Arnold deformation of Petrov types (Q1098115)

The paper deals with a new classification of the Weyl tensor in general relativity. The ordinary Petrov classification of the Weyl tensor is highly unstable under perturbations while the authors take the view that physical measurements deal with families of curvature tensors rather than with infinitely accurate individual tensors. The new method is based on Arnold's theory of deformations [\textit{V. I. Arnold}, ``Singularity theory'', Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 53, 46-60 (1981; Zbl 0457.58002); see also Zbl 0259.15011]. Using the familiar bivector map and spinor formalism approaches to classifying the Weyl tensor, the authors define Arnold deformations of each of the Petrov types. This gives a classification of the Weyl tensor into families stable under deformations. Possible applications to the ``peeling-off'' theorem in gravitational radiation theory are indicated.