Abstract
We define the Wheeler-Einstein-Mach (WEM) spacetimes to be those which contain a closed Cauchy surface, are inextendible, and satisfy field equations with a well-posed Cauchy problem. We show that a WEM spacetime can be reconstructed from the "York data" on any given closed (constant mean curvature) hypersurface contained in that spacetime. This result is the strongest and most precise statement to date of Wheeler's version of Mach's principle. We discuss Machian and other properties of the WEM spacetimes.
- Received 16 June 1980
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.24.251
©1981 American Physical Society
