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Positive mass theorems for black holes

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Abstract

We extend Witten's proof of the positive mass theorem at spacelike infinity to show that the mass is positive for initial data on an asymptotically flat spatial hypersurface Σ which is regular outside an apparent horizonH. In addition, we prove that if a black hole has electromagnetic charge, then the mass is greater than the modulus of the charge. These results are also valid for the Bondi mass at null infinity. Finally, in the case of the Einstein equation with a negative cosmological constant, we show that a suitably defined mass is positive for data on an asymptotically anti-de Sitter surface Σ which is regular outside an apparent horizon.

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Communicated by A. Jaffe

Albert Einstein Fellow

Supported by National Science Foundation Grant PHY 80-19754

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Gibbons, G.W., Hawking, S.W., Horowitz, G.T. et al. Positive mass theorems for black holes. Commun.Math. Phys. 88, 295–308 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01213209

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01213209

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