Some spherical gravitational waves in general relativity

Source abstract

Abstract Einstein's equations for empty space are solved for the class of metrics which admit a family of hypersurface-orthogonal, non-shearing, diverging null curves. Some of these metrics may be considered as representing a simple kind of spherical, outgoing radiation. (Among them are solutions admitting no Killing field whatsoever.) Examples of solutions to the Maxwell-Einstein equations with a similar geometry are also given.