Conformal compactification and asymptotic behaviour

This talk will be an introduction to the use of conformal methods in asymptotic analysis in general relativity. We shall consider the explicit example of flat spacetime (Minkowski spacetime). The full conformal compactification will be constructed. For a simple example of a conformally invariant equation (we'll take the wave equation), we shall see how the compactification allows to infer precise informations on the asymptotic behaviour of the solution in all directions, for a certain class of data at any rate. Then, depending on time and questions, I will either describe how a scattering theory can be constructed using the same method or, explain how conformal methods can be used on other asymptotically flat geometries.