Semi-global constructions of spacetimes containing curvature singularities

Abstract

We construct semi-global $(1+3)$-dimensional Lorentzian spacetimes satisfying the Einstein vacuum equations that contain curvature singularities that are propagated all the way up to future null infinity. Special cases of our constructions are semi-global spacetimes containing the interaction of two impulsive gravitational waves. The spacetimes that we construct can be considered as the semi-global analogues of the local spacetimes containing weak null singularities constructed by Luk, and of the local spacetimes containing the interaction of impulsive gravitational waves constructed by Luk and Rodnianski.