We use the geometric mean to parametrize metrics in the Hassan-Rosen ghost-free bimetric theory and pose the initial-value problem. The geometric mean of two positive definite symmetric matrices is a well-established mathematical notion which can be under certain conditions extended to quadratic forms having the Lorentzian signature, say metrics g and f. In such a case, the null cone of the geometric mean metric h is in the middle of the null cones of g and f appearing as a geometric average of a bimetric spacetime. The parametrization based on h ensures the reality of the square root in the ghost-free bimetric interaction potential. Subsequently, we derive the standard n + 1 decomposition in a frame adapted to the geometric mean and state the initial-value problem, that is, the evolution equations, the constraints, and the preservation of the constraints equation.

Numerical integration of the field equations in bimetric relativity is necessary to obtain solutions describing realistic systems. Thus, it is crucial to recast the equations  as a well-posed problem. In general relativity, under certain assumptions, the covariant BSSN formulation is a strongly hyperbolic formulation of the Einstein equations, hence its Cauchy problem is well-posed. In this paper, we establish the covariant BSSN formulation of the bimetric field equations. It shares many features with the corresponding formulation in general relativity, but there are a few fundamental differences between them. Some of these differences depend on the gauge choice and alter the hyperbolic structure of the system of partial differential equations compared to general relativity. Accordingly, the strong hyperbolicity of the system cannot be claimed yet, under the same assumptions as in general relativity. In the paper, we stress the differences compared with general relativity and state the main issues that should be tackled next, to draw a roadmap towards numerical bimetric relativity.

In general relativity, the endpoint of spherically symmetric gravitational collapse is a Schwarzschild-[(A)dS] black hole. In bimetric gravity, it has been speculated that a static end state must also be Schwarzschild-[(A)dS]. To this end, we present a set of exact solutions, including collapsing massless dust particles. For these, the speculation is confirmed.

We present a method for solving the constraint equations in the Hassan-Rosen bimetric theory to determine the initial data for the gravitational collapse of spherically symmetric dust. The setup leads to equations similar to those for a polytropic fluid in general relativity, here called Lane-Emden-like equations. Using a numerical code which solves the evolution equations in the standard 3 + 1 form, we also obtain a short-term development of the initial data for these bimetric spherical clouds. The evolution highlights some important features of the bimetric theory such as the interwoven and oscillating null cones representing the essential nonbidiagonality in the dynamics of the two metrics. The simulations are in the strong-field regime and show that, at least at an early stage, if the bimetric initial data are close to those for general relativity, the bimetric evolution stays close to the evolution in general relativity as well, and with no instabilities, albeit with small oscillations in the metric fields. In addition, we determine initial data and first evolution for vacuum bimetric spherically symmetric nonstationary solutions, providing generic counterexamples to a statement analog to Jebsen-Birkhoff theorem in bimetric relativity.

A fact is that an Einstein solution in one sector in ghost-free bimetric theory implies an Einstein solution in the other sector. Earlier studies have also shown that some classes of bimetric models necessitate proportional solutions between the sectors. Here, we consider a general setup of the parameters in the theory as well as the general algebraic form of the potential. We show that, if one sector has an Einstein solution, the solutions are either proportional or block proportional with at most two different eigenvalues in the square root governing metric interactions.

The goal of this work was to investigate the propagation of the constraints in the ghost-free bimetric theory where the evolution equations are in standard 3+1 form. It is established that the constraints evolve according to a first-order symmetric hyperbolic system whose characteristic cone consists of the null cones of the two metrics. Consequently, the constraint evolution equations are well-posed, and the constraints stably propagate.

The two lapse functions in the Hassan–Rosen bimetric theory are not independent. Without knowing the relation between them, one cannot evolve the equations in the 3+1 formalism. This work computes the ratio of lapses for the spherically symmetric case, which is a prerequisite for numerical bimetric relativity.

The ghost-free bimetric theory describes interactions of gravity with another spin-2 field in terms of two Lorentzian metrics. However, if the two metrics do not admit compatible notions of space and time, the formulation of the initial value problem becomes problematic. Furthermore, the interaction potential is given in terms of the square root of a matrix which is in general nonunique and possibly nonreal. In this paper we show that both these issues are evaded by requiring reality and general covariance of the equations. First we prove that the reality of the square root matrix leads to a classification of the allowed metrics in terms of the intersections of their null cones. Then, the requirement of general covariance further restricts the allowed metrics to geometries that admit compatible notions of space and time. It also selects a unique definition of the square root matrix. The restrictions are compatible with the equations of motion. These results ensure that the ghost-free bimetric theory can be defined unambiguously and that the two metrics always admit compatible 3+1 decompositions, at least locally. In particular, these considerations rule out certain solutions of massive gravity with locally Closed Causal Curves, which have been used to argue that the theory is acausal.

We explore spacetime symmetries and topologies of the two metric sectors in Hassan-Rosen bimetric theory. We show that, in vacuum, the two sectors can either share or have separate spacetime symmetries. If stress-energy tensors are present, a third case can arise, with different spacetime symmetries within the same sector. This raises the question of the best definition of spacetime symmetry in Hassan-Rosen bimetric theory. We emphasize the possibility of imposing ansatzes and looking for solutions having different Killing vector fields or different isometries in the two sectors, which has gained little attention so far. We also point out that the topology of spacetime imposes a constraint on possible metric combinations.

We study general properties of static and spherically symmetric bidiagonal black holes in Hassan-Rosen bimetric theory by means of a new method. In particular, we explore the behavior of the black hole solutions both at the common Killing horizon and at the large radii. The former study was never done before and leads to a new classification for black holes within the bidiagonal ansatz. The latter study shows that, among the great variety of the black hole solutions, the only solutions converging to Minkowski, anti-de Sitter, and de Sitter spacetimes at large radii are those of general relativity, i.e., the Schwarzschild, Schwarzschild-anti-de Sitter and Schwarzschild-de Sitter solutions. Moreover, we present a proposition, whose validity is not limited to black hole solutions, which establishes the relation between the curvature singularities of the two metrics and the invertibility of their interaction potential.