TypeN twisting vacuum gravitational fields

Abstract

For vacuum, typeN, twisting gravitational fields the Einstein field equations reduce to partial differential equations for two functions, one real, the other complex, which may be regarded as initial data on a localJ+. If it is assumed that in some frame these initial data take on a certain product form, one factor involving only a spatial variable, the other only a retarded time variable, then these equations become relatively tractable and reduce further to two ordinary differential equations. Rejecting all solutions which lead to Minkowski space or to zero twist leaves just two possibilities. One corresponds to the only explicitly known spacetime of the kind, namely that of Hauser. The other leads to new typeN twisting metrics. However, these metrics can be constructed explicitly only once a single nonlinear third-order ordinary differential equation has been solved.