A new proof of Birkhoff's theorem (Q1576133)

The author systematically discusses ``Birkhoff-type theorems'' in general relativity, i.e. theorems where the gravitational vacuum solution exhibits more symmetry than the inserted metric ansatz. In particular, he considers a warped product metric \(g=g_1+e^{2U}g_2\) where \(g_1\) is a 2-dimensional metric and \(g_2\) an \(n\)-dimensional one, and shows the following: If \(g\) is an Einstein space then \(g\) admits one Killing vector more than \(g_2\). The proof uses a conformal technique and a separation argument. An equivalent argument says that in two dimensions a scalar field with a tracefree non-vanishing Hessian produces a Killing vector. Another result reads as follows: Let \(g_2\) be Einstein; then \(g\) is Ricci flat iff \(g_1\) is conformal to a solution of some scale-invariant fourth-order equation derived from a Lagrangian which is a power of the scalar curvature. Several Birkhoff-type theorems in the literature fit into the author's scheme.