TY - GEN
T1 - A framework for the discussion of singularities in General Relativity
AU - Whale, Benjamin E.
AU - Scott, Susan M.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - The occurrence and nature of singularities in General Relativity remains arguably the most important outstanding problem in the field. This is in direct contrast to most other areas of physics where singularities are merely mathematical peculiarities. We examine why singularities in General Relativity are different-they have a complex and subtle nature and are notoriously difficult to investigate due to the lack of a suitable framework. We consider the effectiveness of various attempts since the '60s to devise such a framework or "boundary construction" for the study of space-time singularities. Finally, we discuss the most recent such boundary construction, the a-boundary; the most objective, flexible and ultimately the most practical of all these constructions. The o-boundary has recently been recast in terms of "distances" rather than its original topological description, rendering it accessible to a much broader range of researchers.
AB - The occurrence and nature of singularities in General Relativity remains arguably the most important outstanding problem in the field. This is in direct contrast to most other areas of physics where singularities are merely mathematical peculiarities. We examine why singularities in General Relativity are different-they have a complex and subtle nature and are notoriously difficult to investigate due to the lack of a suitable framework. We consider the effectiveness of various attempts since the '60s to devise such a framework or "boundary construction" for the study of space-time singularities. Finally, we discuss the most recent such boundary construction, the a-boundary; the most objective, flexible and ultimately the most practical of all these constructions. The o-boundary has recently been recast in terms of "distances" rather than its original topological description, rendering it accessible to a much broader range of researchers.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84893012494&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1142/9789812834300_0337
DO - 10.1142/9789812834300_0337
M3 - Conference contribution
SN - 9812834265
SN - 9789812834263
T3 - 11th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation and Relativistic Field Theories - Proc. of the MG11 Meeting on General Relativity
SP - 2119
EP - 2121
BT - 11th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation and Relativistic Field Theories - Proc. of the MG11 Meeting on General Relativity
PB - World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte Ltd
T2 - 11th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation and Relativistic Field Theories, MG 2006
Y2 - 23 July 2006 through 29 July 2006
ER -