title: Angular-momentum--mass inequality for axisymmetric black holes.
abstract: The inequality square root J <or=m is proved for vacuum, asymptotically flat, maximal, and axisymmetric data close to extreme Kerr data. The physical significance of this inequality and its relation to the standard picture of the gravitational collapse are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Albert-Einstein-Institut, am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476, Golm, Germany. dain@aei.mpg.de
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dain