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.
Conformal Killing equations and their integrability conditions for expanding hyperheavenly spaces with Lambda in spinorial formalism are studied. It is shown that any conformal Killing vector reduces to homothetic or isometric Killing vector. Reduction of respective Killing equation to one master equation is presented. Classification of homothetic and isometric Killing vectors is given. Type [D]x[any] is analysed in details and some expanding HH complex metrics of types [III, N]x[III, N] with Lambda admitting isometric Killing vectors are found.
In this paper we consider homothetic Killing vectors in the class of stationary axisymmetric vacuum (SAV) spacetimes, where the components of the vectors are functions of the time and radial coordinates. In this case the component of any homothetic Killing vector along the $z$ direction must be constant. Firstly, it is shown that either the component along the radial direction is constant or we have the proportionality $g_{ϕϕ}\propto g_{ρρ}$, where $g_{ϕϕ}>0$. In both cases, complete analyses are carried out and the general forms of the homothetic Killing vectors are determined. The associated…
Spherically symmetric solutions admitting a homothetic Killing vector field (HKVF) either orthogonal, $η_{\bot}$, or parallel,$η_{||}$, to the 4-velocity vector field, $u^a$, are studied. New self-similar solution of Einstein's field equation is found in the case when HKVF is in a general form. Some physical properties of the obtained solution are examined.
This paper investigates axially symmetric space-times that admit a homothetic vector field based on Lyra's geometry. The cases when the displacement vector is a function of $t$ and when it is constant are studied. In the context of this geometry, we find and classify the solutions of the Einstein's field equations (EFE) for the space-time under consideration, which display a homothetic symmetry.
HH-spaces, i.e., complex spacetimes, of Petrov type NxN are determined by a trio of pde's for two functions, lambda and a, of three independent variables (and also two gauge functions, chosen to be two of the independent variables if one prefers). As in common integrable systems, these form a second order, linear system for lambda; howver, here the integrability conditions, involving a, are more complicated than is common. Therefore, with the hope of finding new solutions, these equations are now constrained to also admit both one and two homothetic or Killing vectors. The case with one Killin…
Fayos and Sopuerta have recently set up a formalism for studying vacuum spacetimes with an isometry, a formalism that is centred around the bivector corresponding to the Killing vector and that adapts the tetrad to the bivector. Steele has generalized their approach to include the homothetic case. Here, we generalize this formalism to arbitrary spacetimes and to homothetic and conformal Killing vectors but do not insist on aligning the tetrad with the bivector. The most efficient way to use the formalism to find conformal Killing vectors (proper or not) of a given spacetime is to combine it wi…
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…
We derive the equations corresponding to twisting type-N vacuum gravitational fields with one Killing vector and one homothetic Killing vector by using the same approach as that developed by one of us in order to treat the case with two non-commuting Killing vectors. We study the case when the homothetic parameter $ϕ$ takes the value -1, which is shown to admit a reduction to a third-order real ordinary differential equation for this problem, similar to that previously obtained by one of us when two Killing vectors are present.
It is well-known \cite{mtbh} that {\em all} black hole solutions of General Relativity are of Petrov-type D. It may thus be expected that the spacetime of {\em physically realizable} spherical gravitational collapse is also of Petrov-type D. We show that a radially homothetic spacetime, {\em ie}, a spherically symmetric spacetime with hyper-surface orthogonal, radial, homothetic Killing vector, is of Petrov-type D. As has been argued in \cite{prl1}, it is a spacetime of {\em physically realizable} spherical collapse.
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.
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.
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…
A brief summary of results on homotheties in General Relativity is given, including general information about space-times admitting an r-parameter group of homothetic transformations for r>2, as well as some specific results on perfect fluids. Attention is then focussed on inhomogeneous models, in particular on those with a homothetic group $H_4$ (acting multiply transitively) and $H_3$. A classification of all possible Lie algebra structures along with (local) coordinate expressions for the metric and homothetic vectors is then provided (irrespectively of the matter content), and some new per…
Conformal Killing equations and their integrability conditions for nonexpanding hyperheavenly spaces with Lambda are studied. Reduction of ten Killing equations to one master equation is presented. Classification of homothetic and isometric Killing vectors in nonexpanding hyperheavenly spaces with Lambda and homothetic Killing vectors in heavenly spaces is given. Some nonexpanding complex metrics of types [III,N]x[N] are found. A simple example of Lorentzian real slice of the type [N]x[N] is explicitly given.
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.
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.
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 consider a spherically symmetric, Petrov-type D, spacetime with hyper-surface orthogonal, radial, homothetic Killing vector. In this work, some general properties of this spacetime for non-singular and non-degenerate data are presented. We also present the source-free electromagnetic fields in this spacetime. We then discuss general astrophysical relevance of the results obtained for this spacetime.
We show that the existence of appropriate spatial homothetic Killing vectors is directly related to the separability of the metric functions for axially symmetric spacetimes. The density profile for such spacetimes is (spatially) arbitrary and admits any equation of state for the matter in the spacetime. When used for studying axisymmetric gravitational collapse, such solutions do not result in a locally naked singularity.
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 …
This paper presents an efficient technique for finding Killing, homothetic, or even proper conformal Killing vectors in the Newman-Penrose (NP) formalism. Leaning on, and extending, results previously derived in the GHP formalism we show that the (conformal) Killing equations can be replaced by a set of equations involving the commutators of the Lie derivative with the four NP differential operators applied to the four coordinates. It is crucial that these operators refer to a preferred tetrad relative to the (conformal) Killing vectors, a notion to be defined. The equations can then be readil…
A generalisation of a known theorem concerning the computation of the conformal algebra in 1+(n-1) decomposable spaces is presented. It is shown that the general form of Conformal Vector Fields (CVF) is the sum of a gradient CVF and a Killing or Homothetic (n-1)-vector. A simple criterion is established which enables one to check if a 1+(n-1) decomposable spacetime admits proper CVF. As an example, the complete conformal algebra of a Gödel-type spacetime is computed.
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…
The conformal Killing equations for the most general (non-plane wave) conformally flat pure radiation field are solved to find the conformal Killing vectors. As expected fifteen independent conformal Killing vectors exist, but in general the metric admits no Killing or homothetic vectors. However for certain special cases a one-dimensional group of homotheties or motions may exist and in one very special case, overlooked by previous investigators, a two-dimensional homethety group exists. No higher dimensional groups of motions or homotheties are admitted by these metrics.
A complete and simple invariant classification of the conformally flat pure radiation metrics with a negative cosmological constant that were obtained by integration using the generalised invariant formalism is presented. We show equivalence between these metrics and the corresponding type O subclass of the more general spacetime studied by Siklos. The classification procedure indicates that the metrics possess a one degree of null isotropy freedom which has very interesting repercussions in the symmetry analysis. The Killing and homothetic vector analysis in GHP formalism is then generalised …
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.
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…
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…
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.
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…
A study is undertaken of the gravitational collapse of spherically symmetric thick shells admitting a homothetic Killing vector field under the assumption that the energy momentum tensor corresponds to the absence of a pure outgoing component of field. The energy-momentum tensor is not specified beyond this, but is assumed to satisfy the strong and dominant energy conditions. The metric tensor depends on only one function of the similarity variable and the energy conditions identify a class of functions ${\cal F}$ to which the metric function may belong. The possible global structure of such s…
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…
We study the stationary and axisymmetric non-convective differentially rotating perfect-fluid solutions of Einstein's field equations admitting one conformal symmetry. We analyse the two inequivalent Lie algebras not exhaustively considered in Mars and Senovilla, 1994, and show that the general solution for each Lie algebra depends on one arbitrary function of one of the coordinates while a set of three ordinary differential equations for four unknowns remains to be solved. The conformal Killing vector of these solutions is necessarily homothetic. We summarize in a table all the possible solut…
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…
In this paper we investigate conformal symmetries in Locally Rotationally Symmetric (LRS) spacetimes using a semitetrad covariant formalism. We demonstrate that a general LRS spacetime which rotates and spatially twists simultaneously has an inherent homothetic symmetry in the plane spanned by the fluid flow lines and the preferred spatial direction. We discuss the nature and consequence of this homothetic symmetry showing that a null Killing horizon arises when the heat flux has an extremal value. We also consider the special case of a perfect fluid and the restriction on the conformal geomet…
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
A definition is suggested for affine symmetry tensors, which generalize the notion of affine vectors in the same way that (conformal) Killing tensors generalize (conformal) Killing vectors. An identity for these tensors is proved, which gives the second derivative of the tensor in terms of the curvature tensor, generalizing a well-known identity for affine vectors. Additionally, the definition leads to a good definition of homothetic tensors. The inclusion relations between these types of tensors are exhibited. The relationship between affine symmetry tensors and solutions to the equation of g…
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.
The conformal algebra of a 1+3 decomposable spacetime can be computed from the conformal Killing vectors (CKV) of the 3-space. It is shown that the general form of such a 3-CKV is the sum of a gradient CKV and a Killing or homothetic 3-vector. It is proved that spaces of constant curvature always admit such conformal Killing vectors. As an example, the complete conformal algebra of a Gödel-type spacetime is computed. Finally it is shown that this method can be extended to compute the conformal algebra of more general non-decomposable spacetimes.
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.
A brief summary of results on kinematic self-similarities in general relativity is given. Attention is focussed on locally rotationally symmetric models admitting kinematic self-similar vectors. Coordinate expressions for the metric and the kinematic self-similar vector are provided. Einstein's field equations for perfect fluid models are investigated and all the homothetic perfect fluid solutions admitting a maximal four-parameter group of isometries are given.
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.
In this paper, we investigate conformal Killing's vectors (CKVs) admitted by some plane symmetric spacetimes. Ten conformal Killing's equations and their general forms of CKVs are derived along with their conformal factor. The existence of conformal Killing's symmetry imposes restrictions on the metric functions. The conditions imposing restrictions on these metric functions are obtained as a set of integrability conditions. Considering the cases of time-like and inheriting CKVs, we obtain spacetimes admitting plane conformal symmetry. Integrability conditions are solved completely for some kn…
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.
In an earlier paper (Class. Quantum Grav. 19 (2002) p.259) the author wrote the homothetic equations for vacuum solutions in a first order formalism allowing for arbitrary alignment of the dyad. This paper generalises that method to conformal vectors in non-vacuum spaces. The method is applied to metrics admitting a three parameter motion group on non-null orbits.
The virial theorem is formulated both intrinsically and in local coordinates for a Lagrangian system of mechanical type on a Riemann manifold. An import case studied in this paper is that of an affine virial function associated to a vector field on the configuration manifold. The special cases of a virial function associated to a Killing, a homothetic and a conformal Killing vector field are considered and the corresponding virial theorems are established for this type of functions.
We provide a set of exact spherically symmetric solutions describing the interior of a relativistic star under f(T) modified gravity. To tackle the problem with lucidity we also assume the existence of a conformal Killing vector field within this f(T) gravity. We study several cases of interest to explore physically valid features of the solutions.
We present a study of Bianchi class A tilted cosmological models admitting a proper homothetic vector field together with the restrictions, both at the geometrical and dynamical level, imposed by the existence of the simply transitive similarity group. The general solution of the symmetry equations and the form of the homothetic vector field are given in terms of a set of arbitrary integration constants. We apply the geometrical results for tilted perfect fluids sources and give the general Bianchi II self-similar solution and the form of the similarity vector field. In addition we show that s…
The field equations of the recent nonlocal generalization of Einstein's theory of gravitation are presented in a form that is reminiscent of general relativity. The implications of the nonlocal field equations are studied in the case of conformally flat spacetimes. Even in this simple case, the field equations are intractable. Therefore, to gain insight into the nature of these equations, we investigate the structure of nonlocal gravity in two-dimensional spacetimes. While any smooth 2D spacetime is conformally flat and satisfies Einstein's field equations, only a subset containing either a Ki…
In this paper we excavate, for the first time, the most general class of conformal Killing vectors, that lies in the two dimensional subspace described by the null and radial co-ordinates, that are admitted by the generalised Vaidya geometry. Subsequently we find the most general class of generalised Vaidya mass functions that give rise to such conformal symmetry. From our analysis it is clear that why some well known subclasses of generalised Vaidya geometry, like pure Vaidya or charged Vaidya solutions, admit only homothetic Killing vectors but no proper conformal Killing vectors with non co…
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…
Two components of spherically symmetric, inhomogeneous dust penetrating each other are introduced as a generalization of the well-known Tolman-Bondi dust solution. The field equations of this model are formulated and general properties are discussed. inhomogeneous Special solutions with additional symmetries - an extra Killing- or homothetic vector - and their matching to the corresponding Tolman-Bondi solution are investigated.
Vacuum gravitational fields admitting a light-like Killing field were systematically studied starting around 1960. Besides the already known plane waves, a second class of gravitational wave fields was found. In contrast to plane waves, their wave surfaces were not flat, but had a negative Gaussian curvature. Recently, such solutions found attention again as "twisted gravitational waves". In the paper we review and extend the earlier results. In suitable coordinates, the metric assumes a simple shape. The waves are then determined by a single function that satisfies a Laplace equation in cylin…
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…