Painlevé expansions and the Einstein equations: The two-summand case (Q1410296)

The authors of this interesting paper study the existence of Painlevé-Kovalevskaya expansions for various reductions to ordinary differential equations of the Ricci-flat Einstein equations. The links between such expansions and metrics of exceptional holonomy are given. The Einstein equations for a cohomogeneity one metric with principal orbit, where the isotropy representation is monotypic are considered. By proper variables one can put the Einstein system into a form suitable for Painlevé analysis. It is considered the case when the principal orbit \(G/K\) has two distinct summands in its isotropy representation and \(K\) is not maximal in \(G\). The possible leading terms of a Painlevé expansions are found. The expansion is substituted into the equations and then some recursion relations that the coefficients must satisfy, are obtained. The resonances are computed as well. Existence of Painlevé expansions depending on a large number of parameters requires there to be many rational resonances. This often leads to Diophantine constraints on the parameters in the equations. The compatibility conditions for the recursion at the resonances to be solvable are shown. Several interesting examples illustrate the theory. A similar analysis for the case when \(K\) is maximal in \(G\) is developed. The asymptotic behaviour of the Ricci-flat metrics corresponding to the Painlevé expansions is discussed as well.