What is a singularity in general relativity?

✍ Scribed by Robert Geroch

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1968
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 763 KB
• Volume: 48
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-4916
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-4916(68)90144-9

✦ Synopsis

The general covariance of relativity theory creates serious dit%cuIties in formulating a suitable definition of a singularity in this theory. We review and, by means of an example, add to these difficulties. We examine the arguments which lead from one's intuitive picture of a singularity as "some quantity's becoming infinite" to the notion of geodesic completeness. Even within the framework of geodesic completeness there is still a great variety of definitions to choose from. It is claimed that none of these definitions is entirely satisfactorv.