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Geodesic motion in Kundt spacetimes and the character of the envelope singularity

J Podolský and M Belán

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We investigate geodesics in specific Kundt type N (or conformally flat) solutions to Einstein's equations. Components of the curvature tensor in parallelly transported tetrads are then explicitly evaluated and analysed. This elucidates some interesting global properties of the spacetimes, such as an inherent rotation of the wave-propagation direction, or the character of singularities. In particular, we demonstrate that the characteristic envelope singularity of the rotated wave fronts is a (non-scalar) curvature singularity, although all scalar invariants of the Riemann tensor vanish there.


PACS

04.20.Dw Singularities and cosmic censorship

02.40.-k Geometry, differential geometry, and topology

04.30.Nk Wave propagation and interactions

MSC

83C35 Gravitational waves

53C22 Geodesics (See also 58E10)

83C05 Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems)

Subjects

Mathematical physics

Gravitation and cosmology

Dates

Issue 12 (21 June 2004)

Received 27 February 2004

Published 7 May 2004



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