Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We identify a boundary-geometry-driven mechanism for the dynamical formation of marginally outer trapped surfaces (MOTSs) in vacuum general relativity. Mild three-dimensional anisotropies evolve inside a compact Cauchy domain whose effective isotropic thickness remains controlled, while the generalized boundary mean curvature can increase during either contracting or expanding boundary evolution. This drives the boundary across Yau's geometric threshold, forcing MOTS formation from initially untrapped data. We further interpret the characteristic shear construction of Ref.~\cite{MondalYau2026} as the null manifestation of the same anisotropic vacuum dynamics. The result provides a purely vacuum physical realization of MOTS formation through global geometric effects, without invoking a short-pulse concentration mechanism for gravitational radiation.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Dey, Dipanjan, Mondal, Puskar, Yau, Shing-Tung
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7207582030