Space-times admitting a three-dimensional conformal group (Q1912521)

The authors introduce their paper by a general study of spacetimes admitting a Lie algebra \(A\) of conformal vector fields such that \(\dim A = 3\). They also insist that \(A\) contains an Abelian subalgebra \(K\) (of dimension 2) of Killing vector fields. They further insist that (i) \(K\) acts orthogonally transitively on 2-dimensional spacelike orbits diffeomorphic to \(\mathbb{R}^2\); (ii) there exists a hypersurface orthogonal member of \(K\); (iii) there exists a proper (i.e. non-homothetic) member of \(A\); (iv) the orbits of \(A\) are non-null. Assuming also that there are no further conformal vector fields on the spacetime other than those in \(A\), they derive the possible algebra structures for \(A\) and the general form of the metric and a proper conformal member of \(A\). The special case when \(K\) can be spanned by hypersurface-orthogonal Killing vector fields is considered. The authors then apply their results to perfect fluid spacetimes. Firstly they consider the case when the fluid flow is either tangent to or orthogonal to the orbits of \(A\). The bulk of this part of the paper, however, considers the ``general'' case where the fluid flow is neither tangent to nor orthogonal to the orbits of \(A\). They consider the cases where the orbits of \(A\) are timelike and spacelike, separately. The problem is solved completely. The case when the orbits of \(A\) are null is promised in a further paper.