Higher dimensional Kerr-Schild spacetimes

Details Higher dimensional Kerr-Schild spacetimes Higher dimensional Kerr-Schild spacetimes

2008-08-15

arxiv.org/abs/0808.2165v2

Class.Quant.Grav.26:025008,2009

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

33 pages. v2: minor changes, new references

Scientific paper

10.1088/0264-9381/26/2/025008

We investigate general properties of Kerr-Schild (KS) metrics in n>4 spacetime dimensions. First, we show that the Weyl tensor is of type II or more special if the null KS vector k is geodetic (or, equivalently, if T_{ab}k^ak^b=0). We subsequently specialize to vacuum KS solutions, which naturally split into two families of non-expanding and expanding metrics. After demonstrating that non-expanding solutions are equivalent to the known class of vacuum Kundt solutions of type N, we analyze expanding solutions in detail. We show that they can only be of the type II or D, and we characterize optical properties of the multiple Weyl aligned null direction (WAND) k. In general, k has caustics corresponding to curvature singularities. In addition, it is generically shearing. Nevertheless, we arrive at a possible "weak" n>4 extension of the Goldberg-Sachs theorem, limited to the KS class, which matches previous conclusions for general type III/N solutions. In passing, properties of Myers-Perry black holes and black rings related to our results are also briefly discussed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Higher dimensional Kerr-Schild spacetimes does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Higher dimensional Kerr-Schild spacetimes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Higher dimensional Kerr-Schild spacetimes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-651411