Conical singularity in spacetimes with NUT is observer-dependent
Abstract
We discuss the issue of defining and measuring conical deficits (conicity) in spacetimes with the torsion singularity such as the Misner string in Taub--NUT spacetime. We propose a geometric definition that generalizes the standard notion of conicity to stationary axially symmetric spacetimes with torsion singularity, where the conical deficit becomes observer-dependent -- it depends on the choice of a timelike Killing vector. This implies the existence of observers who perceive no conical singularity along the symmetry axis. As a result, in any spacetime with a non-vanishing NUT parameter, there are observers for whom the conicity has the same value on both semi-axes. This challenges the usual interpretation of conicity differences as indicators of string/rod-induced acceleration along the axis. We illustrate our definition across the full Pleba\'nski--Demia\'nski class, including the recently identified accelerated Taub--NUT solution. Our attempts in determining a canonical observer lead to even less desirable definitions of conicity.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2507.21238,
title = {Conical singularity in spacetimes with NUT is observer-dependent},
author = {Ivan Kolář and Pavel Krtouš and Maciej Ossowski},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.21238},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
20 pages, 3 figures; typos corrected