Pseudo-Z symmetric space-times with divergence-free Weyl tensor and pp-waves

Abstract

In this paper we present some new results about [Formula: see text]-dimensional pseudo-Z symmetric space-times. First we show that if the tensor Z satisfies the Codazzi condition then its rank is one, the space-time is a quasi-Einstein manifold, and the associated 1-form results to be null and recurrent. In the case in which such covector can be rescaled to a covariantly constant we obtain a Brinkmann-wave. Anyway the metric results to be a subclass of the Kundt metric. Next we investigate pseudo-Z symmetric space-times with harmonic conformal curvature tensor: a complete classification of such spaces is obtained. They are necessarily quasi-Einstein and represent a perfect fluid space-time in the case of time-like associated covector; in the case of null associated covector they represent a pure radiation field. Further if the associated covector is locally a gradient we get a Brinkmann-wave space-time for [Formula: see text] and a pp-wave space-time in [Formula: see text]. In all cases an algebraic classification for the Weyl tensor is provided for [Formula: see text] and higher dimensions. Then conformally flat pseudo-Z symmetric space-times are investigated. In the case of null associated covector the space-time reduces to a plane wave and results to be generalized quasi-Einstein. In the case of time-like associated covector we show that under the condition of divergence-free Weyl tensor the space-time admits a proper concircular vector that can be rescaled to a time like vector of concurrent form and is a conformal Killing vector. A recent result then shows that the metric is necessarily a generalized Robertson–Walker space-time. In particular we show that a conformally flat [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], space-time is conformal to the Robertson–Walker space-time.