Peeling theorem

In general relativity, the peeling theorem describes the asymptotic behavior of the Weyl tensor as one goes to null infinity. Let $\gamma$ be a null geodesic in a spacetime $(M,g_{ab})$ from a point p to null infinity, with affine parameter $\lambda$. Then the theorem states that, as $\lambda$ tends to infinity:

$C_{abcd}=\frac{C_{abcd}^{(1)}}{\lambda }+\frac{C_{abcd}^{(2)}}{{\lambda }^2}+\frac{C_{abcd}^{(3)}}{{\lambda }^3}+\frac{C_{abcd}^{(4)}}{{\lambda }^4}+O\left(\frac{1}{{\lambda }^5}\right)$

where $C_{abcd}$ is the Weyl tensor, and abstract index notation is used. Moreover, in the Petrov classification, $C_{abcd}^{(1)}$ is type N, $C_{abcd}^{(2)}$ is type III, $C_{abcd}^{(3)}$ is type II (or II-II) and $C_{abcd}^{(4)}$ is type I.

External links

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