Horizon Data: Existence Results and a Near-Horizon Equation on General Null Hypersurfaces

TL;DR

This paper develops a formalism to analyze general null horizons in spacetimes, introducing new geometric notions and deriving a universal near-horizon equation applicable to various horizon types.

Contribution

It introduces the concepts of al-tuple and non-isolation tensor, and establishes conditions for embedding horizons with prescribed properties into spacetimes satisfying field equations.

Findings

Derived a generalized near-horizon equation valid for any horizon

Proved existence theorems for horizons with prescribed non-isolation tensors

Established conditions for embedding horizons into solutions of field equations

Abstract

In a spacetime $(\mathcal{M},g)$, a horizon is a null hypersurface where the deformation tensor $\mathcal{K}:=\pounds_{\eta}g$ of a null and tangent vector $\eta$ satisfies certain restrictions. In this work, we develop a formalism to study the geometry of \textit{general} horizons (i.e. characterized by any $\mathcal{K}$), based on encoding the zeroth and first transverse derivatives of $\mathcal{K}$ on null hypersurfaces detached from any ambient spacetime. We introduce the notions of \textit{$\mathcal{K}$-tuple} and \textit{non-isolation tensor}. The former encodes the order zero of $\mathcal{K}$, while the latter is a symmetric $2$-covariant tensor that codifies the ``degree of isolation" of a horizon. In particular, the non-isolation tensor vanishes for homothetic, Killing and isolated horizons. As an application we derive a \textit{generalized near-horizon equation}, i.e., an identity that holds on any horizon (regardless of its topology or whether it contains fixed points), which relates the non-isolation tensor, a certain torsion one-form, and curvature terms. By restricting this equation to a cross-section one can recover the near-horizon equation of isolated horizons and the master equation of multiple Killing horizons. Our formalism allows us to prove two existence theorems for horizons. Specifically, we establish the necessary and sufficient conditions for a non-degenerate totally geodesic horizon with any prescribed non-isolation tensor to be embeddable in a spacetime satisfying any (non-necessarily $\Lambda$-vacuum) field equations. We treat first the case of arbitrary topology, and then show how the result can be strengthened when the horizon admits a cross-section.