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Regularity at space-like and null infinity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

Lionel J. Mason
Affiliation:
Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, 24–29 St Giles', Oxford OX1 3LB, UK (lmason@maths.ox.ac.uk)
Jean-Philippe Nicolas
Affiliation:
M.A.B., Institut de Mathématiques de Bordeaux, Université Bordeaux 1, 351 cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence cedex, France (jean-philippe.nicolas@math.u-bordeaux1.fr)

Abstract

We extend Penrose's peeling model for the asymptotic behaviour of solutions to the scalar wave equation at null infinity on asymptotically flat backgrounds, which is well understood for flat space-time, to Schwarzschild and the asymptotically simple space-times of Corvino–Schoen/Chrusciel–Delay. We combine conformal techniques and vector field methods: a naive adaptation of the ‘Morawetz vector field’ to a conformal rescaling of the Schwarzschild metric yields a complete scattering theory on Corvino–Schoen/Chrusciel–Delay space-times. A good classification of solutions that peel arises from the use of a null vector field that is transverse to null infinity to raise the regularity in the estimates. We obtain a new characterization of solutions admitting a peeling at a given order that is valid for both Schwarzschild and Minkowski space-times. On flat space-time, this allows larger classes of solutions than the characterizations used since Penrose's work. Our results establish the validity of the peeling model at all orders for the scalar wave equation on the Schwarzschild metric and on the corresponding Corvino–Schoen/Chrusciel–Delay space-times.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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