The aim of this work is to provide a proof of the nonlinear gravitational stability of the Minkowski space-time. More precisely, the book offers a constructive proof of global, smooth solutions to the Einstein Vacuum Equations, which look, in the large, like the Minkowski space-time. In particular, these solutions are free of black holes and singularities. The work contains a detailed description of the sense in which these solutions are close to the Minkowski space-time, in all directions. It thus provides the mathematical framework in which we can give a rigorous derivation of the laws of gravitation proposed by Bondi. Moreover, it establishes other important conclusions concerning the nonlinear character of gravitational radiation. The authors obtain their solutions as dynamic developments of all initial data sets, which are close, in a precise manner, to the flat initial data set corresponding to the Minkowski space-time. They thus establish the global dynamic stability of the latter. Originally published in 1994. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

This book introduces new methods in the theory of partial differential equations derivable from a Lagrangian. These methods constitute, in part, an extension to partial differential equations of the methods of symplectic geometry and Hamilton-Jacobi theory for Lagrangian systems of ordinary differential equations. A distinguishing characteristic of this approach is that one considers, at once, entire families of solutions of the Euler-Lagrange equations, rather than restricting attention to single solutions at a time. The second part of the book develops a general theory of integral identities, the theory of "compatible currents," which extends the work of E. Noether. Finally, the third part introduces a new general definition of hyperbolicity, based on a quadratic form associated with the Lagrangian, which overcomes the obstacles arising from singularities of the characteristic variety that were encountered in previous approaches. On the basis of the new definition, the domain-of-dependence theorem and stability properties of solutions are derived. Applications to continuum mechanics are discussed throughout the book. The last chapter is devoted to the electrodynamics of nonlinear continuous media.

The aim of this work is to provide a proof of the nonlinear gravitational stability of the Minkowski space-time. More precisely, the book offers a constructive proof of global, smooth solutions to the Einstein Vacuum Equations, which look, in the large, like the Minkowski space-time. In particular, these solutions are free of black holes and singularities. The work contains a detailed description of the sense in which these solutions are close to the Minkowski space-time, in all directions. It thus provides the mathematical framework in which we can give a rigorous derivation of the laws of gravitation proposed by Bondi. Moreover, it establishes other important conclusions concerning the nonlinear character of gravitational radiation. The authors obtain their solutions as dynamic developments of all initial data sets, which are close, in a precise manner, to the flat initial data set corresponding to the Minkowski space-time. They thus establish the global dynamic stability of the latter.

Originally published in 1994.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.