Ambient metrics for \(n\)-dimensional \(pp\)-waves (Q974672)

Consider a manifold \(M\) equipped with a conformal class \([g]\) of pseudo Riemannian metrics of signature \((p,q)\). The ambient metric construction of \textit{C. Fefferman} and \textit{C. R. Graham} [Élie Cartan et les mathématiques d'aujourd'hui Semin. Lyon 1984, Astérisque, No. Hors Sér. 1985, 95--116 (1985; Zbl 0602.53007) and: The ambient metric, arXiv:0710.0919v2 (2008)] consists of the manifold \({\tilde M} = (-\epsilon,\epsilon) \times M \times (-\delta,\delta)\) \(\epsilon > 0\), \(\delta > 0\) equipped with a metric (called the ambient metric) of signature \((p+1, q+1)\) that is (in a specific way) compatible with the conformal structure \([g]\) and Ricci-flat. The latter condition guarantees uniqueness but might spoil existence. There are known cases in which a Ricci flat ambient metric does not exist. In the present paper the authors consider \(pp\)-waves, i.e., Lorentzian manifolds admitting a covariantly constant null vector field \(K\) and satisfying \(\text{Ric} = \Phi \kappa \otimes \kappa\), where \(\Phi\) is a (non-negative) function and \(\kappa\) is the one-form equivalent to \(K\). They provide an explicit formula for the ambient metric (in those cases where it exists), describe all 4-dimensional \(pp\)-waves that are Bach-flat (non-vanishing of the Bach tensor is in 4 dimensions an obstruction to the existence of a Ricci-flat ambient metric) and give a large class of Bach-flat examples which are conformally Cotton- flat, but not conformally Einstein. Finally, the obtained ambient metric is used to show that even-dimensional \(pp\)-waves have vanishing critical \(Q\)-curvature.