Causal evolution of measures and continuity equation

Tomasz Miller (Jagiellonian University)

Mar 16. 2023, 11:00 — 11:45

Let M be a globally hyperbolic spacetime and T be a fixed Cauchy temporal function providing the notion of a global time. Consider a 'time-evolving probability measure', i.e. a one-parameter family of probability measures {μ_t} with each μ_t supported on its own Cauchy hypersurface T = t. There is a natural way of defining what it means for such an evolution to be causal, which employs the extension of the standard causal relation J+ onto the space P(M) of probability measures on M. Do there exist, however, some equivalent, manifestly covariant descriptions of causal time-evolution of measures, which do not require fixing the temporal function T in the first place? The answer is positive and I shall present two such alternative descriptions. The first one involves a probability measure on the space of causal curves endowed with a suitable topology. The second one employs a causal L2_loc-vector field, which is in a sense ‘tangent’ to the probability flow. The latter can be regarded as a 4-velocity field, with which μ_t satisfies the continuity equation in the distributional sense. The continuity equation thus rigorously encapsulates the causality of the time-evolution of measures. I will present how the three above descriptions are related with each other and discuss how they transform under the change of T. Finally, I will mention how the developed formalism extends to the setting of the N-particle causality theory.

 

 

Further Information
Venue:
ESI Boltzmann Lecture Hall
Recordings:
Recording
Associated Event:
Non-regular Spacetime Geometry (Workshop)
Organizer(s):
Piotr T. ChruĊ›ciel (U of Vienna)
Melanie Graf (U Hamburg)
Michael Kunzinger (U of Vienna)
Ettore Minguzzi (U Florence)
Roland Steinbauer (U of Vienna)