GENERAL KUNDT AND ROBINSON-TRAUTMAN SPACETIMES IN HIGHER DIMENSIONS

摘要

We summarise general metrics of the Kundt and Robinson-Trautman classes of spacetimes in higher dimensions. Geometrically, they admit a non-twisting, non-shearing and either non-expanding or expanding geodetic null congruence, respectively. We discuss possible algebraic types and main geometric constraints imposed by field equations. We explicitly derive and study the corresponding Einstein-Maxwell equations, including an arbitrary cosmological constant and an aligned electromagnetic field (this also involves vacuum spacetimes). We introduce canonical subclasses and we identify the most important special cases, namely generalised pp-waves, VSI or CSI spacetimes and gyratons in the Kundt family, and generalised Reissner-Nordstr?m-de Sitter black holes in the Robinson-Trautman family.