It is shown that given an analytic Lorentzian metric on a 4-manifold, $g$, which admits two Killing vector fields, then it exists a local deformation law $η= a g + b H$, where $H$ is a 2-dimensional projector, such that $η$ is flat and admits the same Killing vectors. We also characterize the particular case when the projector $H$ coincides with the quotient metric. We apply some of our results to general stationary axisymmetric spacetimes
We obtain all the three-dimensional Lorentzian metrics which admit three Killing vectors. The classification has been done with the aid of the formalism which exploits the obstruction criteria for the Killing equations recently developed by present authors. The current classification method does not rely on the transitivity property of the isometry group. It turns out that the Lorentzian manifold harbors a much richer spectrum of metrics with various Segre types, compared to the Riemannian case.
Ricci-flat spacetimes of signature (2,q) with q=2,3,4 are constructed which admit irreducible Killing tensors of rank-3 or rank-4. The construction relies upon the Eisenhart lift applied to Drach's two-dimensional integrable systems which is followed by the oxidation with respect to free parameters. In four dimensions, some of our solutions are anti-self-dual.
Methods are presented for finding Killing-Yano tensors, conformal Killing-Yano tensors, and conformal Killing vectors in spacetimes with a hypersurface orthogonal Killing vector. These methods are similar to a method developed by the authors for finding Killing tensors. In all cases one decomposes both the tensor and the equation it satisfies into pieces along the Killing vector and pieces orthogonal to the Killing vector. Solving the separate equations that result from this decomposition requires less computing than integrating the original equation. In each case, examples are given to illust…
A possible generalization of plane fronted waves with parallel rays (gpp-wave) fall into a more general class of metrics admitting parallel null 1-planes. For gpp-wave metric, the zero-curvature condition is given, the Killing-Yano tensors of order two and three are found and the corresponding Killing tensors are constructed. Henceforth, the compatibility between geometric duality and non-generic symmetries is presented.
The formal solution of the second order Killing tensor equations for the general pp-wave spacetime is given. The Killing tensor equations are integrated fully for some specific pp-wave spacetimes. In particular, the complete solution is given for the conformally flat plane wave spacetimes and we find that irreducible Killing tensors arise for specific classes. The maximum number of independent irreducible Killing tensors admitted by a conformally flat plane wave spacetime is shown to be six. It is shown that every pp-wave spacetime that admits an homothety will admit a Killing tensor of Koutra…
Conformal Killing vectors (CKVs) preserve the spacetime metric up to a factor. Homothetic vectors and Killing vectors are special cases of CKVs. Classification of some classes of spacetimes on the basis of CKVs give interesting results showing how homothetic and Killing vectors which form subsets of the set of CKVs can be recovered as a result of the above classification.
By applying the lightlike Eisenhart lift to several known examples of low-dimensional integrable systems admitting integrals of motion of higher-order in momenta, we obtain four- and higher-dimensional Lorentzian spacetimes with irreducible higher-rank Killing tensors. Such metrics, we believe, are first examples of spacetimes admitting higher-rank Killing tensors. Included in our examples is a four-dimensional supersymmetric pp-wave spacetime, whose geodesic flow is superintegrable. The Killing tensors satisfy a non-trivial Poisson-Schouten-Nijenhuis algebra. We discuss the extension to the q…
BPS black hole configurations which break half of supersymmetry in the theory of N=2, d=5 supergravity coupled to an arbitrary number of abelian vector multiplets are discussed. A general class of solutions comprising all known BPS rotating black hole solutions is obtained.
When Morris and Thorne first proposed that traversable wormholes may be actual physical objects, they concentrated on the geometry by specifying the shape and redshift functions. This mathematical approach necessarily raises questins regarding the determination of the required stress-energy tensor. This paper discusses a natural way to obtain a complete wormhole solution by assuming that the wormhole (1) is supported by generalized Chaplygin gas and (2) admits conformal Killing vectors.
Non-conformally flat space-times admitting a non-null Killing spinor of valence two are investigated in the Geroch-Held-Penrose formalism. Contrary to popular belief these space-times are not all explicitly known. It is shown that the standard construction hinges on the tacit assumption that certain integrability conditions hold, implying two algebraic relations, KS1 and KS2, for the spin coefficients and the components of the Ricci spinor. An exhaustive list of (conformal classes of) space-times, in which either KS1 or KS2 are violated, is presented. The resulting space-times are each other's…
I present a complete list of hypersurface homogeneous space-times admitting a non-null valence two Killing spinor, including a new class admitting only exceptional Killing tensors. A connection is established with the classification of locally rotationally symmetric or boost symmetric space-times.
All Killing symmetries in complex $\mathcal{H}$-spaces with $Λ$ in terms of the Plebański - Robinson - Finley coordinate system are found. All $\mathcal{H}$-metrics with $Λ$ admitting a null Killing vector are explicitly given. It is shown that the problem of non-null Killing vector reduces to looking for solution of the Boyer - Finley - Plebański (Toda field) equation
The gravitational collapse of a spherical distribution, in a class of f(R) theories of gravity, where f(R) is power function of R, is discussed. The spacetime is assumed to admit a homothetic Killing vector. In the collapsing modes, some of the situations indeed hit a singularity, but they are all covered with an apparent horizon. Some peculiar cases are observed where the collapsing body settles to a constant radius at a given value of the radial coordinate.
It is believed that in any number of dimensions the off-shell Kerr-NUT-(A)dS metric represents a unique geometry admitting the principal (rank 2, non-degenerate, closed conformal Killing-Yano) tensor. The original proof relied on the Euclidean signature and therein natural assumption that the eigenvalues of the principal tensor have gradients of spacelike character. In this paper we evade this common wisdom and construct new classes of Lorentzian (and other signature) off-shell metrics admitting the principal tensor with null eigenvalues, uncovering so a much richer structure of spacetimes wit…
In this paper we initiate a classification of local metrics admitting the principal Killing--Yano tensor with a skew-symmetric torsion. It is demonstrated that in such spacetimes rank-2 Killing tensors occur naturally and mutually commute. We reduce the classification problem to that of solving a set of partial differential equations, and we present some solutions to these PDEs. In even dimensions, three types of local metrics are obtained: one of them naturally generalizes the torsionless case while the others occur only when the torsion is present. In odd dimensions, we obtain more varieties…
We carry on a general study on non--static spherically symmetric fluids admitting a conformal Killing vector (CKV). Several families of exact analytical solutions are found for different choices of the CKV, in both, the dissipative and the adiabatic regime. To specify the solutions, besides the fulfillment of the junction conditions on the boundary of the fluid distribution, different conditions are imposed, such as vanishing complexity factor and quasi--homologous evolution. A detailed analysis of the obtained solutions, its prospective applications to astrophysical scenarios, as well as alte…
We discuss the interior solutions of fluid Sphere in f(R,T) gravity admitting conformal killing vectors, where R is Ricci scalar and T is trace of energy momentum tensor. The solutions corresponding to isotropic and anisotropic configurations have been investigated explicitly. Further, the anisotropic case has been dealt by the utilization of linear equation of state. The results for both cases have been interpreted graphically. The equation of state parameter, integration constants and other parameters of the theory have been chosen to find the central density equal to standard value of centr…
We develop a new method in order to classify the Bianchi I spacetimes which admit conformal Killing vectors (CKV). The method is based on two propositions which relate the CKVs of 1+(n-1) decomposable Riemannian spaces with the CKVs of the (n-1) subspace and show that if 1+(n-1) space is conformally flat then the (n-1) spacetime is maximally symmetric. The method is used to study the conformal algebra of the Kasner spacetime and other less known Bianchi type I matter solutions of General Relativity.
Hidden symmetries of the Goryachev-Chaplygin and Kovalevskaya gyrostats spacetimes, as well as the Brdička-Eardley-Nappi-Witten pp-waves are studied. We find out that these spacetimes possess higher rank Stäckel-Killing tensors and that in the case of the pp-wave spacetimes the symmetry group of the Stäckel-Killing tensors is the well-known Newton-Hooke group.
We consider the 3-dimensional formulation of Einstein's theory for spacetimes possessing a non-null Killing field $ξ^a$. It is known that for the vacuum case some of the basic field equations are deducible from the others. It will be shown here how this result can be generalized for the case of essentially arbitrary matter fields. The systematic study of the structure of the fundamental field equations is carried out. In particular, the existence of geometrically preferred reference systems is shown. Using local coordinates of this type two approaches are presented resulting resolvent systems …
Einstein complex spacetimes admitting null Killing or null homothetic Killing vectors are studied. These vectors define totally null and geodesic 2-surfaces called the null strings or twistor surfaces. Geometric properties of these null strings are discussed. It is shown, that spaces considered are hyperheavenly spaces (HH-spaces) or, if one of the parts of the Weyl tensor vanishes, heavenly spaces (H-spaces). The explicit complex metrics admitting null Killing vectors are found. Some Lorentzian and ultrahyperbolic slices of these metrics are discussed.
It is commonly known that Killing vectors and tensors are in one-to-one correspondence with polynomial first integrals of the geodesic equation. In this work, metrics admitting nonpolynomial first integrals of the geodesic equation are constructed, each of which revealing a chain of generalised Killing vectors.
We consider source-free electromagnetic fields in spacetimes possessing a non-null Killing vector field, $ξ^a$. We assume further that the electromagnetic field tensor, $F_{ab}$, is invariant under the action of the isometry group induced by $ξ^a$. It is proved that whenever the two potentials associated with the electromagnetic field are functionally independent the entire content of Maxwell's equations is equivalent to the relation $\n^aT_{ab}=0$. Since this relation is implied by Einstein's equation we argue that it is enough to solve merely Einstein's equation for these electrovac spacetim…
We consider self-interacting, perturbative quantum field theory in a curved spacetime background with a Killing vector field. We show that the action of this spacetime symmetry on interacting field operators can be implemented by a Noether charge which arises as a surface integral over the time-component of the interacting Noether current-density associated with the Killing field. The proof of this involves the demonstration of a corresponding set of Ward identities. Our work is based on the perturbative construction by Brunetti and Fredenhagen (Commun.Math.Phys. 208 (2000) 623-661) of self-in…
In this paper, conformal motions are studied in plane symmetric static spacetimes. The general solution of conformal Killing equations and the general form of the conformal Killing vector for these spacetimes are presented. All possibilities for the existence of conformal motions in these spacetimes are exhausted.
We study the quantum field theory (QFT) of a free, real, massless and curvature coupled scalar field on self-similar symmetric spacetimes, which are deformed by an abelian Drinfel'd twist constructed from a Killing and a homothetic Killing vector field. In contrast to deformations solely by Killing vector fields, such as the Moyal-Weyl Minkowski spacetime, the equation of motion and Green's operators are deformed. We show that there is a *-algebra isomorphism between the QFT on the deformed and the formal power series extension of the QFT on the undeformed spacetime. We study the convergent im…
The Koutras-McIntosh family of metrics include conformally flat pp-waves and the Wils metric. It appeared in a paper of 1996 by Koutras-McIntosh as an example of a pure radiation spacetime without scalar curvature invariants or infinitesimal symmetries. Here we demonstrate that these metrics have no "hidden symmetries", by which we mean Killing tensors of low degrees. For the particular case of Wils metrics we show the nonexistence of Killing tensors up to degree 6. The technique we use is the geometric theory of overdetermined PDEs and the Cartan prolongation-projection method. Application of…
In this paper we are concerned to reveal that any spacetime structure <M,[g]<LaTeX>\slg</LaTeX>,D,τ_{[sg]<LaTeX>\sslg</LaTeX>},\uparrow>, which is a model of a gravitational field in General Relativity generated by an energy-momentum tensor T --- and which contains at least one nontrivial Killing vector field A --- is such that the 2-form field F=dA (where A=[g]<LaTeX>\slg</LaTeX>(A,)) satisfies a Maxwell like equation --- with a well determined current that contains a term of the superconducting type--- which follows directly from Einstein equation. Moreover, we show that the resulting Maxwel…
We investigate the implications of the existence of Killing spinors in a spacetime. In particular, we show that in vacuum and electrovacuum a Killing spinor, along with some assumptions on the associated Killing vector in an asymptotic region, guarantees that the spacetime is locally isometric to the Kerr or Kerr-Newman solutions. We show that the characterisation of these spacetimes in terms of Killing spinors is an alternative expression of characterisation results of Mars (Kerr) and Wong (Kerr-Newman) involving restrictions on the Weyl curvature and matter content.
The conditions for the existence of Killing-Yano tensors, which are closely related to the appearance of non-generic world-line SUSY, are presented for static axisymmetric spacetimes. Imposing the vacuum Einstein equation, the set of solutions admitting Killing-Yano tensors is considered. In particular, it is shown that static, axisymmetric and asymptotically flat vacuum solutions admitting Killing-Yano tensors are only the Schwarzschild solution.
The problem of obtaining an explicit representation for the fourth invariant of geodesic motion (generalized Carter constant) of an arbitrary stationary axisymmetric vacuum spacetime generated from an Ernst Potential is considered. The coupling between the non-local curvature content of the spacetime as encoded in the Weyl tensor, and the existence of a Killing tensor is explored and a constructive, algebraic test for a fourth order Killing tensor suggested. The approach used exploits the variables defined for the Bäckland transformations to clarify the relationship between Weyl curvature, con…
Main results concerning allowable additional symmetries of axially symmetric electrovacuum spacetimes are summarized. These are translational Killing vectors and the boost Killing vector. However, this is only the boost symmetry that does not exclude radiation and permit a spacetime to be asymptotically flat with global null infinity.
Killing-Yano one forms (duals of Killing vector fields) of a class of spherically symmetric space-times characterized by four functions are derived in a unified and exhaustive way. For well-known space-times such as those of Minkowski, Schwarzschild, Reissner-Nordstrom, Robertson-Walker and several forms of de Sitter, these forms arise as special cases in a natural way. Besides its two well-known forms, four more forms of de Sitter space-time are also established with ten independent Killing vector fields for which four different time evolution regimes can explicitly be specified by the symmet…
New solutions for $(2+1)$-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell space-time are found for a static spherically symmetric charged fluid distribution with the additional condition of allowing conformal killing vectors (CKV). We discuss physical properties of the fluid parameters. Moreover, it is shown that the model actually represents two structures, namely (i) Gravastar as an alternative of black hole and (ii) Electromagnetic Mass model depending on the nature of the equation state of the fluid. Here the gravitational mass originates from electromagnetic field alone. The solutions are matched with the e…
Given an initial-boundary value problem for an anti-de Sitter-like spacetime, we analyse conditions on the conformal boundary ensuring the existence of Killing vectors in the spacetime arising from this problem. This analysis makes use of a system of conformal wave equations describing the propagation of the Killing equation first considered by Paetz. We identify an obstruction tensor constructed from Killing vector candidate and the Cotton tensor of the conformal boundary whose vanishing is a necessary condition for the existence of Killing vectors in the spacetime. This obstruction tensor va…
Four-dimensional Riemannian spacetimes with two commuting spacelike Killing vectors are studied in Einstein's theory of gravity, and found that no outer apparent horizons exist, provided that the dominant energy condition holds.
In this paper, Killing vectors of spherically spacetimes have been evaluated in the context of teleparallel theory of gravitation. Further, we investigate the Killing vectors of the Friedmann metrics. It is found that for static spherically spacetimes the number of Killing vectors turn out to be \emph{seven} while for the Friedmann models, we obtain \emph{six} teleparallel Killing vectors. The results are then compared with those of General Relativity. We conclude that both of these descriptions of gravity do not provide the consistent results in general. However, these results may coincide un…
In this paper, the Killing vector will be constructed for the $R$-spacetime metric. The symmetry transformations corresponding to this vectors are obtained explicitly. Their coincidence with the transformations of the Poincaré group in a small neighborhood of the world point is shown.
We analyze the space-times admitting two shear-free geodesic null congruences. The integrability conditions are presented in a plain tensorial way as equations on the volume element $U$ of the time-like 2--plane that these directions define. From these we easily deduce significant consequences. We obtain explicit expressions for the Ricci and Weyl tensors in terms of $U$ and its first and second order covariant derivatives. We study the different compatible Petrov-Bel types and give the necessary and sufficient conditions that characterize every type in terms of $U$. The type D case is analyze…
In this paper, we find all the Conformal Killing Vectors (CKVs) and their Lie Algebra for the recently reported [cqg1] spherically symmetric, shear-free separable metric spacetimes with non-vanishing energy or heat flux. We also solve the geodesic equatios of motion for the spacetime under consideration.
We present a new approach to the study of vacuum spacetimes with a Killing symmetry. The central quantity in this approach is the exterior derivative of the Killing vector field, which is a test electromagnetic field. Considering the algebraic structure of this quantity we get a new view of the integrability conditions, which provides a natural way of studying the connections between the algebraic structure of the spacetime and properties of the Killing symmetry.
We present a purely geometric method for constructing a rank two Killing tensor in a spacetime with a codimension one foliation that lifts the trivial Killing tensors from slices to the entire manifold. The resulting Killing tensor can be nontrivial. A deep connection is found between the existence of such a Killing tensor and the presence of generalized photon surfaces in spacetime with two Killing vector fields. This technique generates Killing tensors in a purely algebraic way, without solving differential equations. The use of our method is demonstrated for Kerr, Kerr-Newman-NUT-AdS metric…
This paper explores the Petrov type D, stationary axisymmetric vacuum (SAV) spacetimes that were found by Carter to have separable Hamilton-Jacobi equations, and thus admit a second-order Killing tensor. The derivation of the spacetimes presented in this paper borrows from ideas about dynamical systems, and illustrates concepts that can be generalized to higher- order Killing tensors. The relationship between the components of the Killing equations and metric functions are given explicitly. The origin of the four separable coordinate systems found by Carter is explained and classified in terms…
We present a brief overview of black hole spacetimes admitting Killing-Yano tensors. In vacuum these include Kerr-NUT-(A)dS metrics and certain black brane solutions. In the presence of matter fields, (conformal) Killing-Yano symmetries are known to exist for the Plebanski-Demianski solution and (trivially) for any spacetime with spherical symmetry. Special attention is devoted to generalized Killing-Yano tensors of black holes in minimal gauged supergravity. Several aspects directly related to the existence of Killing-Yano tensors, such as the Kerr-Schild form, algebraic type of spacetimes, a…
We study the space-times admitting a null conformal Killing-Yano tensor whose divergence defines a Killing vector. We analyze the similitudes and differences with the recently studied non null case (Gen. Relativ. Grav. (2015) {\bf 47} 1911). The results by Barnes concerning the Birkhoff theorem for the case of null orbits are analyzed and generalized.
We discuss a recently proposed geometric method for constructing a nontrivial Killing tensor of rank two in a foliated spacetime of codimension one that lifts trivial Killing tensors from slices to the entire manifold. The existence of nontrivial Killing tensor is closely related to generalized photon surfaces. The method is illustrated in some known cases and used to construct the hitherto unknown Killing tensor for the Nutty dyon in dilaton-axion gravity.
Conformal rescaling of conformal Yano--Killing tensors and relations between Yano and CYK tensors are discussed. Pullback of these objects to a submanifold is used to construct all solutions of a CYK equation in anti-de Sitter and de Sitter spacetimes. Properties of asymptotic conformal Yano--Killing tensors are examined for asymptotic anti-de Sitter spacetimes. Explicit asymptotic forms of them are derived. The results are used to construct asymptotic charges in asymptotic AdS spacetime. Well known examples like Schwarzschild-AdS, Kerr-AdS and NUT-AdS are examined carefully in the constructio…
Recently, the authors have formulated and explored a novel Painleve-Gullstrand variant of the Lense-Thirring spacetime, which has some particularly elegant features -- including unit-lapse, intrinsically flat spatial 3-slices, and some particularly simple geodesics, the "rain" geodesics. At linear level in the rotation parameter this spacetime is indistinguishable from the usual slow-rotation expansion of Kerr. Herein, we shall show that this spacetime possesses a nontrivial Killing tensor, implying separability of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation. Furthermore, we shall show that the Klein-Gordon …
In 4 spacetime dimensions there is a well known proof that for any asymptotically flat, stationary, and axisymmetric vacuum solution of Einstein's equation there exists a "$t$-$ϕ$" reflection isometry that reverses the direction of the timelike Killing vector field and the direction of the axial Killing vector field. However, this proof does not generalize to higher spacetime dimensions. Here we consider asymptotically flat, stationary, and axisymmetric (i.e., having one or more commuting rotational isometries) black hole spacetimes in vacuum general relativity in $d \geq 4$ spacetime dimensio…
We determine conformal symmetry classes for the pp-wave spacetimes. This refines the isometry classification scheme given by Sippel and Goenner (1986 {\it Gen. Rel. Grav.} {\bf 18} 1229). It is shown that every conformal Killing vector for the null fluid type $N$ pp-wave spacetimes is a conformal Ricci collineation. The maximum number of proper non-special conformal Killing vectors in a type $N$ pp-wave spacetime is shown to be three, and we determine the form of a particular set of type $N$ pp-wave spacetimes admitting such conformal Killing vectors. We determine the conformal symmetries of e…
We study Finsler spacetimes and Killing vector fields taking care of the fact that the generalized metric tensor associated to the Lorentz-Finsler function $L$ is in general well defined only on a subset of the slit tangent bundle. We then introduce a new class of Finsler spacetimes endowed with a timelike Killing vector field that we call stationary splitting Finsler spacetimes. We characterize when a Finsler spacetime with a timelike Killing vector field is locally a stationary splitting. Finally, we show that the causal structure of a stationary splitting is the same of one of two Finsleria…
The aim of this paper is to explore teleparallel conformal Killing vector fields (CKVFs) of locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type V spacetimes in the context of teleparallel gravity and compare the obtained results with those of general relativity. The general solution of teleparallel conformal Killing's equations is found in terms of some unknown functions of t and x , along with a set of integrability conditions. The integrability conditions are solved in some particular cases to get the final form of teleparallel CKVFs. It is observed that the LRS Bianchi type V spacetimes admit…
We investigate the hidden symmetries of the Kerr-Newman, of the D=5 minimal gauged supergravity which admits a Killing-Maxwell system in the sense of Carter and of higher dimensional spacetimes in the presence of Killing-Yano torsion. We note that when an electromagnetic tensor is present and an associated Killing-Maxwell system can be constructed in the sense of Carter, the Killing- Maxwell field becomes a PCKY (primary conformal Killing-Yano) tensor or a PGCKY (primary generalized conformal Killing-Yano) tensor, the latter in the presence of torsion. We point out the structure of the Dirac-t…
The Newman-Penrose equations for spacetimes having one spacelike Killing vector are reduced -- in a geometrically defined "canonical frame'' -- to a minimal set, and its differential structure is studied. Expressions for the frame vectors in an arbitrary coordinate basis are given, and coordinate-independent choices of the metric functions are suggested which make the components of the Ricci tensor in the direction of the Killing vector vanish.
In this paper, we use the Killing vector method to formulate the de Sitter/Anti-de Sitter invariant special relativity (dS/AdS-SR). Through solving the Einstein equation with $Λ\neq 0$, the basic inertial metric for dS/AdS-SR is determined to be the Beltrami metric $B_{μν}(x)$. The corresponding Killing equations are system of ten simultaneous partial differential equations of first order. Their most general solutions were obtained, and all the ten independent Killing vectors were found out. These results confirm that the Beltrami metric has maximal spacetime symmetry. The ten Killing-Noether …
We consider the problem of picking a physically motivated vacuum state on a spherically symmetric spacetime with an extra conformal Killing vector, as opposed to an extra Killing vector as in the Schwarzschild case. Considering a conformal symmetry instead of a symmetry allows us to consider spacetimes that are dynamical and not static (like Schwarzschild). The extra conformal symmetry allows us to calculate the response of particle detectors however. We look at the specific example of a self-similar LTB spacetime that represents a spherically symmetric but inhomogeneous cosmology. We remark t…
In this paper we discuss the consequences of a Killing symmetry on the local geometrical structure of four-dimensional spacetimes. We have adopted the point of view introduced in recent works where the exterior derivative of the Killing plays a fundamental role. Then, we study some issues related with this approach and clarify why in many circumstances its use has advantages with respect to other approaches. We also extend the formalism developed in the case of vacuum spacetimes to the general case of an arbitrary energy-momentum content. Finally, we illustrate our framework with the case of s…
