Exact solutions of the field equations: twist-free pure radiation fields

Abstract

This note is intended to give a rough survey of the results obtained in the study of twist-free pure radiation fields in general relativity theory. Here we are using the following Definition. A space-time ( V 4 of signature +2) is called a pure radiation field if it contains a distortion-free geodetic null congruence (a so-called ray congruence ), and if it satisfies certain field equations which we will specify below (e.g. Einstein’s vacuum-field equations). A (null) congruence is called twist-free if it is hypersurface-orthogonal (or ‘normal’). The results listed below were obtained by introducing special (‘canonical’) co-ordinates adapted to the ray congruence. Detailed proofs were given by Robinson & Trautman (1962) and by Jordan, Kundt & Ehlers (1961) (see also Kundt 1961). For the sake of completeness we include in our survey the subclass of expanding fields, and make use of some formulae first obtained by Robinson & Trautman.