We investigate the Weyl tensor algebraic structure of a fully general family of D-dimensional geometries that admit a non-twisting and shear-free null vector field k. From the coordinate components of the curvature tensor we explicitly derive all Weyl scalars of various boost weights. This enables us to give a complete algebraic classification of the metrics in the case when the optically privileged null direction k is a (multiple) Weyl aligned null direction (WAND). No field equations are applied, so that the results are valid not only in Einstein's gravity, including its extension to higher dimensions, but also in any metric gravitation theory that admits non-twisting and shear-free spacetimes.
We prove that all such geometries are of type I(b), or more special, and we derive surprisingly simple necessary and sufficient conditions under which k is a double, triple or quadruple WAND. All possible algebraically special types, including the refinement to subtypes, are thus identified, namely II(a), II(b), II(c), II(d), III(a), III(b), N, O, IIi, IIIi, D, D(a), D(b), D(c), D(d), and their combinations. Some conditions are identically satisfied in four dimensions.
We discuss both important subclasses, namely the Kundt family of geometries with the vanishing expansion (Theta=0) and the Robinson-Trautman family (Theta\not=0, and in particular Theta=1/r). Finally, we apply Einstein's field equations and obtain a classification of all Robinson-Trautman vacuum spacetimes. This reveals fundamental algebraic differences in the D>4 and D=4 cases, namely that in higher dimensions there only exist such spacetimes of types D(a)=D(abd), D(c)=D(bcd) and O.
In our previous paper [Phys. Rev. D 89 (2014) 124029], cited as [1], we attempted to find Robinson-Trautman-type solutions of Einstein's equations representing gyratonic sources (matter field in the form of an aligned null fluid, or particles propagating with the speed of light, with an additional internal spin). Unfortunately, by making a mistake in our calculations, we came to the wrong conclusion that such solutions do not exist. We are now correcting this mistake. In fact, this allows us to explicitly find a new large family of gyratonic solutions in the Robinson-Trautman class of spacetim…
In past, the future asymptotic behavior (with respect to initial data on null hypersurface) of Robinson-Trautman spacetime was examined and its past horizon characterized. Therefore, only the investigation of conformal infinity is missing from the picture. We would like to present some initial results concerning conformal infinity when negative cosmological constant is present motivated by the AdS/CFT correspondence.
We discuss the holographic reconstruction of four-dimensional asymptotically anti-de Sitter Robinson-Trautman spacetime from boundary data. We use for that a resummed version of the derivative expansion. The latter involves a vector field, which is interpreted as the dual-holographic-fluid velocity field and is naturally defined in the Eckart frame. In this frame the analysis of the non-perfect holographic energy-momentum tensor is considerably simplified. The Robinson-Trautman fluid is at rest and its time evolution is a heat-diffusion kind of phenomenon: the Robinson-Trautman equation plays …
We summarize recent results on $D$-dimensional Robinson-Trautman solutions of Einstein's gravity in the presence of a conformally invariant non-linear electromagnetic field and a cosmological constant. These spacetimes contain static dyonic black holes with various horizon geometries and their time-dependent radiating generalizations, as well as a class of stealth solutions. Extensions to $f(R)$ and Gauss-Bonnet gravity are mentioned.
We summarize results about Robinson-Trautman spacetimes in the presence of an aligned $p$-form Maxwell field and an arbitrary cosmological constant in $n\ge 4$ dimensions. While in odd dimensions the solutions reduce to static black holes dressed with an electric and a magnetic field (with an Einstein space horizon), in even dimensions $2p=n$ they may also describe black holes gaining (or losing) mass by receiving (or emitting) electromagnetic radiation. The Weyl type of the spacetimes is also briefly discussed in all the possible cases.
We investigate higher dimensional Robinson-Trautman spacetimes with an electromagnetic field aligned with the hypersurface orthogonal, non-shearing, expanding geodesic null congruence. After integrating the system of Einstein-Maxwell equations with an arbitrary cosmological constant, we present the complete family of solutions. In odd spacetime dimensions they represent (generalized) Reissner-Nordstrom-de Sitter black holes. The event horizon (more generically, the transverse space) may be any Einstein space, and the full metric is specified by three independent parameters related to mass, ele…
We present the Riemann and Ricci tensors for a fully general non-twisting and shear-free geometry in arbitrary dimension D. This includes both the non-expanding Kundt and expanding Robinson-Trautman family of spacetimes. As an interesting application of these explicit expressions we then integrate the Einstein equations and prove a surprising fact that in any D the Robinson-Trautman class does not admit solutions representing gyratonic sources, i.e., matter field in the form of a null fluid (or particles propagating with the speed of light) with an additional internal spin. Contrary to the clo…
We study point symmetries of the Robinson--Trautman equation. The cases of one- and two-dimensional algebras of infinitesimal symmetries are discussed in detail. The corresponding symmetry reductions of the equation are given. Higher dimensional symmetries are shortly discussed. It turns out that all known exact solutions of the Robinson--Trautman equation are symmetric.
An explicit Robinson--Trautman solution with minimally coupled free scalar field was derived and analyzed recently. It was shown that this solution possesses a curvature singularity which is initially naked but later enveloped by a horizon. However, this study concentrated on the general branch of the solution where all free constants are nonzero. Interesting special cases arise when some of the parameters are set to zero. In most of these cases the scalar field is still present. One of the cases is a static solution which represents a parametric limit of the Janis--Newman--Winicour scalar fie…
We study the possible asymptotically flat perturbations of Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. We differentiate between algebraically special perturbations and general perturbations. The equations that determine physically realistic spacetimes with angular momentum are presented.
The thin-shell wormhole created using the Darmois-Israel formalism applied to Robinson-Trautman family of spacetimes is presented. The stress energy tensor created on the throat is interpreted in terms of two dust streams and it is shown that asymptotically this wormhole settles to the Schwarzschild wormhole with a throat located at the horizon position. This behavior shows a nonlinear stability (within the Robinson-Trautman class) of this spherically symmetric wormhole. The gravitational radiation emitted by the Robinson-Trautman wormhole during the transition to spherical symmetry is indisti…
The past quasi-local horizons in vacuum Robinson-Trautman spacetimes are described. The case of a null (non-expanding) horizon is discussed. It is shown that the only Robinson-Trautman space-time admitting such a horizon with sections diffeomorphic to S_2 is the Schwarzschild space-time. Weakening this condition leads to the horizons of the C-metric. Properties of the hypersurface r=2m for finite retarded time u are examined.
As an extension of the Robinson-Trautman solutions of D=4 general relativity, we investigate higher dimensional spacetimes which admit a hypersurface orthogonal, non-shearing and expanding geodesic null congruence. Einstein's field equations with an arbitrary cosmological constant and possibly an aligned pure radiation are fully integrated, so that the complete family is presented in closed explicit form. As a distinctive feature of higher dimensions, the transverse spatial part of the general line element must be a Riemannian Einstein space, but it is otherwise arbitrary. On the other hand, t…
We derive the higher dimensional generalization of Penrose-Tod equation describing past horizon in Robinson-Trautman spacetimes with a cosmological constant and pure radiation. Results for D=4 dimensions are summarized. Existence of its solutions in D>4 dimensions is proved using tools for nonlinear elliptic partial differential equations.
We derive the higher dimensional generalization of Penrose-Tod equation describing apparent horizons in Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. New results concerning the existence and uniqueness of its solutions in four dimensions are proven. Namely, previous results of Tod are generalized to nonvanishing cosmological constant.
Université libre de Bruxelles（布鲁塞尔自由大学）；International Solvay Institutes（国际索尔维研究所）；School of Quantum Physics and Matter Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM)（基础科学研究所量子物理与物质学院）
We derive the higher dimensional generalization of Penrose--Tod equation describing past horizon in Robinson--Trautman spacetimes with a cosmological constant and pure radiation. Existence of its solutions in $D>4$ dimensions is proved using tools for nonlinear elliptic partial differential equations. We show that this horizon is naturally a trapping and a dynamical horizon. The findings generalize results from D=4.
The variational field equations of Brans-Dicke scalar-tensor theory of gravitation are given in a non-Riemannian setting in the language of exterior differential forms over 4-dimensional spacetimes. A conformally re-scaled Robinson-Trautman metric together with the Brans-Dicke scalar field are used to characterise algebraically special Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. All the relevant tensors are worked out in a complex null basis and given explicitly in an appendix for future reference. Some special families of solutions are also given and discussed.
We show that the so called Robinson-Trautman-Maxwell equations do not constitute a well posed initial value problem. That is, the dependence of the solution on the initial data is not continuous in any norm built out from the initial data and a finite number of its derivatives. Thus, they can not be used to solve for solutions outside the analytic domain.
Robinson--Trautman solutions with Nonlinear Electrodynamics are investigated for both L(F ) and L(F, G) Lagrangians and presence of electric and magnetic charges as well as electromagnetic radiation is assumed. Particular interest is devoted to models representing regular black holes for spherically symmetric situations. The results show clear uniqueness of Maxwell electrodynamics with respect to compatibility with Robinson--Trautman class. Additionally, regular black hole models are clearly not suited to this class while famous Born--Infeld model illustrates important distinction between L(F …
We study far-from-equilibrium field theory dynamics using gauge/gravity duality applied to the Robinson-Trautman (RT) class of spacetimes and we present a number of new results. First, we assess the applicability of the hydrodynamic approximation to inhomogeneous plasma dynamics dual to RT spacetimes. We prove that to any order in a late time expansion it is possible to identify variables corresponding to the local energy density and fluid velocity. However, we show using numerical examples that this does not hold at the non-perturbative level; for sufficiently inhomogeneous initial data a loc…
Explicit Robinson--Trautman solutions with electromagnetic field satisfying nonlinear field equations are derived and analyzed. The solutions are generated from the spherically symmetric ones. In all cases the electromagnetic field singularity is removed while the gravitational one persists. The models resolving curvature singularity were not possible to generalize to Robinson--Trautman geometry indicating that the removal of singularity in associated spherically symmetric case is just a consequence of high symmetry. We show that the solutions are generally of algebraic type II but reduce to t…
Explicit Robinson-Trautman solution with minimally coupled free scalar field is derived and analyzed. It is shown that this solution contains curvature singularity which is initially naked but later the horizon envelopes it. We use quasilocal horizon definition and prove its existence in later retarded times using sub- and supersolution method combined with growth estimates. We show that the solution is generally of algebraic type II but reduces to type D in spherical symmetry.
We study the Robinson-Trautman-Maxwell Fields in two closely related coordinate systems, the original Robinson-Trautman (RT) coordinates (in a more general context, often referred to as NU coordinates) and Bondi coordinates. In particular, we identify one of the RT variables as a velocity and then from the Bondi energy-momentum 4-vector, we find kinematic expressions for the mass and momentum in terms of this velocity. From these kinematic expressions and the energy-momentum loss equation we obtain surprising equations of motion for `the center of mass' of the source where the motion takes pla…
We present an alternative scheme of finding apparent horizons based on spectral methods applied to Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. We have considered distinct initial data such as representing the spheroids of matter and the head-on collision of two non-rotating black holes. The evolution of the apparent horizon is presented. We have obtained in some cases a mass gap between the final Bondi and apparent horizon masses, whose implications were briefly commented in the light of the thermodynamics of black holes.
We point out the relation between the photon rocket spacetimes and the Robinson Trautman geometries. This allows a discussion of the issues related to the distinction between the gravitational and matter energy radiation that appear in these metrics in a more geometrical way, taking full advantage of their asymptotic properties at null infinity to separate the Weyl and Ricci radiations, and to clearly establish their gravitational energy content. We also give the exact solution for the generalized photon rockets.
We study Robinson-Trautman spacetimes in the presence of an aligned p-form Maxwell field and an arbitrary cosmological constant in n>=4 dimensions. As it turns out, the character of these exact solutions depends significantly on the (relative) value of n and p. In odd dimensions the solutions reduce to static black holes dressed by an electric and a magnetic field and whose horizon is an Einstein space (further constrained by the Einstein-Maxwell equations) -- both the Weyl and Maxwell type are D. Even dimensions, however, open up more possibilities. In particular, when 2p=n there exist non-st…
In recent literature there appeared conflicting claims about whether the Ozsváth-Robinson-Rózga family of type N electrovac spacetimes of the Kundt class with $Λ$ is complete. We show that indeed it is.
The Robinson-Trautman type N solutions, which describe expanding gravitational waves, are investigated for all possible values of the cosmological constant Lambda and the curvature parameter epsilon. The wave surfaces are always (hemi-)spherical, with successive surfaces displaced in a way which depends on epsilon. Explicit sandwich waves of this class are studied in Minkowski, de Sitter or anti-de Sitter backgrounds. A particular family of such solutions which can be used to represent snapping or decaying cosmic strings is considered in detail, and its singularity and global structure is pres…
Vacuum asymptotically flat Robinson-Trautman spacetimes are a well known class of spacetimes exhibiting outgoing gravitational radiation. In this paper we describe a method of locating the past apparent horizon in these spacetimes, and discuss the properties of the horizon. We show that the past apparent horizon is non-timelike, and that its surface area is a decreasing function of the retarded time. A numerical simulation of the apparent horizon is also discussed.
The minimal prolongation structure for the Robinson-Trautman equations of Petrov type III is shown to always include the infinite-dimensional, contragredient algebra, K$_2$, which is of infinite growth. Knowledge of faithful representations of this algebra would allow the determination of Bäcklund transformations to evolve new solutions.
We consider the gravitational recoil due to non-reflection-symmetric gravitational wave emission in the context of axisymmetric Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. We show that regular initial data evolve generically into a final configuration corresponding to a Schwarzschild black-hole moving with constant speed. For the case of (reflection-)symmetric initial configurations, the mass of the remnant black-hole and the total energy radiated away are completely determined by the initial data, allowing us to obtain analytical expressions for some recent numerical results that have been appeared in the …
We consider a general class of four-dimensional geometries admitting a null vector field that has no twist and no shear but has an arbitrary expansion. We explicitly present the Petrov classification of such Robinson-Trautman (and Kundt) gravitational fields, based on the algebraic properties of the Weyl tensor. In particular, we determine all algebraically special subcases when the optically privileged null vector field is a multiple principal null direction (PND), as well as all the cases when it remains a single PND. No field equations are a priori applied, so that our classification scheme…
We study past horizons in the class of type II Robinson-Trautman vacuum spacetimes with a cosmological constant. These exact radiative solutions of Einstein's equations exist in the future of any sufficiently smooth initial data, and they approach the corresponding spherically symmetric Schwarzschild-(anti-)de Sitter metric. By analytic methods we investigate the existence, uniqueness, location and character of the past horizons in these spacetimes. In particular, we generalize the Penrose-Tod equation for marginally trapped surfaces, which form such white-hole horizons, to the case of a nonva…
Robinson-Trautman radiative space-times of Petrov type II with a non-vanishing cosmological constant Lambda and mass parameter m>0 are studied using analytical methods. They are shown to approach the corresponding spherically symmetric Schwarzschild-de Sitter or Schwarzschild-anti-de Sitter solution at large retarded times. Their global structure is analyzed, and it is demonstrated that the smoothness of the extension of the metrics across the horizon, as compared with the case Lambda=0, is increased for Lambda>0 and decreased for Lambda<0. For the extreme value 9Lambda m^2=1, the extension is…
The evolution of spheroids of matter emitting gravitational waves and null radiation field is studied in the realm of radiative Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. The null radiation field is expected in realistic gravitational collapse, and can be either an incoherent superposition of waves of electromagnetic, neutrino or massless scalar fields. We have constructed the initial data identified as representing the exterior spacetime of uniform and non-uniform spheroids of matter. By imposing that the radiation field is a decreasing function of the retarded time, the Schwarzschild solution is the asym…
We discuss Petrov type D Einstein-Maxwell fields in which both double null eigenvectors of the Weyl tensor are non-aligned with the eigenvectors of a non-null electromagnetic field and are assumed to be geodesic, shear-free, diverging and non-twisting. We obtain the general solution of the Einstein-Maxwell equations under the extra condition that the complex null vectors of the Weyl canonical tetrad are hypersurface orthogonal. The corresponding space-times are all conformally related to a Killing-Yano space and are described by a 5-parameter family of metrics, admitting two commuting Killing …
We present a general solution of the coupled Einstein-Maxwell field equations (without the source charges and currents) in three spacetime dimensions. We also admit any value of the cosmological constant. The whole family of such $Λ$-electrovacuum local solutions splits into two distinct subclasses, namely the non-expanding Kundt class and the expanding Robinson-Trautman class. While the Kundt class only admits electromagnetic fields which are aligned along the geometrically privileged null congruence, the Robinson-Trautman class admits both aligned and also more complex non-aligned Maxwell fi…
We present an efficient numerical code based on spectral methods to integrate the field equations of general Robinson-Trautmann spacetimes. The most natural basis functions for the spectral expansion of the metric functions are spherical harmonics. Using the values of appropriate combinations of the metric functions at the collocation points, we have managed to reduce expression swell when the number of spherical harmonics increases. Our numerical code runs with relatively little computational resources and the code tests have shown excellent accuracy and convergence. The code has been applied…
The `runaway solutions' of the Lorentz-Dirac equation of a charged particle interacting with its own field in classical electrodynamics are well-known. This type of self accelerated phenomena also exists in the solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell equations in general relativity. In particular, runaway solutions occur in a class of simple models known as the `Asymptotically Flat Robinson-Trautman Einstein-Maxwell' (AFRTEM) spacetimes. Consequently these spacetimes cannot evolve to their unique regular steady state, viz. a charged non-rotating black hole. This seems to contradict the established r…
Since all Einstein spacetimes are vacuum solutions to quadratic gravity in four dimensions, in this paper we study various aspects of non-Einstein vacuum solutions to this theory. Most such known solutions are of traceless Ricci and Petrov type N with a constant Ricci scalar. Thus we assume the Ricci scalar to be constant which leads to a substantial simplification of the field equations. We prove that a vacuum solution to quadratic gravity with traceless Ricci tensor of type N and aligned Weyl tensor of any Petrov type is necessarily a Kundt spacetime. This will considerably simplify the sear…
We examine numerically the gravitational wave recoil in non-axisymmetric Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. We construct characteristic initial data for the Robinson-Trautman dynamics which are interpreted as corresponding to the early post-merger state of two boosted colliding black holes with a common apparent horizon. Our analysis is based on the Bondi-Sachs energy-momentum conservation laws which regulate the radiative transfer processes involved in the emission of gravitational waves. We evaluate the Bondi-Sachs momentum flux carried out by gravitational waves and the associated net kick veloc…
Under a weak assumption of the existence of a geodesic null congruence, we present the general solution of the Einstein field equations in three dimensions with any value of the cosmological constant, admitting an aligned null matter field, and also gyratons (a matter field in the form of a null dust with an additional internal spin). The general local solution consists of the expanding Robinson-Trautman class and the non-expanding Kundt class. The gyratonic solutions reduce to spacetimes with a pure radiation matter field when the spin is set to zero. Without matter fields, we obtain new form…
We examine the gravitational wave recoil waves and the associated net kick velocities in non-axisymmetric Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. We use characteristic initial data for the dynamics corresponding to non-head-on collisions of black holes. We make a parameter study of the kick distributions, corresponding to an extended range of the incidence angle $ρ_0$ in the initial data. For the range of $ρ_0$ examined ($3^{\circ} \leq ρ_0 \leq 110^{\circ}$) the kick distributions as a function of the symmetric mass parameter $η$ satisfy a law obtained from an empirical modification of the Fitchett law…
Gravitational Memory Beyond Null Infinity through Finite-Distance Carrollian Screens
Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad San Sebastián（圣塞巴斯蒂安大学工程学院）；Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo（滑铁卢大学物理与天文学系）；Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics（理论物理前沿研究所）；Departamento de Física, Universidad de Concepción（康塞普西翁大学物理系）
We present an algebraic classification, based on the null alignment properties of the Weyl tensor, of the general Kundt class of spacetimes in arbitrary dimension for which the non-expanding, non-twisting, shear-free null direction \boldk is a (multiple) Weyl aligned null direction (WAND). No field equations are used, so that the results apply not only to Einstein's gravity and its direct extension to higher dimensions, but also to any metric theory of gravity which admits the Kundt spacetimes. By an explicit evaluation of the Weyl tensor in a natural null frame we demonstrate that all Kundt g…
A particular yet large class of non-diverging solutions which admits a cosmological constant, electromagnetic field, pure radiation and/or general non-null matter component is explicitly presented. These spacetimes represent exact gravitational waves of arbitrary profiles which propagate in background universes such as Minkowski, conformally flat (anti-)de Sitter, Edgar-Ludwig, Bertotti-Robinson, and type D (anti-)Nariai or Plebanski-Hacyan spaces, and their generalizations. All possibilities are discussed and are interpreted using a unifying simple metric form. Sandwich and impulsive waves pr…
We investigate the fully general class of non-expanding, non-twisting and shear-free D-dimensional geometries using the invariant form of geodesic deviation equation which describes the relative motion of free test particles. We show that the local effect of such gravitational fields on the particles basically consists of isotropic motion caused by the cosmological constant Lambda, Newtonian-type tidal deformations typical for spacetimes of algebraic type D or II, longitudinal motion characteristic for spacetimes of type III, and type N purely transverse effects of exact gravitational waves wi…
We present and analyze exact solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell equations in higher dimensions which form a large subclass of the Kundt family of spacetimes. We assume that the cosmological constant may be nonvanishing, and the matter consists of a background aligned electromagnetic field and an additional pure radiation (gyratonic) field with a spin. We show that the field equations reduce to a set of linear equations on the transverse space which can be solved exactly and expressed in terms of the Green functions. We thus find explicit exact gyratonic gravitational and electromagnetic fields …
We investigate the complete family of (aligned) Robinson-Trautman spacetimes sourced by conformally invariant non-linear electrodynamics in $D$ dimensions in the presence of an arbitrary cosmological constant. After presenting general features of the solutions (which exist only in even dimensions), we discuss in more detail some particular subclasses. Static metrics contain dyonic black holes with various possible horizon geometries (Kähler if there is a magnetic field, including flat branes) and different asymptotics. In addition, there exist also time-dependent solutions (not possible in the…
