English

Flat deformation theorem and symmetries in spacetime

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2009-02-20 v3

Abstract

The \emph{flat deformation theorem} states that given a semi-Riemannian analytic metric gg on a manifold, locally there always exists a two-form FF, a scalar function cc, and an arbitrarily prescribed scalar constraint depending on the point xx of the manifold and on FF and cc, say Ψ(c,F,x)=0\Psi (c, F, x)=0, such that the \emph{deformed metric} η=cgϵF2\eta = cg -\epsilon F^2 is semi-Riemannian and flat. In this paper we first show that the above result implies that every (Lorentzian analytic) metric gg may be written in the \emph{extended Kerr-Schild form}, namely ηab:=agab2bk(alb)\eta_{ab} := a g_{ab} - 2 b k_{(a} l_{b)} where η\eta is flat and ka,lak_a, l_a are two null covectors such that kala=1k_a l^a= -1; next we show how the symmetries of gg are connected to those of η\eta, more precisely; we show that if the original metric gg admits a Conformal Killing vector (including Killing vectors and homotheties), then the deformation may be carried out in a way such that the flat deformed metric η\eta `inherits' that symmetry.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0809.1030,
  title  = {Flat deformation theorem and symmetries in spacetime},
  author = {Josep Llosa and Jaume Carot},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0809.1030},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

30 pages, 0 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-21T11:17:19.845Z