# A new conformal duality of spherically symmetric space–times

## 1 Introduction

From the Lagrangian

$$L=C_{ijkl}C^{ijkl}\sqrt{g}$$
(1)   
where $`C_{jkl}^i`$ is the conformally invariant Weyl tensor one gets the Bach tensor 

$$B_{ij}=2C_{ij;lk}^{kl}+C_{ij}^{kl}R_{lk}$$
(2)   
Recently, the solutions of the Bach equation $`B_{ij}=0`$, i.e., the vacuum solutions of conformal Weyl gravity, enjoyed a renewed interest because in the static spherically symmetric case one gets a term linear in $`r`$, (cf.  for a deduction and for the motivation):

$$ds^2=A(r)dt^2+\frac{dr^2}{A(r)}+r^2d\mathrm{\Omega }^2$$
(3)   
with

$$A(r)=13\beta \gamma \frac{(23\beta \gamma )\beta }{r}+\gamma rkr^2$$
(4)   
Further dicussion of this solution can be found in . In , the viability of the term $`\gamma r`$ is doubted, whereas in  just this part of the potential played the main role.<sup>1</sup><sup>1</sup>1From dimensional analysis one can deduce the powers of $`r`$ in three different ways as follows: a) In the Newtonian limit (i.e. $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is the flat-space Laplacian) one gets from the Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian $`L_{EH}`$ via $`\mathrm{\Delta }\phi =0`$ the two spherically symmetric solutions $`\phi =1`$ and $`\phi =1/r`$; and from $`L`$ eq. (1) via $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }\phi =0`$ one gets additionally $`\phi =r`$ and $`\phi =r^2`$ (and, of course, all the linear combinations.) $`\phi =1`$ gives flat space, and $`\phi =r^2`$ corresponds to the de Sitter space-time, so the essential terms are $`1/r`$ for $`L_{EH}`$ and $`r`$ for $`L`$. b) $`L`$ and $`L_{EH}`$ differ by a factor $`<length>^2`$, so this should be the case for the potentials, too. c) Similarly one gets this as heuristic argument by calculating the Greens functions in momentum space.

A solution of the Bach equation is called trivial if it is conformally related to an Einstein space, i.e. to a vacuum solution of the Einstein equation with arbitrary $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ . So our question reads: Do non-trivial spherically symmetric solutions of the Bach equation exist? Up to now, contradicting answers have been given: Metric (3) with (4) is an Einstein space for $`\gamma =0`$ only, so it seems to be a non-trivial solution for $`\gamma 0`$, whereas in  (cf. also  for earlier references) it is stated that only trivial spherically symmetric solutions of the Bach equation exist.

It is the aim of the present paper to clarify this contradiction by introducing a new type of conformal duality within spherically symmetric space-times.<sup>2</sup><sup>2</sup>2It will be a duality different from that one introduced in , cf.  for a review on conformal transformations between fourth-order theories of gravity. The result will be that the value of $`\gamma `$ in eq. (4) can be made vanish by a conformal transformation. Then the question whether this linear term is physically measurable or not depends on the question in which of these two conformal frames the non-conformal matter lives.

As a byproduct of this discussion we will present a new view to the question (see the different statements to this question in \[9-12\]) under which circumstances a spherically symmetric Einstein space can be expressed in Schwarzschild coordinates.

The paper is organized as follows: In sct. 2 we will deduce the new duality transformation, in sct. 3 we apply this transformation to the solution eq. (3,4), and in sct. 4 we look especially to those solutions where Schwarzschild coordinates do not apply.

## 2 A new conformal duality transformation

The general static spherically symmetric metric can be written

as

$$ds^2=A(r)dt^2+B(r)dr^2+C(r)d\mathrm{\Omega }^2$$
(5)   
where $`d\mathrm{\Omega }^2=d\psi ^2+\mathrm{sin}^2\psi d\varphi ^2`$ is the metric of the standard 2-sphere. The functions $`A`$, $`B`$ and $`C`$ have to be positive.

The main simplification for solving the Bach equation for metric (5) was done in  as follows: The two possible gauge degrees of freedom (a redefinition of the radial coordinate $`r`$ and the conformal invariance of the Bach equation) can be used to get $`r`$ as Schwarzschild coordinate, i.e., $`C(r)=r^2`$, and $`A(r)B(r)=1`$, i.e., one starts from the metric (3). The case when Schwarzschild coordinates do not apply will be discussed in sct. 4, here we concentrate on the following question: Do there exist conformal transformations of metric (3) which keep that metric form-invariant?

Of course, if $`r`$, $`ds`$, and $`t`$ are multiplied by the same non-vanishing constant $`\alpha `$, and the function $`A`$ will be redefined accordingly, then metric (3) remains form-invariant.

This conformal transformation with a constant conformal factor is called a homothetic transformation, and it will not be considered essential. Likewise, the transformation $`rr`$ not changing the form of the metric (3) will not be considered essential.

Example: Let $`A(r)=1\frac{2m}{r}`$, i.e., the Schwarzschild solution with mass parameter $`m`$. Let $`\widehat{r}=\alpha r`$, $`d\widehat{s}^2=\alpha ^2ds^2`$, then $`d\widehat{s}^2`$ represents the Schwarzschild solution with mass parameter $`\widehat{m}=\alpha m`$.<sup>3</sup><sup>3</sup>3This applies also to negative values $`\alpha `$.

One should expect that further conformal transformations do not exist because we already applied the conformal degree of freedom to reach the form (3) from the form (5). This expectation shall be tested in the following:

Let $`b(r)`$ be any non–constant function, and let the conformally transformed metric be $`d\stackrel{~}{s}^2=b^2(r)ds^2`$. With eq. (3) this reads

$$d\stackrel{~}{s}^2=b^2(r)A(r)dt^2+\frac{b^2(r)dr^2}{A(r)}+b^2(r)r^2d\mathrm{\Omega }^2$$
(6)   
Next, we have to assume that $`b(r)r`$ is not a constant, and then we can introduce $`\stackrel{~}{r}=b(r)r`$ as new Schwarzschild radial coordinate for metric (6). We get

$$\frac{d\stackrel{~}{r}}{dr}=b(r)+r\frac{db}{dr}$$
(7)   
Form-invariance in the 00-component means that

$$\stackrel{~}{A}(\stackrel{~}{r})=b^2(r)A(r)$$
(8)   
and form-invariance in the 11-component implies

$$\frac{b^2(r)dr^2}{A(r)}=\frac{d\stackrel{~}{r}^2}{\stackrel{~}{A}(\stackrel{~}{r})}$$
(9)   
Eqs. (8) and (9) together imply

$$\frac{d\stackrel{~}{r}}{dr}=\pm b^2(r)$$
(10)   
If the lower sign appears we shall apply the transformation $`rr`$ to get the upper sign. So we get without loss of generality from eqs. (10) and (7)

$$b^2(r)=b(r)+r\frac{db}{dr}$$
(11)   
The non-constant solutions of eq. (11) are

$$b(r)=\frac{1}{1+\alpha r}$$
(12)   
with a non-vanishing constant $`\alpha `$. The assumption that $`b(r)r`$ is not a constant is always fulfilled. We get

$$\stackrel{~}{r}=\frac{r}{1+\alpha r}$$
(13)   
which is valid for $`1+\alpha r0`$ and can be inverted to

$$r=\frac{\stackrel{~}{r}}{1+\stackrel{~}{\alpha }\stackrel{~}{r}}$$
(14)   
where $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }=\alpha `$. Eqs. (13) and (14) are dual to each other: Exchange of tilted and untilted quantities changes the one of them to the other.

A likewise duality can be found for eq. (8) because of

$$\stackrel{~}{b}(\stackrel{~}{r})b(r)1$$
(15)   
and for eq. (12).

Factorizing out a suitable homothetic transformation we can restrict to the case $`\alpha =1`$. Further, we restrict to the case that the denominator of eq. (13) is positive. Let us summarize this restricted case as follows:

Let $`A(r)`$ be any positive function, let $`b(r)=1/(1+\alpha r)`$ with $`\alpha =1`$ and let

$$ds^2=A(r)dt^2+\frac{dr^2}{A(r)}+r^2d\mathrm{\Omega }^2$$

Then the tilde-operator defined by $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }=\alpha `$, $`\stackrel{~}{A}(\stackrel{~}{r})=b^2(r)A(r)`$,

$$\stackrel{~}{r}=\frac{r}{1+\alpha r}$$

and

$$d\stackrel{~}{s}^2=b^2(r)ds^2$$

represents a duality, i.e., the square of the tilde-operator is the identity operator.

## 3 Spherical symmetry and the Bach equation

Let us apply the duality from sct. 2 to the Schwarzschild–de Sitter solution, i.e., to metric (3) with

$$A(r)=1\frac{2m}{r}\frac{\mathrm{\Lambda }}{3}r^2$$
(16)   
That means, we have to insert eq. (16) into eqs. (6, 12, 14). Finally, we remove all the tildes, and we arrive at a metric which exactly coincides with eqs. (3,4): There is a one-to-one correspondence between the three parameters $`m`$, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$, $`\alpha `$ on the one hand, and $`\beta `$, $`\gamma `$, $`k`$ on the other hand.

Here is the main result of the present paper: The Mannheim-Kazanas -solution given by eqs. (3,4) of the Bach equation is nothing but a conformally transformed Schwarzschild-de Sitter metric; the 3-parameter set of solutions (3,4) can be found by the conformal duality deduced in sct. 2.

It should be mentioned that the set of solutions of the full non-linear field equation is really only 3-dimensional, and that this is in contrast to the linearized equation which allows all linear combinations of 1, $`r`$, $`1/r`$, and $`r^2`$, i.e., a 4-dimensional set.

Up to now we had assumed that the metric is static and spherically symmetric. However, also the Bach equation allows to prove a Birkhoff-like theorem : Every spherically symmetric solution is conformally related to a solution possessing a fourth isometry.<sup>4</sup><sup>4</sup>4This fourth isometry may be time-like or space-like, and we have a regular horizon at surfaces where this character changes, so this is exactly analogous to the situation in Einstein’s theory. Another version of this result reads: Every spherically symmetric solution is almost everywhere conformally related to an Einstein space. Furthermore, the necessary conformal factor can always be chosen such that it maintains the spherical symmetry.

Why we need the restriction “almost everywhere” in the second version? This applies to those points where the necessary conformal transformation becomes singular. Example: Take $`u=1/r`$ as new coordinate in the Schwarzschild solution and apply an analytic conformal transformation such that the metric can be analytically continued to negative values $`u`$ via a regular point $`u=0`$; by construction, this space-time solves the Bach equation, but at $`u=0`$ it fails to be conformally related to an Einstein space.

## 4 Applicability of Schwarzschild coordinates

To complete the discussion we want to give also those spherically symmetric solutions of the Bach equation which cannot be expressed in Schwarzschild coordinates. Before we do so, let us compare with the analogous situation in Einstein’s theory.

It has a long tradition to assume, see e.g. , that every static spherically symmetric line element can be expressed in Schwarzschild coordinates, i.e., that in metric (5), $`C(r)=r^2`$ can be achieved by a coordinate transformation. However, the topic is a little bit more involved:<sup>5</sup><sup>5</sup>5In , sct. 23.2., page 595 one reads: “For a more rigorous proof that in any static spherical system Schwarzschild coordinates can be introduced, see Box 23.3.”. But that Box 23.3. at page 617 does not only give this proof, but also the necessary assumption: “ …such a transformation is possible, (i.e. nonsingular) only where $`(r)^20`$.” Later in the book (page 843) one can find the sentence: “The special case $`(r)^2=0`$ is treated in exercise 32.1.” and 3 pages later “We thank G.F.R. Ellis for pointing out the omission of the case $`(r)^2=0`$ in the preliminary version of this book.” Gaussian coordinates for metric (5), i.e., $`B1`$, can always be chosen by a redefinition of $`r`$, but Schwarzschild coordinates can be introduced only in regions where $`dC/dr0`$. On the other hand, the Schwarzschild radius comes out after one integration which has the result that usually, the order of the field equation will be reduced by one if expressed in Schwarzschild coordinates. This latter property is the very reason for the usefulness of them.

Let us take a special example of the Schwarzschild-de Sitter metric: We insert $`m=l/3>0`$ and $`\mathrm{\Lambda }=1/l^2`$ into eqs. (3,16). For any positive constant $`\epsilon `$ we apply the following coordinate transformations

$$r=l+\epsilon x,t=l^2\tau /\epsilon $$
(17)   
and get

$$ds^2=l^4Dd\tau ^2+\frac{dx^2}{D}+(l+\epsilon x)^2d\mathrm{\Omega }^2$$
(18)   
with

$$D=\frac{1}{\epsilon ^2}[1\frac{2l}{3(l+\epsilon x)}\frac{(l+\epsilon x)^2}{3l^2}]$$
(19)   
Developing this $`D`$ in a series in $`\epsilon `$ it turns out that it is regular at $`\epsilon =0`$ and there its value reads $`D=x^2/l^2`$. Therefore: Eq. (18) represents a one-parameter family of space-times analytic in the parameter $`\epsilon `$, and for every $`\epsilon >0`$ it represents a spherically symmetric solution of the Einstein equation with $`\mathrm{\Lambda }=1/l^2`$. From continuity reasons, it represents a solution also for $`\epsilon =0`$. We get

$$ds^2=l^2[\frac{dx^2}{x^2}+x^2d\tau ^2+d\mathrm{\Omega }^2]$$
(20)   
which represents a spherically symmetric Einstein space which cannot be written in Schwarzschild coordinates. (It should be noted that in these coordinates, $`x`$ is timelike and $`\tau `$ is space-like.) The deduction of this solution presented here seems to be new. Nevertheless, it is already known, but usually it is not listed within the set of spherically symmetric Einstein spaces: In  it is listed in table 10.1. under the topic “$`G_6`$ with $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$-term”. In fact, metric (20) represents the cartesian product of two 2-spaces of constant and equal curvature, cf. . Therefore, it is also a static metric and possesses a 6-dimensional isometry group.

A fortiori, metric (20) represents also a static spherically symmetric solution of the Bach equation, and this solution is not listed in refs. .

Further, let us mention that the cartesian product of two 2-spaces of constant curvature $`P`$ and $`Q`$ resp. represents an Einstein space iff $`P=Q`$, and it represents a solution of the Bach equation iff $`P^2=Q^2`$. Thus, for $`P=Q0`$ we get another static spherically symmetric solution of the Bach equation which cannot be expressed in Schwarzschild coordinates; however, it is conformally flat and therefore trivial, too.

Finally, we want to stress that the above consideration only dealt with vacuum solutions of conformal Weyl gravity; of course, the inclusion of non-conformal matter requests to fix one of the conformal frames, and it has to be discussed yet whether this shall be the Schwarzschild-de Sitter or in the Mannheim-Kazanas frame.

The result of the present paper is that both solutions are conformally related, and that no further spherically symmetric solutions of the Bach equation exist.

## Acknowledgement

Financial support from DFG is gratefully acknowledged. I thank the colleagues of Free University Berlin, where this work has been done, especially Prof. H. Kleinert, for valuable comments.

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