on the boundary., Comment: 30pp

We analyse the definition of quasi-local energy in GR based on a Hamiltonian analysis of the Einstein-Hilbert action initiated by Brown-York. The role of the constraint equations, in particular the Hamiltonian constraint on the timelike boundary, neglected in previous studies, is emphasized here. We argue that a consistent definition of quasi-local energy in GR requires, at a minimum, a framework based on the (currently unknown) geometric well-posedness of the initial boundary value problem for the Einstein equations., Comment: 9 pages

We analyse the issue of uniqueness of solutions of the static vacuum Einstein equations with prescribed geometric or Bartnik boundary data. Large classes of examples are constructed where uniqueness fails. We then discuss the implications of this behavior for the Bartnik quasi-local mass. A variational characterization of Bartnik boundary data is also given., Comment: This article is withdrawn, and part of its content has been absorbed into the new version of arXiv:0909.4550

We develop a framework for understanding the existence of asymptotically flat solutions to the static vacuum Einstein equations with prescribed boundary data consisting of the induced metric and mean curvature on a 2-sphere. A partial existence result is obtained, giving a partial resolution of a conjecture of Bartnik on such static vacuum extensions. The existence and uniqueness of such extensions is closely related to Bartnik's definition of quasi-local mass., Comment: 33 pages, 1 figure. Minor revision of v2. Final version, to appear in Class. Quantum Gravity

We study global aspects of complete, non-singular asymptotically locally AdS spacetimes solving the vacuum Einstein equations whose conformal infinity is an arbitrary globally stationary spacetime. It is proved that any such solution which is asymptotically stationary to the past and future is itself globally stationary. This gives certain rigidity or uniqueness results for exact AdS and related spacetimes., Comment: 18pp, significant revision of v1

We show that a set of conformally invariant equations derived from the Fefferman-Graham tensor can be used to construct global solutions of the vacuum Einstein equations, in all even dimensions. This gives, in particular, a new, simple proof of Friedrich's result on the future hyperboloidal stability of Minkowski space-time, and extends its validity to even dimensions., Comment: 25pp

A new proof of Friedrich's theorem on the existence and stability of asymptotically de Sitter spaces in 3+1 dimensions is given, which extends to all even dimensions. In addition, we characterize the possible limits of spaces which are globally asymptotically de Sitter, to the past and future., Comment: 15pp

We discuss several aspects of the relation between asymptotically AdS and asymptotically dS spacetimes including: the continuation between these types of spaces, the global stability of asymptotically dS spaces and the structure of limits within this class, holographic renormalization, and the maximal mass conjecture of Balasubramanian-deBoer-Minic., Comment: 22pp, minor changes, references added

We discuss classical gravitational aspects of the AdS/CFT correspondence, with the aim of obtaining a rigorous (mathematical) understanding of the semi-classical limit of the gravitational partition function. The paper surveys recent progress in the area, together with a selection of new results and open problems., Comment: 23pp, for Proceedings of the Strasbourg meeting on AdS/CFT, Sept. 03 v.2: references added, and minor changes made, especially to last section

This work discusses the apriori possible asymptotic behavior to the future, for (vacuum) space-times which are geodesically complete to the future and which admit a foliation by compact constant mean curvature Cauchy surfaces., Comment: 16pp, to appear in the Classical and Quantum Gravity issue in Honor of Vince Moncrief. Updated, changes made to Prop. 4.5

We prove that many features of Thurston's Dehn surgery theory for hyperbolic 3-manifolds generalize to Einstein metrics in any dimension. In particular, this gives large, infinite families of new Einstein metrics on compact manifolds., Comment: 29pp. Original result (from v1) restored

Let (M, g) be an (n+1) dimensional space-time, with bounded curvature with respect to a bounded framing. If (M, g) is vacuum or satisfies a mild condition on the stress-energy tensor, then we show that (M, g) locally admits coordinate systems in which the Lorentz metric is well-controlled in the (space-time) Sobolev space L^{2,p}, for any finite p., Comment: 18pp

This paper surveys aspects of the convergence and degeneration of Riemannian metrics on a given manifold M - the Cheeger-Gromov theory - and extensions thereof to Ricci curvature in place of full curvature. This theory is then applied to study a collection of different issues in mathematical aapects of General Relativity., Comment: 23pp, for Proc. 2002 Cargese School on General Relativity

A large class of vacuum space-times is constructed in dimension 4+1 from hyperboloidal initial data sets which are not small perturbations of empty space data. These space-times are future geodesically complete, smooth up to their future null infinity, and extend as vacuum space-times through their Cauchy horizon. Dimensional reduction gives non-vacuum space-times with the same properties in 3+1 dimensions., Comment: 10pp, exposition improved; final version

We describe some relations between the long-time asymptotic behavior of the vacuum Einstein evolution equations and the geometrization of 3-manifolds. These relations are expressed in terms of evolution of CMC hypersurfaces in the vacuum space-time.Some results are also obtained on the singularity avoidance of CMC foliations. In addition, the paper describes a number of open problems relating these two areas., Comment: 36pp

It is proved that the only geodesically complete stationary vacuum solution of the Einstein equations is the empty Minkowski space, or a quotient of it by a discrete group of isometries, generalizing a classical result of Lichnerowicz. In addition, we obtain an apriori bound on the curvature of stationary vacuum solutions away from the boundary or horizon., Comment: 14 pages, Final version, to appear in Annales Henri Poincare

A complete characterization is obtained of the asymptotic behavior of solutions of the static vacuum Einstein equations which have a (pseudo)-compact horizon or boundary and are complete away from the boundary. It is proved that the time-symmetric space-like hypersurface has only finitely many ends, each of which is either asymptotically flat (AF) or parabolic, as in the (static) Kasner metric. Examples are given with both types of behavior, together with an extensive discussion and new characterization of Weyl metrics. The asymptotics result allows one in most circumstances to drop the AF assumption from the static black hole uniqueness theorems and replace it with just a completeness assumption., Comment: 34 pages, Final version - contains corrections and improvements to initial version. Annales Henri Poincare, (to appear)