Numerical investigation of the generalized Jang equation coupled to conformal flow of metrics

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Williams, Hollis
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Williams, Hollis
author_facet Williams, Hollis
contents A recent result of Jaracz has established nonexistence of global solutions to the coupled generalized Jang equation and zero divergence system which satisfy the asymptotic conditions needed to prove the Penrose conjecture by identifying a breakdown mechanism for the Jang slope at finite radius. In this work, we investigate whether a similar obstruction arises when the generalized Jang equation is instead coupled to the conformal flow of metrics. Restricting to spherical symmetry and time-symmetric initial data, we formulate a numerically tractable version of the Jang/conformal flow system. Our numerical results show no evidence of a finite radius breakdown analogous to that observed by Jaracz. Instead, the Jang slope remains regular and approaches its limiting value asymptotically. This behavior persists under controlled perturbations of the warping factor, indicating robustness of the observed phenomenon. These findings suggest that coupling to conformal flow of metrics alters the obstruction mechanism present in the Jang/zero divergence system, and hence that this system may still be viable for proving the Penrose conjecture.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_15359
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Numerical investigation of the generalized Jang equation coupled to conformal flow of metrics
Williams, Hollis
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
A recent result of Jaracz has established nonexistence of global solutions to the coupled generalized Jang equation and zero divergence system which satisfy the asymptotic conditions needed to prove the Penrose conjecture by identifying a breakdown mechanism for the Jang slope at finite radius. In this work, we investigate whether a similar obstruction arises when the generalized Jang equation is instead coupled to the conformal flow of metrics. Restricting to spherical symmetry and time-symmetric initial data, we formulate a numerically tractable version of the Jang/conformal flow system. Our numerical results show no evidence of a finite radius breakdown analogous to that observed by Jaracz. Instead, the Jang slope remains regular and approaches its limiting value asymptotically. This behavior persists under controlled perturbations of the warping factor, indicating robustness of the observed phenomenon. These findings suggest that coupling to conformal flow of metrics alters the obstruction mechanism present in the Jang/zero divergence system, and hence that this system may still be viable for proving the Penrose conjecture.
title Numerical investigation of the generalized Jang equation coupled to conformal flow of metrics
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.15359