GR-Signal-Boundaries

Analysis Of Signal Boundaries

Fernando Alonso Vendrell

v0.2

1. Abstract

Using General Relativity, this paper discusses different regions of space-time based on wether a signal on these regions can or can not be received by an Observer. This analysis is observer dependent, from individual Obsevers it will be derived comonalities for different Observers that share some characteristics of their worldlines.

This paper follows exclusivelly standard General Relativity equations under some simple scenarios, these scenarios are built as spherically simetric and presented graphically to identify the different regions of spacetime of interest. This paper does not derive any physical consequences from the analysis of these regions.

2. Introduction and Definitions

Whether a signal emmited from an Event in spacetime with coordinates (t_sub_event,r_sub_event,theta_sub_event, phi_sub_event) is detected or not by an Observer according to General Relativity is something that can be calculated. This fact is independent of the coordinates system, driving different conclusions in different coordinates systems should be due to limitations on the coordinates systems used.

Definitions:

Blip frontline at any time t can be considered continuous, changes in a smooth manner with time and can be divided into small orientable sectors defining a close volume on top and a close volume at the bottom. This and the exceptions is detailed in ANNEX A.

Note: There are several references to “close enough” (spacially or in time) or “close directions”, which imply that, in general, care have to be taken when picking the Blip frontline sectors. For the purpose of this paper additional conditions will be used to ease confirmation that a Blip has been detected by an Observer, so detection can be determined graphically.

If an Event Blip is received by the observer in a finite well-defined observer proper time then the Event is said to be Ahead the Signal Boundary. If it is known that a Blip will not be received because the Observer worldline and the Blip rays wordlines do not cross then it is said to be Behind the Signal Boundary.

Fig 1. Signal Boundary Representation

In Fig 1.a and Fig 1.b For a given space-like, time-like or any continuous spacetime slice, Signal Boundaries will be represented as a double red line, one solid and one dashed, to indicate from the Observer perspective the Events Behind (solid line side) and the Events ahead (dashed line side) of the Signal Boundary. This representation, mimicing the road traffic signals, also shows that, from the Observer perspective, signals emitted from the Observer could be potentially detected in Events Behid the Signal Boundary, but no signal from Events Behind will be ever detected by the Observer. Fig 1.a and Fig 1.b show the same scenario with the same Singal Boundary with different precissions as more detectable or non detectable Event regions are identified.

Signal Boundary is a way to divide the complete set of Events in spacetime for a particular Observer, this division might not exist (in this case all Events are Ahead the Signal Boundary, or more accuratelly there is no Signal Boundary), or there might be one or more spacetime regions that are behind a Signal Boundary. This definition of the Signal Boundary is independent of the global coordinates chosen.

An infinite precission Signal Boundary can be compared with Event Horizons (global property of spacetime) or Apparent Horizon (trapped null surface) as they might represent the same hypersurfaces for certain Observers but in general that is not the case as the Signal Boundary depends on the whole Observer worldline.

To do the analysis on wether an Event is Ahead or Behind this Signal Boundary one must be careful as a particular set of coordinates might not represent all the Events of interest (Events within an Observer wordline, rays worldline of an Event Blip).

If, in one particular set of coordinates, a Blip is received by the observer in a well defined proper time, then it is known for sure the Event originating the Blip is Ahead the Signal Boundary.

If one Blip is not received in finite proper time by the observer in one particular chosen global coordinates, it can be due to the choosen Coordinates (Coordinates singularity or Coordinates not mapping the full set of Events of interest), due to particular Observer worldline or due to Physical singularity (General Relativity singularity). In the first case (e.g. due to Coordinates singularity) it can be might miss-identified some events as being behind the Signal Boundary, this can be solved by using alternative coordinates or more Coordintates with full continuity for the Observer and Blip rays worldlines.

In this paper all implied constants (G, c) will be set to 1. Signal Boundary analysis will focus on existence, topology and evolution with global coordinate time.

3. Flat Space

First it will be analyzed 2 scenarios in flat space, the first one in which the Observer proper acceleration is zero, and a second one in which the Observer proper acceleration is constant

3.1. Observer proper acceleration is zero

This is the simplest scenario, in flat Minkowski empty space any Blip generated at any Event will be perceived by any Observer with proper acceleration zero, this can be depicted in the following conformal diagram.

Fig 2. Conformal Diagram no signal boundary

In Fig 2. In dark green the Observer worldline in which it has been selected an Event of it as being the zero (0) of its proper time. A Blip is generated at Event A and the signal is detected by the Observer at Event B (before the Event marked as zero).

3.2. Observer proper acceleration is constant forever

In this scenario there are certain Event Blips that are detected by the Observer while there are other that are not, therefore a Signal Boundary is identified.

Fig 3. Conformal Diagram constant proper acceleration

In Fig 3. In dark green the Observer worldline in which it has been selected an Event of it as being the zero (0) also defined as the Event from which the Observer starts accelerating with constant proper acceleration getting closer and closer to the speed of light from the perspective of a non accelerating Observer. Blip originated on Event A is detected by the Observer at Event B (in this case after the Event marked as zero). Blip originated from Event C is never detected by this Observer. In red it is represented the Signal Boundary.

It is worth comparing this Signal Boundary with the Rindler Horizon [1][2]. In this particular case the Signal Boundary is the Rindler Horizon.

4. Observer on the surface of a large static spherical mass without Physical singularity

In this case although the Observer experiences a constant proper acceleration it is kept on the same position of the surface of a large non rotating spherical mass. In this scenario it could be thought that there is a Signal Boundary similar to the one in scenario 2 but if by attending to the Signal Boundary definition it can be seen that is false, there is no Signal Boundary.

Observer wordline in this case has a constat r=R, theta and phi values and the Events to analyze will have coordinates t,r_sub_event, theta_sub_event and phi_sub_event. A slice is chosen at intervals of constant time t and due to the sperical coordinates it can be defined a 2 dimentional plane determined by the following three spacial points: The center of the Mass, the Observer and the Event spacial coordinates.

For every t the Blip frontline can be plotted and it can be determined wether that frontline reaches to the Observer, in that case the Event will be considered to be detectable by the Observer in a finite proper time.

The metric in this scenario can be splitted into 2 metrics, both spherically simetric with center in the large mass center. Events where r>R Schwarzschild metric can be applied depending on the large mass and pressure contributions, Events where r<R the metric will depend on the mass and pressure distribution within the large mass which can become complex to calculate. in this case it has been set, by definition, that there is no singularity within the large mass (that scenario will be explored later).

Since there is no singularity in this scenario and the Blip frontline is a continuous 2D surface that expands from its originaing Event until the enclosed volume comprises the whole scenario (Mass, Observer and Blip Event spacial location), that means that at a certain t1 Observer is at top of certain sector of the Blip frontline, while at another t2 the Observer is at botton of that sector. The particular wordline that crosses the Observer wordline could be found, but that is outside the scope of this paper. Detection by the Observer is independent of the spacial location of the Event originating the Blip (inside the Mass or outside the mass). In this scenario there is no Signal Boundary for this Observer.

5. Non Rotating Blackholes

An scenario with a non rotating blackhole is the simplest one in which there is a physical singularity according to General Relativity, several scenarios and assumptions will be detailed in this section.

5.1. Observer worldline outside event horizon

In this case it is well known that there is an Event Horizon at the Swartzchild radius, which also defines a Signal Boundary for those Observers whose wordline always remain outside the black hole.

Fig 4. Conformal Diagram static black hole

In Fig 4. Blips with origin inside Black Hole Event Horizon end in the singularity, depicted as an horizontal sinusoidal line. Observer wordline does not cross the Blip at any time.

5.2. Observer worldline ending in static black hole singularity

The next scenario Observer enters a non rotating black hole. In this case Observer wordline ends as it reaches the singularity, based on the Signal Boundary definition, there will be Blips that are detected before reaching the singularity and Blips that can not be assigned a well defined proper time once the Observer is in the Singularity.

This analyisis will be done in two approaches, in the first one (Lazy Boundaries) it will be considered that coordinates at the singularity are the same indepentent of theta and phi at a given global coordinate t, that is (t,r=0,phi_sub_1,theta_sub_1) is the same physical Event as (t,r=0,phi_sub_2,theta_sub_2) which is the usual assumption done at r=0 when there is no singularity at r=0. The Boundary Signal that exist in that case can be studied analytically, and can serve as a boundary condition to the most accurate (from the author perspective) later assumptions and scenarios.

In the second assumption and scenario (Bean Boundary) it will be constrainged that at the singularity at a given t the Event (t,r=0,phi_sub_1, theta_sub_1) is different from the Event (t,r=0,phi_sub_2,theta_sub_2) except if phi_sub_1=phi_sub_2 and theta_sub_2=phi_sub_2. This scenario will be solved numerically to show which Events can be detected by the Observer rigth up to the last Event where Observer proper time is well defined.

5.2.1. Lazy Boundaries, analitical approach

In this scenario it is known that Observer reaches the singularity at a given (t_sub_fin,r=0,theta_sub_fin,phi_sub_fin) and that the Blips that it will be received at that last Event in the Observer wordline will be the ones that reach the singularity at that (t_sub_fin,r=0) any signal that reaches r=0 at a differnt t will be identified as not observed by the Observer since it can not be stated at which proper time the Observer did the observation.

To do this analysis Gullstrand–Painlevé Coordinates [3] will be used. First it will be considered the Blips whose ray reaching the singulartiy at t_sub_fin have an impact parameter b=0 [reference here to book], only radially in/out, with d_sub_phi=0 and d_sub_theta=0, following a path where theta and phi is always constant to them.

In this case the equation of motion are:

dr/dt = +1-sqrt(2M/r) for rays “pointing out”

dr/dt = -1-sqrt(2M/r) for rays “pointing in”

As a boundary condition for these equations it that at t_sub_fin then r=0, so at any prior time (e.g. -1.0 the ray must have a r value non zero), as at that coordinate is the last Event for which the Observer proper time can be calculated.

Solution for rays “pointing in”

Fig 5. Equation of motion for incoming rays b=0

Solving the Integral above such that at r=0, t=0, so C=0

t=-(4Mln sqr(2M/r)+1 -4Mln sqr(2M/r) -2sqr(2Mr)+r)

at r=0 t=0

at r=M t=-(4Mlm(sqr2+1)-4Mln(sqr2)-2Msqr2+M)

at r=2M t=-(4Mln2-4M+2M) = -(4Mln2-2M) (as derived in wikipedia [3])

at r=8M t=-(4Mln(3/2)-4Mln(1/2)-8M+8M)

at r=128M t=-(4Mln(33/32)-4Mln(1/32)-32M+128M)

at r->oo t=-(-2Mln(2M/r)-2sqr(2Mr)+r)->-oo

The solution of the rays “poiting in” based on the time Observer reaches the singularity forms a hypersurface that splits the whole space time into 2 sections.

The first one is the set of Events for which any Blip generated from them will reach r=0 in t>tfin, these events have for certain t a r value greater than the r value of this hypersurface at that same t.

The second one is the reminder of Events in space time. Blips generated from these events reach r=0 in t<tfin.

Solution for rays “pointing out” ending in the singularity

Fig 6. Equation of motion for outgoing rays b=0

Integral above such that at r=0,t=0, so C=0

t=-(-4Mln sqr(2M/r) +4Mln sqr(2M/r)-1 )+2sqr(2Mr)+r

Now in this case the valid range of valus for r is those r<2M as the function can not be calculated for r=2M or above as there will be zero or negative values inside the logarithms. This is an expected thing as one ray “outgoing” with b=0 outside r=2M which is the Event Horizon will go to infinity and will never reach r=0.

at r=0 t=0

at r=M t=-(-4Mln(sqr2)+4Mln(sqr2-1)+2Msqr2+M)

at r->2M t=-(4Mln sqr(2M/r)-1 +4M+2M)->-oo

The solution of the rays “poiting out” based on the time Observer reaches the singularity forms again a hypersurface that splits the whole space time into 2 sections.

The first one is the set of Events for which any Blip generated from them will dissapear in r=0 in t<tfin, these events have for certain t a r value smaller than the r value of this hypersurface at that same t.

The second one is the reminder of Events in space time. Blips generated from these events will have some frontline with r>0 for t>tfin.

At t=-oo this is the same as the black hole Event Horizon.

Overall Lazy Boundaries

With the 2 hypersurfaces defined below it can be noticed that any Blip generated at Events outside the region defined by the 2 hypersurfaces will either fully end in the singularity in a t<tfin or will reach the singularity in a t>tfin, therefore it can not be calculated the proper time at which it is observed by Observed, therefore it is known for sure that these Events are behind a Signal Boundary.

For Blips generated at Events between the 2 hypersurfaces will cross one or the 2 hypersufaces in a time t<tfin and since these hypersurfaces will be observed on the limit at t=t_sub_fin and taken into account Blip Detection Transitivy it can be derived that all these Events are observable by the Observer. Reminder: This is assuming that at t_sub_fin, r=0, the Observer coordinates are independent of theta and phi (later this assumption will be dropped)

These 2 hypersurfaces define a Signal Boundary, at a given time t<tfin Events with r<r_sub_outgoing and with r>r_sub_incoming are not observable by this Observer that reached singularity at t=tfin.

Fig 7. Lazy Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. r horizontal axis, t vertical axis

In Fig 7 an Observer following a radial raindrop trayectory sees 2 Signal Boundaries. Horizontal axis represents r coordinate in multiples of M (mass of blackhole), Vertical axis represents t coordinate in multiples of M too. Gullstrand Painlev Coordinates.

Fig 7.1. Lazy Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. conformal diagram

In Fig 7.1 (same as Fig 7.) an Observer following a radial raindrop trayectory sees 2 Signal Boundaries, Observer doesn’t follow a specific inertial or non inertial path. In the Conformal diagram the 2 boundaries are represented by the 2 ligth rays converging into the Observer as it reaches the Singularity.

Note that this has been depicted in previous works (likely as something obvious), in particular the author would like to bring the inspiring picture from Rogers Penrose “The Road to Reallity” in Figure 27.18 [3.1]

Fig 8. Lazy Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. time slice 1

Fig 9. Lazy Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. time slice 2

Fig 10. Lazy Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. time slice 3

In Fig 8, 9 and 10 at different t (in multiples of M) the Signal Boundary is represented. Singularity is always surrounded by a Signal Boundary.

There are several considerations to analyze on these Lazy Boundaries:

Fig 11. Limit Lazy Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. outside Event Horizon

Fig 12. Limit Lazy Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. inside Event Horizon

In Fig 11 and 12 it is shown Limit Boundaries wether the Observer is outside or inside the Event Horizon

5.2.2. Bean Boundary, numerical approach

In comparison to the previous approach to the Lazy Boundaries where it was determined with certainty the Events whose Blips will not be detected by the Observer, Now it will identified Events whose Blips will be detected with certainty by the Oberserver before reaching the singularity. This approach also discards the common consideration while using polar coordinates to consider that at certain t if r=0 Events at that place have the same coordinate independent of theta, phi. There is no reason to do so if at r=0 there is a singularity where nothing should be stated about it.

In order to do so a similar approach as used before will be used, trace back rays but in this case all rays that at t=t_sub_fin have r very close to 0, and same theta and same phi. Since there is spherical simmetry and knowing that light rays lie in a plane, analysis can be done for a particular fixed phi so dphi=0, once analyzed the whole solution will be a revolution around the axis at that phi. To ease calculations it will be considered theta of the Observer at t=0 also as theta=0.

For all the rays that end at r almost 0, t=t_sub_fin, theta=0 it will be identified their r, theta for any t<tfin.

Unfornunatelly there is no method known to the author to derive it via solving differential equation , only numerical analysis of the rays for which it will be used a modified version of the program gorbits [4][5] to do the following:

Solving the equations for events received by Observer at r=0.001 and plotting it at different t<tfin

Fig 13_raw. Raw data Bean Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. Observer far from Event Horizon

Fig Fig 13. Bean Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. Observer far from Event Horizon

In Figs 13_raw and 13 it is plotted the Bean Boundary at a time t when the Observer is still far from the Event Horizon

Fig 14_raw. Raw data Bean Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. Observer approaches Event Horizon

Fig Fig 14. Bean Boundaries for infalling rain-drop Observer. Observer approaches Event Horizon

In Figs 14_raw and 14 it is plotted the Bean Boundary at a time t when the Observer gets closer to the Event Horizon, the shape starts to differ from the 2 circles of the Lazy Boundaries

Fig 15_raw. Raw data Bean Boundary for infalling rain-drop Observer. Connected Boundaries

Fig Fig 15. Bean Boundary for infalling rain-drop Observer. Connected Boundaries

In Figs 15_raw and 15 it is plotted the Bean Boundary at a time t when the Boundaries become one single Signal Boundary.

Fig 16_raw. Raw data Bean Boundary for infalling rain-drop Observer. Bean shape

Fig Fig 16. Bean Boundary for infalling rain-drop Observer. Bean shape

In Figs 16_raw and 16 it is plotted the Bean Boundary once the Observer is inside the Event Horizon, it takes the shape of a Bean in the chosen coordinates.

Fig 17_raw. Raw data Bean Boundary for infalling rain-drop Observer. Near singularity

Fig 17. Bean Boundary for infalling rain-drop Observer. Near singularity

In Figs 17_raw and 17 as the Observer approaches the singularity the Bean Boundary and it becomes more convex.

There are several considerations to analyze on the Bean Boundaries:

6. Conclusions and further work

It has been shown that for an Observer falling behind an Event Horizon of a non rotating black hole a Signal Boundary is formed around it, surrounding it totally.

It has been shown that as the Observer approaches the Singularity the Signal Boundary gets closer to it. Nothing has been stated about the shape from the Observer perspective.

The modified version of grorbits used in this paper, the images and the desmos plots will be made publicly available for review.

Following work should be considered:

7. Adknowledgements and Disclaimer

The author would like to specially thank Edwin F. Taylor, John Archibald Wheeler, and Edmund Bertschinger as most of this paper is written based on these authors derivations for static Black Holes [6] and this investigation was triggered by Andrew Hamilton [7].

This version (v0.1) has not been reviewed at all, the author recognizes that until it is reviewed there can be errors that make conclusions not valid, or that this analysis has already been done by other authors, in this case I recognize whoever did this before me by Aug 2025.

8. References

Additionally the following articles have inspired this paper.

ANNEX A - Blip Continuity

Blip frontline spacial continuity: At a given timeslice (global coordinate t fixed) it is defined the Blip frontline (built by the Events that are part of the rays at that timelice) as a 2D surface which is continuous except in those points where there are physical singularities. If there is a physical singularity it can not be assured if the Blip frontline is continuous or not at that point.

The continuous part of this 2D surface can be divided into small triangular sectors, each identified its 3 vertices by the 3 null geodesics that pass thru them and where generated at the Blip Event with intial similar direction. The sector triangle defines a flat surface whose points are close enough to the Events in the rays with initial direction constrained within the thre selected rays at that timeslice.

Fig 18. Blip Frontline

In Fig 18 A Event generates a Blip in flat space at t_sub_0, Blip frontline is represented at a later times t1 and t2. 3 rays are chosen to define one triangular sector

Fig 19. Blip Frontline self intersection

In Fig 19. The Blip frontline may intersect with itself, definition of the sectors includes the initial similar direction criteria at the Blip Event to discard rays with events at the timeslice are spacially close but originated with a different direction, as triangles formed this way contains points that are far from the frontline. The 3 paralell rays form a triangular sector the fourth ray can not be used to define a sector with the previous 3 rays.

The Blip triangular sectors defined this way are orientable (e.g. An arbitrary order of the vertices can be chosen (each associated to a ray) and define which side is top and which is bottom).

Additionally for two timeslices close enough (t1 and t2), if none of the rays within a triangular sector (defined by ray 1, ray 2, and ray 3) end in a singularity between t1 and t2 both included, then wthe definition of orientation can be kept between t1 and t2. In this case, the triangular sector changes with time in a continous manner.

ANNEX B - Blip detection by Observer

Fig 20. Blip Observation by Observer in Volume and when Observer moves in a flat plane

In Figure 20 it is graphically described how the Blip detection is defined, based on the orientability of small sectors of the Blip frontline and that at a t1 the Observer is one side and at t2 is in the other side.

ANNEX C

Fun Note: An extreme example of Observer on planet without singularity which can be numerically calculated is the hollow planet in which a very thin spherical surface has a large mass and the pressure contribution is included to calculate r_sub_s for Schwarzschild metric outside. In this case our Global Coordinates with Schwarzschild outside the mass can be patched with flat Minkowsky space inside with the corresponding scaling to match the 2 metrics in at the surface of the mass. This would be like Enders game training scenario, outside it an Observer could experience the planet surface gravity, once the Observer crosses the surface it will experience zero gravity.