The Einstein field equations and the null energy condition imply the null convergence condition:
The scalar-curvature and any cosmological constant terms vanish because . For generators of the null hypersurface, the supplied twist-free property gives . The null shear squared is nonnegative on the screen. Thus the Null Raychaudhuri equation implies
Starting from , the null expansion remains negative for as long as the regular congruence exists. Hence
Before the right-hand side reaches zero, inversion of the negative quantities gives
Since the inverse of a finite negative null expansion cannot be nonnegative, the regular congruence cannot continue through the proposed upper limit. The null focusing theorem therefore gives
Provided the geodesic itself extends this far, the transverse area collapses and at or before this bound. An earlier end of the affine geodesic would instead be geodesic incompleteness. A divergence of the null expansion marks a caustic or a conjugate point to a spacelike surface; it does not by itself establish a curvature singularity.