5 - Exact solutions

Summary

In § 5.1 and § 5.2 we consider the simplest Lorentz metrics: those of constant curvature. The spatially isotropic and homogeneous cosmological models are described in §5.3, and their simplest anisotropic generalizations are discussed in § 5.4. It is shown that all such simple models will have a singular origin provided that A does not take large positive values. The spherically symmetric metrics which describe the field outside a massive charged or neutral body are examined in §5.5, and the axially symmetric metrics describing the field outside a special class of massive rotating bodies are described in §5.6. It is shown that some of the apparent singularities are simply due to a bad choice of coordinates. In §5.7 we describe the Godel universe and in §5.8 the Taub-NUT solutions. These probably do not represent the actual universe but they are of interest because of their pathological global properties. Finally some other exact solutions of interest are mentioned in §5.9.