Classification of cylindrically symmetric static spacetimes according to their Ricci collineations (Q1420812)

The authors provide a complete classification of cylindrically symmetric static Lorentzian manifolds according to their Ricci collineations (RCs). The RC equations are solved for the non-degenerate as well as the degenerate Ricci tensor. The procedure adopted gives the explicit form of the RC vectors along with constraints on the components of the Ricci tensor. Solving these constraints explicitly gives metrics or in some cases families of metrics. Using the Einstein field equations to obtain the stress energy tensor, the physical interpretation is given. For the non-degenerate Ricci tensor RCs for 10, 7, 6, 5, 4 and 3 dimensions have been found. The Lie algebra structure of all the RCs is given. Both the solvable and semisimple algebras have been found. The comparison of the present classification with the classification of cylindrically symmetric spacetimes according to Killing vectors gives rise to the interesting cases of proper RCs. Cases of non-isometric RCs have been found. The constraints are also solved for the different cases of degenerate and non-degenerate RCs, to obtain the metrics. The physical significance is also given where possible. Taking plane symmetry (locally) as a special case of cylindrical symmetry, the classification of plane symmetric static metrics can be obtained as a special case from this classification.