Stability properties of gravity theories

Studies the stability properties of general relativity with a non- vanishing cosmological constant Lambda by means of the energy. First, it is shown that there exists a suitable definition of energy in these models, for all metrics tending asymptotically to any background solution which has a timelike Killing symmetry. It is conserved and has flux integral form. Stability is established for all systems tending asymptotically to anti-De Sitter space when Lambda >0, using supergravity techniques. Spinorial charges are defined which are also flux integrals and satisfy the global graded anti-De Sitter algebra. The latter then implies that the energy is always positive. For Lambda >0, it is shown that small excitations about De Sitter space are stable, provided they occur within the event horizon intrinsic to this space. Outside the horizon an instability arises which signals the onset of Hawking radiation: it is shown to be universal to all systems. Semi-classical stability is also discussed for Lambda >0.