On a five-dimensional version of the Goldberg-Sachs theorem
arXiv:1205.1119 · doi:10.1088/0264-9381/29/20/205002
Abstract
Previous work has found a higher-dimensional generalization of the "geodesic part" of the Goldberg-Sachs theorem. We investigate the generalization of the "shear-free part" of the theorem. A spacetime is defined to be algebraically special if it admits a multiple Weyl Aligned Null Direction (WAND). The algebraically special property restricts the form of the "optical matrix" that defines the expansion, rotation and shear of the multiple WAND. After working out some general constraints that hold in arbitrary dimensions, we determine necessary algebraic conditions on the optical matrix of a multiple WAND in a five-dimensional Einstein spacetime. We prove that one can choose an orthonormal basis to bring the 3 x 3 optical matrix to one of three canonical forms, each involving two parameters, and we discuss the existence of an "optical structure" within these classes. Examples of solutions corresponding to each form are given. We give an example which demonstrates that our necessary algebraic conditions are not sufficient for a null vector field to be a multiple WAND, in contrast with the 4d result.
26 pages
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Cited by in corpus (4)
- Algebraic classification of higher dimensional spacetimes based on null alignment
- On the Goldberg-Sachs theorem in higher dimensions in the non-twisting case
- On the Weyl Tensor Classification in All Dimensions and its Relation with Integrability Properties
- Exact Solutions of General Relativity and Quadratic Gravity in Arbitrary Dimension