General Relativistic Thin-Sandwich Theorem

Abstract

The configuration variables for the gravitational fieldgmn are assigned arbitrarily on two infinitesimally neighboring spacelike hypersurfaces. We then investigate the extent to which a solution of the vacuum Einstein field equations can be found consistent with the given assignment. A local approach, employing Dirac's Hamiltonian formalism, reveals that solutions can be found locally which are nonunique and highly unstable.