This archive tracks 46 open problems in the mathematical analysis of Kerr black holes. Each problem is framed theorem-first: setup, equations, natural analytic framework, what a complete proof must establish, and what follows from solving it.
Note on precision: These are open problems β some entries are programmatic formulations rather than a single canonical theorem statement. The exact choice of gauge, asymptotic normalization, and weighted function spaces may vary across approaches.
π Flagship Problems
- K-001 β Full nonlinear stability of subextremal Kerr
- K-101 β Strong Cosmic Censorship threshold for Kerr interiors
- K-201 β Nonlinear codimension-1 stability of extremal Kerr with horizon hair
π Standard Background Notation
- Kerr parameters: mass $M > 0$, rotation $a$; subextremal $|a| < M$, extremal $|a| = M$
- Vacuum Einstein equation: $\operatorname{Ric}(g) = 0$
- Constraint equations on initial data $(Sigma, gamma, k)$:
- $R_\gamma - |k|\gamma^2 + (\operatorname{tr}\gamma k)^2 = 0$
- $\operatorname{div}\gamma\bigl(k - (\operatorname{tr}\gamma k)\gamma\bigr) = 0$
- Weighted norms: $H^N_delta times H^{N-1}_{delta-1}$, with $\delta < 0$ encoding asymptotic flatness
- Linear fields: scalar wave $Box_g psi = 0$, spin-$s$ Teukolsky $\mathcal{T}_s[\Psi_s] = 0$
- Interior regularity classes: $C^0$, $C^{0,1}$, $W^{1,2}_{mathrm{loc}}$, $C^2$
π Cluster A β Exterior Stability (K-001βK-014)
Shared framework: Asymptotically flat vacuum data $(\Sigma,\gamma,k)$ satisfying the constraint equations and close in $H^N_\delta \times H^{N-1}_{\delta-1}$ to a Kerr or KerrβNewman slice. Gauges: generalized harmonic, double-null, Bondi near $mathcal{I}^+$, or gauge-invariant Teukolsky. Core tools: vector-field method, $r^p$-weighted energy hierarchies, redshift and trapping analysis, parameter modulation, nonlinear bootstrap and continuity arguments.
- K-001 β Full nonlinear stability of subextremal Kerr Β· Foundational
- K-002 β Uniform nonlinear stability as aβMβ» Β· Breakthrough