The Weyl double copy from twistor space

The Weyl double copy is a procedure for relating exact solutions in biadjoint scalar, gauge and gravity theories, and relates fields in spacetime directly. Where this procedure comes from, and how general it is, have until recently remained mysterious. In this paper, we show how the current form and scope of the Weyl double copy can be derived from a certain procedure in twistor space. The new formalism shows that the Weyl double copy is more general than previously thought, applying in particular to gravity solutions with arbitrary Petrov types. We comment on how to obtain anti-self-dual as well as self-dual fields, and clarify some conceptual issues in the twistor approach.

On a type of spacetimes

In the present paper we characterize a type of spacetimes, called almost pseudo Z-symmetric spacetimes A(PZS)4. At first, we obtain a condition for an A(PZS)4 spacetime to be a perfect fluid spacetime and Roberson-Walker spacetime. It is shown that an A(PZS)4 spacetime is a perfect fluid spacetime if the Z tensor is of Codazzi type. Next we prove that such a spacetime is the Roberson-Walker spacetime and can be identified with Petrov types I, D or O[3], provided the associated scalar ? is constant. Then we investigate A(PZS)4 spacetimes satisfying divC = 0 and state equation is derived. Also some physical consequences are outlined. Finally, we construct a metric example of an A(PZS)4 spacetime.

ALIGNMENT AND ALGEBRAICALLY SPECIAL TENSORS IN LORENTZIAN GEOMETRY

We develop a dimension-independent theory of alignment in Lorentzian geometry, and apply it to the tensor classification problem for the Weyl and Ricci tensors. First, we show that the alignment condition is equivalent to the principal null direction equation. In 4 dimensions this recovers the usual Petrov types are recovered. For higher dimensions we prove that, in general, a Weyl tensor does not possess any aligned directions. We then go on to describe a number of additional algebraic types for the various alignment configurations. For the case of second-order symmetric (Ricci) tensors, we perform the classification by considering the geometric properties of the corresponding alignment variety.

ELECTROMAGNETIC-LIKE BOOST TRANSFORMATIONS OF WEYL AND MINIMAL SUPER-ENERGY OBSERVERS IN BLACK HOLE SPACETIMES

The transformation laws for the electric and magnetic parts of the electromagnetic 2-form and the Weyl tensor under a boost are studied using the complex vector approach, which shows the close analogy between the two cases. For a nonnull electromagnetic field, one can always find an observer who sees parallel electric and magnetic fields (vanishing Poynting vector) and also sees a minimum electromagnetic energy density (and minimum electric and magnetic field magnitudes) compared to other observers. For Weyl fields of all Petrov types except III, and boosts along certain directions of the Weyl principal tetrad, the more complicated Weyl transformation closely mimics the electromagnetic boost transformation, allowing one to extend the electromagnetic results directly to the families of boosts along those directions. In particular for black hole spacetimes, the alignment of the electric and magnetic parts of the Weyl tensor (vanishing super-Poynting vector) leads to minimal gravitational super-energy as seen by the Carter observer within the family of all circularly rotating observers at each spacetime point outside the horizon.

PETROV TYPES AND SPECIAL REFERENCE FRAMES

The Petrov classification is studied with the language of spacetime splitting with respect to a generic timelike unit vector field. Canonical forms of the Weyl tensor for each Petrov type are introduced in terms of preferred reference frames. As an application, the canonical forms of the Bel–Robinson superenergy density and flux are constructed and applications to Bel's definition of gravitational radiation are considered.