2,224 research outputs found
A spacetime not characterised by its invariants is of aligned type II
By using invariant theory we show that a (higher-dimensional) Lorentzian
metric that is not characterised by its invariants must be of aligned type II;
i.e., there exists a frame such that all the curvature tensors are
simultaneously of type II. This implies, using the boost-weight decomposition,
that for such a metric there exists a frame such that all positive boost-weight
components are zero. Indeed, we show a more general result, namely that any set
of tensors which is not characterised by its invariants, must be of aligned
type II. This result enables us to prove a number of related results, among
them the algebraic VSI conjecture.Comment: 14pages, CQG to appea
Brane Waves
In brane-world cosmology gravitational waves can propagate in the higher
dimensions (i.e., in the `bulk'). In some appropriate regimes the bulk
gravitational waves may be approximated by plane waves. We systematically study
five-dimensional gravitational waves that are algebraically special and of type
N. In the most physically relevant case the projected non-local stress tensor
on the brane is formally equivalent to the energy-momentum tensor of a null
fluid. Some exact solutions are studied to illustrate the features of these
branes; in particular, we show explicity that any plane wave brane can be
embedded into a 5-dimensional Siklos spacetime. More importantly, it is
possible that in some appropriate regime the bulk can be approximated by
gravitational plane waves and thus may act as initial conditions for the
gravitational field in the bulk (thereby enabling the field equations to be
integrated on the brane).Comment: 9 pages v3:revised version, to appear in CQ
Mathematical Properties of a Class of Four-dimensional Neutral Signature Metrics
While the Lorenzian and Riemanian metrics for which all polynomial scalar
curvature invariants vanish (the VSI property) are well-studied, less is known
about the four-dimensional neutral signature metrics with the VSI property.
Recently it was shown that the neutral signature metrics belong to two distinct
subclasses: the Walker and Kundt metrics. In this paper we have chosen an
example from each of the two subcases of the Ricci-flat VSI Walker metrics
respectively.
To investigate the difference between the metrics we determine the existence
of a null, geodesic, expansion-free, shear-free and vorticity-free vector, and
classify these spaces using their infinitesimal holonomy algebras. The
geometric implications of the holonomy algebras are further studied by
identifying the recurrent or covariantly constant null vectors, whose existence
is required by the holonomy structure in each example. We conclude the paper
with a simple example of the equivalence algorithm for these pseudo-Riemannian
manifolds, which is the only approach to classification that provides all
necessary information to determine equivalence.Comment: 18 page
Metrics With Vanishing Quantum Corrections
We investigate solutions of the classical Einstein or supergravity equations
that solve any set of quantum corrected Einstein equations in which the
Einstein tensor plus a multiple of the metric is equated to a symmetric
conserved tensor constructed from sums of terms the involving
contractions of the metric and powers of arbitrary covariant derivatives of the
curvature tensor. A classical solution, such as an Einstein metric, is called
{\it universal} if, when evaluated on that Einstein metric, is a
multiple of the metric. A Ricci flat classical solution is called {\it strongly
universal} if, when evaluated on that Ricci flat metric,
vanishes. It is well known that pp-waves in four spacetime dimensions are
strongly universal. We focus attention on a natural generalisation; Einstein
metrics with holonomy in which all scalar invariants are zero
or constant. In four dimensions we demonstrate that the generalised
Ghanam-Thompson metric is weakly universal and that the Goldberg-Kerr metric is
strongly universal; indeed, we show that universality extends to all
4-dimensional Einstein metrics. We also discuss generalizations
to higher dimensions.Comment: 23 page
Space-times admitting a three-dimensional conformal group
Perfect fluid space-times admitting a three-dimensional Lie group of
conformal motions containing a two-dimensional Abelian Lie subgroup of
isometries are studied. Demanding that the conformal Killing vector be proper
(i.e., not homothetic nor Killing), all such space-times are classified
according to the structure of their corresponding three-dimensional conformal
Lie group and the nature of their corresponding orbits (that are assumed to be
non-null). Each metric is then explicitly displayed in coordinates adapted to
the symmetry vectors. Attention is then restricted to the diagonal case, and
exact perfect fluid solutions are obtained in both the cases in which the fluid
four-velocity is tangential or orthogonal to the conformal orbits, as well as
in the more general "tilting" case.Comment: Latex 34 page
Alignment and algebraically special tensors in Lorentzian geometry
We develop a dimension-independent theory of alignment in Lorentzian
geometry, and apply it to the tensor classification problem for the Weyl and
Ricci tensors. First, we show that the alignment condition is equivalent to the
PND equation. In 4D, this recovers the usual Petrov types. For higher
dimensions, we prove that, in general, a Weyl tensor does not possess aligned
directions. We then go on to describe a number of additional algebraic types
for the various alignment configurations. For the case of second-order
symmetric (Ricci) tensors, we perform the classification by considering the
geometric properties of the corresponding alignment variety.Comment: 19 pages. Revised presentatio
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