No label defined (Q4368302)

In this paper the author considers the problem of finding conformal vector fields of those spacetimes which are conformal to a spacetime of the ``2+2 decomposable'' type. (This latter type of spacetime is characterised by the condition that its holonomy group is of the type \(R_7\) in the classification of the subgroups of the Lorentz group [\textit{G. S. Hall}, J. Math. Phys. 32, 181-187 (1991; Zbl 0731.53024)]. Its metric can be written locally as \[ ds^2= g_{AB} dx^A dx^B+ g_{A'B'} dx^{A'} dx^{B'} \tag{*} \] where \(g_{AB} =g_{AB} (x^C)\), \(g_{A'B'} =g_{A'B'} (x^{C'})\), \(A,B,C=0,1\), \(A',B',C' =2,3)\). Since conformally related metrics admit the same conformal vector fields, one is thus led to study the conformal vector fields of (*) which was accomplished by \textit{A. A. Coley} and \textit{B. O. J. Tupper} [J. Math. Phys. 30, 2616-2625 (1989; Zbl 0697.53069); ibid. 33, 1754-1764 (1992; MR 93b:83014)]. Using this method, the author is able to fully study many standard spacetimes including the Schwarzschild, Vaidya, L. R. S. and plane symmetric metrics. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0871.00044].