Generalized Kundt waves and their physical interpretation

Article

Generalized Kundt waves and their physical interpretation

Griffiths, J. B.; Docherty, P.; Podolský, J.

Class. Quantum Grav. 21, 207-222 (2004)

Abstract

We present the complete family of space-times with a non-expanding, shear-free, twist-free, geodesic principal null congruence (Kundt waves) that are of algebraic type III and for which the cosmological constant ($\Lambda_c$) is non-zero. The possible presence of an aligned pure radiation field is also assumed. These space-times generalise the known vacuum solutions of type N with arbitrary $\Lambda_c$ and type III with $\Lambda_c=0$. It is shown that there are two, one and three distinct classes of solutions when $\Lambda_c$ is respectively zero, positive and negative. The wave surfaces are plane, spherical or hyperboloidal in Minkowski, de Sitter or anti-de Sitter backgrounds respectively, and the structure of the family of wave surfaces in the background space-time is described. The weak singularities which occur in these space-times are interpreted in terms of envelopes of the wave surfaces.

Institute authors

Podolský, Jiří

Supported by

GACR 202/02/0735 — Relativistic physics and astrophysics 2002-04
GAUK 166/2003 — Relativistická teorie gravitace, astrofyzika a kosmologie

BibTeX

@article{UTF171,
  author        = {Griffiths, J. B. and Docherty, P. and Podolský, J.},
  title         = {{Generalized Kundt waves and their physical interpretation}},
  journal       = {Class. Quantum Grav.},
  volume        = {21},
  pages         = {207-222},
  year          = {2004},
  doi           = {10.1088/0264-9381/21/1/014},
  eprint        = {gr-qc/0310083},
  archivePrefix = {arXiv},
  url           = {http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/0264-9381/21/1/014/cqg4\_1\_014.pdf},
}