Princeton University Gravity Initiative Seminar

On the uniqueness of Kerr-de Sitter

Abstract: The uniqueness of the Kerr-de Sitter family of  black hole spacetimes as stationary solutions to the Einstein vacuum equations is a crucial ingredient to understanding the final states of positive cosmological constant universes, such as our physical universe. In the asymptotically flat case, Kerr was shown to be the unique analytic stationary solution to the Einstein vacuum equations via a combination of results by Hawking, Carter, and Robinson. Outside of analyticity, Alexakis, Ionescu, and Klainerman showed several conditional C^\infty rigidity results for Kerr. In this talk, I will discuss some recent work in the spirit of Alexakis, Ionescu, and Klainerman showing the uniqueness of the stationary region of Kerr-de Sitter within the smooth class of stationary solutions to the Einstein vacuum equations with a positive cosmological constant. 

Date & Time

March 30, 2026 | 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Add to calendar 03/30/2026 12:30 03/30/2026 13:30 Princeton University Gravity Initiative Seminar use-title Topic: On the uniqueness of Kerr-de Sitter Speakers: Allen Fang, University of Muenster More: https://www.ias.edu/sns/events/princeton-university-gravity-initiative-seminar-14 ABSTRACT: The uniqueness of the Kerr-de Sitter family of  black hole spacetimes as stationary solutions to the Einstein vacuum equations is a crucial ingredient to understanding the final states of positive cosmological constant universes, such as our physical universe. In the asymptotically flat case, Kerr was shown to be the unique analytic stationary solution to the Einstein vacuum equations via a combination of results by Hawking, Carter, and Robinson. Outside of analyticity, Alexakis, Ionescu, and Klainerman showed several conditional C^\infty rigidity results for Kerr. In this talk, I will discuss some recent work in the spirit of Alexakis, Ionescu, and Klainerman showing the uniqueness of the stationary region of Kerr-de Sitter within the smooth class of stationary solutions to the Einstein vacuum equations with a positive cosmological constant.  Jadwin Hall, Princeton Gravity Initiative, 4th Floor a7a99c3d46944b65a08073518d638c23

Location

Jadwin Hall, Princeton Gravity Initiative, 4th Floor

Speakers

Allen Fang, University of Muenster