Global minimality of controlled-rail brachistochrones in conformal Kerr and Vaidya spacetimes

A controlled-rail brachistochrone is the fastest trajectory that keeps a prescribed energy relative to a selector field. We study global minimality in conformal Kerr (Thakurta--Kerr) spacetimes with a time-dependent factor and in ingoing Vaidya, for arrival and proper time. On the arrival branch the rails are the null curves of an auxiliary Lorentzian metric, so first arrival is a Fermat problem: where this metric is globally hyperbolic, minimality among all three-dimensional competitors holds exactly up to the null cut point. For conformal Schwarzschild with $\hat{E}^2/A^2\ge 3/2$, for any factor, the first event at swept angle $\pi$, if reached, is the null cut point; below $3/2$ this holds within an explicit radius, and the threshold is sharp. The rule extends to Vaidya with non-decreasing mass, below $3/2$ under radius and accretion-rate bounds. For conformal Kerr we prove a three-dimensional excursion barrier, a small-spin result, and equatorial results at every spin for constant data and in certified bands otherwise. On the proper-time branch the infimum can fail to be attained through escape toward $r=2M$, or toward the return frontier in Vaidya. We compute the escape price, select constant-data minimizers by a convex-envelope rule, and prove selection near constant data. Under explicit gap conditions, a late drop of the factor destroys attainment, late accretion preserves the minimizer, and early accretion beyond the critical separation prevents it. Computer-assisted steps are explicit inequalities certified in exact or interval arithmetic.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-11-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24053693
Primary Topic
Relativity and Gravitational Theory
Type
preprint
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
preprint

Global minimality of controlled-rail brachistochrones in conformal Kerr and Vaidya spacetimes

Iman Rosignoli
3 links
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Relativity and Gravitational Theory
preprint

Global minimality of controlled-rail brachistochrones in conformal Kerr and Vaidya spacetimes

Iman Rosignoli
preprint en

Abstract

A controlled-rail brachistochrone is the fastest trajectory that keeps a prescribed energy relative to a selector field. We study global minimality in conformal Kerr (Thakurta--Kerr) spacetimes with a time-dependent factor and in ingoing Vaidya, for arrival and proper time. On the arrival branch the rails are the null curves of an auxiliary Lorentzian metric, so first arrival is a Fermat problem: where this metric is globally hyperbolic, minimality among all three-dimensional competitors holds exactly up to the null cut point. For conformal Schwarzschild with $\hat{E}^2/A^2\ge 3/2$, for any factor, the first event at swept angle $\pi$, if reached, is the null cut point; below $3/2$ this holds within an explicit radius, and the threshold is sharp. The rule extends to Vaidya with non-decreasing mass, below $3/2$ under radius and accretion-rate bounds. For conformal Kerr we prove a three-dimensional excursion barrier, a small-spin result, and equatorial results at every spin for constant data and in certified bands otherwise. On the proper-time branch the infimum can fail to be attained through escape toward $r=2M$, or toward the return frontier in Vaidya. We compute the escape price, select constant-data minimizers by a convex-envelope rule, and prove selection near constant data. Under explicit gap conditions, a late drop of the factor destroys attainment, late accretion preserves the minimizer, and early accretion beyond the critical separation prevents it. Computer-assisted steps are explicit inequalities certified in exact or interval arithmetic.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
University of Pavia (IT)
Relativity and Gravitational Theory
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon