Proper time and length in Schwarzschild geometry

Abstract

We study proper time ($\tau$) intervals for observers at rest in the universe ($U$) and anti-universe ($\bar{U}$) sectors of the Kruskal-Schwarzschild eternal spacetime of mass $M$, and proper lengths ($\rho$) in the black hole (BH) and white hole (WH) sectors. The fact that in asymptotically flat regions, coordinate time $t$ at infinity is proper time, leads to a past directed Kruskal time $T$ in $\bar{U}$. In the BH and WH sectors maximal proper lengths coincide with maximal proper time intervals, $\pi M$, in these regions, i.e. with the proper time of radial free falling (ejection) to (from) the singularity starting (ending) from (at) rest at the horizon.

5 pages, 1 figure