THE KERR–SCHILD ANSATZ REVISED

Abstract

Kerr–Schild metrics have been introduced as a linear superposition of the flat spacetime metric and a squared null-vector field, say k, multiplied by some scalar function, say H. The basic assumption which led to Kerr solution was that k be both geodesic and shearfree. This condition is relaxed here and Kerr–Schild Ansatz is revised by treating Kerr–Schild metrics as exact linear perturbations of Minkowski spacetime. The scalar function H is taken as the perturbing function, so that Einstein's field equations are solved order-by-order in powers of H. It turns out that the congruence must be geodesic and shearfree as a consequence of third- and second-order equations, leading to an alternative derivation of Kerr solution.