ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY ?

INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

KERR-SCHILD SPACETIMES

MSc Thesis by

Elif Büşra GÜRAKSIN, BSc

Department : Physics

Programme : Physics Engineering

Supervisor : A. Nihat BERKER

SEPTEMBER 2007
 ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY ? INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

KERR-SCHILD SPACETIMES

MSc Thesis by

Elif Büşra GÜRAKSIN

(509041104)

Date of submission : 24 August 2007

Date of defence examination : 6 September 2007

Supervisor (Chairman) Prof. Dr. A. Nihat BERKER

Members of the Examining Committee Prof. Dr. Tekin DERELİ (K.U.)

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Cemsinan DELİDUMAN (I.T.U.)

SEPTEMBER 2007
İSTANBUL TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ ? FEN BİLİMLERİ ENSTİTÜSÜ

KERR-SCHILD UZAY-ZAMANLARI

YÜKSEK LİSANS TEZİ

Elif Büşra GÜRAKSIN

(509041104)

Tezin Enstitüye Verildiǧi Tarih : 24 Aǧustos 2007

Tezin Savunulduǧu Tarih : 6 Eylül 2007

Tez Danışmanı Prof. Dr. A. Nihat BERKER

Diǧer Jüri Üyeleri Prof. Dr. Tekin DERELİ (K.Ü.)

Doç. Dr. Cemsinan DELİDUMAN (İ.T.Ü.)

EYLÜL 2007
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Prof. Tekin DERELİ for his guidance and support during the
preparation of this thesis. Also I would like to thank Prof. Nihat BERKER for his
support and encouragements from the beginning of my undegraduate education.

I gratefully acknowledge MSc scholarship from the Turkish Scientific and Techno-
logical Research Council - Scientist Training Group (TUBITAK-BAYG).

I owe my thanks to my family and my friends, especially to my father, who is

also my colleague, for encouraging me to attend a physics program after high
school, saying it is the best job to deal with, which I strongly agree on.

August, 2007 Elif Büşra GÜRAKSIN

ii
CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS iv
LIST OF SYMBOLS v
SUMMARY vi
ÖZET vii

1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. SOLUTIONS BY DIFFERENTIAL FORMS 4
2.1. Differential Forms in General Relativity 4
2.2. Complex Null-Tetrad Formalism 10
3. COMPLEX COORDINATE TRANSFORMATION 14
4. KERR SOLUTION DERIVED FROM
SCHWARZSCHILD SOLUTIONS IN N + 1 DIMENSIONS 21
5. DISCUSSION 29
REFERENCES 30
BIOGRAPHY 31

iii
 ABBREVIATIONS

RN : Reissner-Nordström
EF : Eddington-Finkelstein
BL : Boyer-Lindquist
NJ : Newman-Janis

iv
 LIST OF SYMBOLS

µ, ν, ρ... : Spacetime indices

Tµν : Energy-Momentum Tensor
η : Minkowski Metric Tensor
wba : Connection one form
Rba : Curvature two form
Rµν : Ricci Tensor
²̂µναβ : Levi-Civita Tensor for curved space-time
²µναβ : Levi-Civita Tensor for Minkovski space-time
ξ (µ) : Killing Vector
Γαβγ : Christoffel Symbols
dΩ2 : Line element of unit two-sphere
dΩ2N −3 : Line element of unit (N − 3)-sphere

v
KERR-SCHILD SPACETIMES

SUMMARY

Using differential forms for finding solutions to Einstein equations is a powerful

tool since the calculations by the basis vectors are not related to any coordinate
system. Also decomposition of the space-time by complex null tetrad formalism is
a powerful tool for finding solutions to Einstein equations. By the use of complex
transformation, rotating black hole solutions can be obtained from static black
hole solutions. More generally if a metric can be written in Kerr-Schild space-
time form, which allows one to separate metric into two parts as one part is flat
and the other is having a mass times a null vector field structure, it is allowed in
general relativity that a complex transformation can be performed on these type
of metrics. Besides known ones, this method leads some new solutions for Einstein
equations, as Kerr-Newman (rotating-charged) black hole solutions first obtained
by this complexification method. In this study differential forms are used for
black hole solutions and after introducing complex null tetrad formalism complex
coordinate transformation method is applied first onto the null-tetrad one forms
and then onto the contravariant metric components for obtaining Kerr metric from
Schwarzschild metric first in 4 dimensions and then in N + 1 dimensions with a
single rotation parameter.

vi
KERR-SCHILD UZAY-ZAMANLARI


OZET

Diferansiyel formlar kullanılarak Einstein denklemlerinin çözülmesi, hesapların ko-

ordinat seçiminden bağımsız olması sebebiyle etkin ve daha kolay bir yöntemdir.
Ayrıca uzay-zamanın kompleks null-tetrat formalizmi ile ifade edilmesi de Ein-
stein denklemlerine çözüm bulmada etkin bir yöntemdir . Kompleks öteleme
yöntemi ile durgun karadelik çözümlerinden dönen karadelik çözümleri elde et-
mek mümkündür. En genel olarak eğer metrik Kerr-Schild metrik formunda
yazılabiliyorsa, genel relativitede bu kompleks öteleme yöntemi kullanılabilinir.
Kerr-Schild türü metriklerde metrik düz Minkowski metriği ve karadeliğin
kütlesinin çarpan olarak bulunduğu iki kısımdan oluşur. Bu yöntemle ilk olarak bi-
linen bir çözüm olan Kerr metriği elde edilmiştir ayrıca daha önce bilinmeyen Kerr-
Newman (dönen yüklü karadelik) çözümü ilk kez bu yöntemle elde edilmiştir. Bu
çalışmada karadelik çözümleri için diferansiyel formlar kullanılarak kompleks null-
tetrat formalizmi ile Schwarzschild metriğinin null 1-formları üzerine kompleks
koordinat öteleme yöntemi denenmiştir ve ayrıca kompleks koordinat öteleme
yöntemi metriğin tersine uygulanarak 4 boyutta ve N + 1 boyutta tek dönme
parametresine sahip Kerr metriği verilmiştir.

vii
1. INTRODUCTION

The properties of black holes in four dimensions are well established starting from
the Schwarzschild solution for a static spherically symmetric black hole where
black hole is characterized only by its mass and the Kerr solution for a stationary
black hole where black hole is characterized by two parameters, its mass and
angular momentum.

Finding solutions of Einstein equations using differential forms is a powerful tool

since the calculations do not depend on a chosen coordinate system where the
metric can be written in an orthonormal basis as

ds2 = ηa b ea ⊗ eb . (1.1)

The use of complex null-tetrad formalism, where tetrad is written as a combination

of basis 1-forms, is also a powerful method for finding black hole solutions. For
example, Kerr found the rotating black hole solution using null-tetrad methods
in his paper [1]. Later, Newman and Janis [2] showed that Kerr metric can be
obtained from the Schwarzschild metric by a complex coordinate transformation
writing the Schwarzschild metric in outgoing Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates,
and using complex null tetrad formalism by writing the inverse metric in the
following form
g −1 = ˜l ⊗ ñ + ñ ⊗ ˜l + m̃ ⊗ m̃∗ + m̃∗ ⊗ m̃ . (1.2)

This complexification method is reminiscent of Trautman’s method [3], where

Trautman generalized a procedure to construct new solutions to linear, real par-
tial differential equations starting from known solutions using complex transfor-
mations.
In NJ method the metric is used in contravariant form and the resultant metric
after complex transformation can be written in Kerr-Schild form [4], which is the
following
g −1 = η −1 + H ˜l ⊗ ˜l , (1.3)

1
where the metric is decomposed into two parts: linear Minkowski metric plus a
scalar function times square of a null-geodesic vector ˜l . Also using this complexi-
fication procedure a new exact solution of Einstein-Maxwell equations
1
Rµν − gµν R = 8πTµν , (1.4)
2
∂µ F νµ = 0

is found, called the Kerr-Newman black hole where the black hole is characterized
by three parameters, its mass, angular momentum and charge [5]. Later, it has
been shown that if a metric can be written in Kerr-Schild form then a complex
transformation is allowed in general relativity [6] .

A different approach to complexification is also done [7] by getting use of a gen-

erating potential, which gives Schwarzschild solution as the simplest case and it
is shown that Kerr solution can be obtained from this generating function if the
origin is translated by a complex transformation, z 7→ z − ia. Furthermore by
getting use of the octonion algebra, Kerr metric in eight dimensions is obtained
from Schwarzschild metric by a complex transformation in Cartesian coordinates
where the metric was defined in Kerr-Schild form in eight dimensions. Here the
key point is making use of the cross product, since cross product is defined only
in eight dimensions after 4 dimensions [8].

The generalization of exact solutions of static black holes in higher dimensions is

first found by Tangherlini [9], where the generalization of spherically symmetric
Schwarzschild and Reissner-Nordström metrics are given. Rotating black hole so-
lutions in higher dimensions are obtained by getting use of Kerr-Schild form of
the metric by Myers and Perry, where the metric is characterized by bN/2c + 1
parameters: its mass and bN/2c rotation parameters in N + 1 dimensional space-
time [10] . Generalization of Kerr-de Sitter metrics to higher dimensions is recently
achieved by Gibbons at all [11], where Kerr-Schild type of the metric is again used,
however, in this case flat Minkowski metric is replaced by de Sitter metric in the
Kerr-Schild form
g −1 = η 0−1 + H ˜l ⊗ ˜l ,

where again black hole is characterized by bN/2c + 1 parameters: its mass and
maximal number bN/2c of independent rotation parameters in N + 1 dimensional

2
space-time and η 0−1 is the contravariant metric of the de-Sitter space-time which
is free of black hole mass .

In the Chapter 2 of this thesis differential forms are introduced and spherically
symmetric black hole solution is obtained using differential forms. Then in the
second section we introduce complex null-tetrad formalism

g = l ⊗ n + n ⊗ l + m ⊗ m∗ + m∗ ⊗ m , (1.5)

and using these null vector formalism Schwarzschild metric is obtained in Kerr-
Schild form
g = η + 2H l ⊗ l . (1.6)

In Chapter 3, starting from the ingoing Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates

ds2 = −f (r) du2 + 2du dr + r2 (dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) , (1.7)

we apply complex coordinate transformation method to the null basis 1-forms.

Then the same method is applied to the inverse metric components of the
Schwarzschild metric to obtain Kerr metric from static black hole solution. The
result is given first in Boyer-Lindquist coordinates where metric has only gtφ off
diagonal terms in it and also in Kerr-Schild form using Cartesian coordinates.

In the last Chapter, we give the N + 1 dimensional Kerr black hole solutions
obtained from the N + 1 dimensional static black hole solution, where the Kerr
black hole has only one rotation parameter which is a special case of known
solutions [10, 11] .

3
2. SOLUTIONS BY DIFFERENTIAL FORMS

2.1. Dierential forms in General Relativity

A metric can be written in an orthonormal basis as

ds2 = ηa b ea ⊗ eb = gµν dxµ ⊗ dxν . (2.1)

Given vector fields X and Y ∈ T M , g(X, Y ) = gµν ξ µ ξ ν . Suppose {Xa } is an

orthonormal frame, then
g(Xa , Xb ) = ηab

where metric signature (−, +, +, +) is used.

Since Xa ’s belong to tangent manifold, orthonormal coframes ea ’s belong to dual
of this tangent manifold, called the cotangent manifold

Xa ∈ T M,

ea ∈ T ∗ M.

So
ea (xa ) = δba .

In a coordinate chart (xµ ) we have

dxµ ∈ T ∗ M,
∂
∂µ = ∈ T M.
∂xµ

The definition of a tensor field is given as a multilinear map

∗ ∗
T=T
| M ⊗ T{zM ⊗ . .}. ⊗T
| M⊗ {z. . . T M} → R,
p times q times

(Xa1 , Xa2 , . . . , Xap , eb1 , eb2 , . . . , ebq ) → (p , q)

This is the definition of a type (p , q) tensor field.

The space-time, (M, g, ∇) is defined by a differentiable manifold M , metric g

4
and connection ∇ which carries one point to another point. Space-time is called
Riemanian if ∇ is the Levi-Civita connection:

T → |{z}
∇ : |{z} ∇T
(p , q) (p+1 , q)

g and ∇ are compatible if and only if

∇g = 0.

Then the connection 1-forms are antisymmetric

wa b = −wb a .

The first Cartan equations are

dea + wba ∧ eb = 0

and
wba = wc,a b ec .

After finding connection 1-forms from the 1st Cartan equations, curvature two
forms can be found from the 2nd Cartan equations

dwba + wca ∧ wbc = Rba . (2.2)

To derive Bianchi identities one can take the d derivatives of 1st and 2nd Cartan
equations. From the 1st Cartan equations we find

d2 ea +dwba ∧ eb − wba ∧ deb = 0

|{z}
0

(Rba − wca ∧ wbc ) ∧ eb − wba ∧ (−wcb ∧ ec ) = Rba ∧ eb = 0,

so we get the first Bianchi identity

Rba ∧ eb = 0 . (2.3)

From the d derivative of 2nd Cartan equations we get

d2 wba +dwca ∧ wbc − wca ∧ dwbc = dRba (2.4)

| {z }
0
= ( Rca − wαa ∧ wcα ) ∧ wbc − wca ∧ ( Rbc − wdc ∧ wbd ) .

5
So we get the 2nd Bianchi identity as

dRba = Rca ∧ wbc − wca ∧ Rbc . (2.5)

The relation between the curvature 2 forms and the Riemann tensor is the follow-
ing:
1
Rba = Rac d ,b ec ∧ ed . (2.6)
2
To find Ricci one forms, we define an interior product which satisfies the Leibnitz
rule,

lX : |{z}
α → lX α (2.7)
|{z}
p f orm (p−1) f orm

such that
lXa (eb ) = δab . (2.8)

For example, if we define X = ξ a Xa and α = αb eb then

lX α = l ξa Xa (αb eb ) = ξ a lXa (αb eb ) (2.9)

= ξ a αb lXa (eb ) = ξ a αa = α(X) .

| {z }
δab

As for the Leibnitz rule we have

lXa (eb ∧ ec ) = lXa (eb ) ec − eb lXa (e c ) (2.10)

= δab ec − δac eb .

To find the Ricci 1-forms we apply lXa on R ba :

³1 ´ 1
l Xa Rac d ,b ec ∧ ed = Rac d ,b ( δac ed − δad ec ) (2.11)
2 2
= R c d ,b δac ed = ( Raa d ,b ) ed ,
a

which results in
lXa Rba = Ricb = (Ric)ab ea . (2.12)

The curvature scalar is obtained by one more contraction:

lXb lXa R a b = lXb (Ricab ea ) = Ricaa = R . (2.13)

As an example for solving Einstein equations by differential forms we can look at

the 4 dimensional spherically symmetric solution .
The most general metric for a spherically symmetric system is given by

ds2 = −e2ν(r,t) dt2 + e2λ(r,t) dr2 + r2 (dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) . (2.14)

6
In order to find the arbitrary functions e2ν(r,t) and e2λ(r,t) , we will use differential
forms starting by defining basis one forms as

e0 = eν(r,t) dt ,

e1 = eλ(r,t) dr , (2.15)

e2 = r dθ ,

e3 = r sinθ dϕ .

The d derivatives of these basis one forms are

0 0
de0 = ν eν dr ∧ dt = −ν e−λ e0 ∧ e1 ,

de1 = λ̇eλ dt ∧ dr = λ̇e−ν e0 ∧ e1 , (2.16)

2 e−λ 1
de = dr ∧ dθ = e ∧ e2 ,
r
e−λ 1 cotθ 2
de3 = sinθ dr ∧ dϕ + r cosθ dθ ∧ dϕ = e ∧ e3 + e ∧ e3 ,
r r

where 0 denotes the derivative with respect to r and ˙ denotes the derivative with
respect to t .
The first Cartan equations, written out explicitly are

de0 + w10 ∧ e1 + w20 ∧ e2 + w30 ∧ e3 = 0 ,

de1 + w01 ∧ e0 + w21 ∧ e2 + w31 ∧ e3 = 0 ,

de2 + w02 ∧ e0 + w12 ∧ e1 + w32 ∧ e3 = 0 , (2.17)

de3 + w03 ∧ e0 + w13 ∧ e1 + w23 ∧ e2 = 0 .

By comparing these structure equations with d derivatives of basis one forms, we

can determine the following connection one forms:

0
w10 = ν e−λ e0 + λ̇ e−ν e1 ,

w20 = w30 = 0 ,
1 e−λ 2
w2 = − e , (2.18)
r
e−λ 3
w31 = − e ,
r
cotθ 3
w32 = − e .
r

7
Then using the second Cartan equations, the curvature two forms are found as
h i
0 (λ−ν) . 0 (ν−λ) 0
R1 = ( λ̇ e ) − (ν e ) e−(ν+λ) e0 ∧ e1 ,
1
R32 = 2
( 1 − e−2λ ) e2 ∧ e3 ,
r
ν 0 −2λ 0 λ̇
R20 = − e e ∧ e2 − e−(ν+λ) e1 ∧ e2 , (2.19)
r r
λ0 −2λ 1 λ̇ e −(λ+ν)
R31 = e e ∧ e3 + e0 ∧ e3 ,
r r
ν 0 e−2λ 0 λ̇ e−(ν+λ) 1
R30 = − e ∧ e3 − e ∧ e3 ,
r r
λ0 e−2λ 1 λ̇ e−(ν+λ) 0
R21 = e ∧ e2 + e ∧ e2 .
r r
The corresponding Ricci one forms are

(Ric)0 = l1 R01 + l2 R02 + l3 R03

h i
0 (ν−λ) 0 (λ−ν) .
= (ν e ) − ( λ̇e ) e−(ν+λ) e0
2ν 0 −2λ 0 2λ̇ −(λ+ν) 1
+ e e + e e = 0, (2.20)
r r
(Ric)1 = l0 R10 + l2 R12 + l3 R13
h i
(λ−ν) . 0 (ν−λ) 0
= ( λ̇e ) − (ν e ) e−(ν+λ) e1
2λ0 −2λ 1
+ e e = 0, (2.21)
r
.... ....

.... ....

From the (Ric)0 component we see that

2λ̇ −(λ+ν)
e = 0.
r
Therefore λ = λ(r) only. Taking this into account we have
2ν 0 −2λ
(Ric)0 = ( ν 0 e(ν−λ) )0 e−(ν+λ) + e = 0, (2.22)
r
2λ0 −2λ
(Ric)1 = ( ν 0 e(ν−λ) )0 e−(ν+λ) − e = 0, (2.23)
r
.... ....

.... ....

Comparing (Ric)0 and (Ric)1 we have

ν(r, t) = −λ(r) + f (t)

8
So the metric becomes

ds2 = −e−2λ(r) e2f (t) dt2 + e2λ(r) dr2 + r2 dΩ2 .

We can make the coordinate transformation

de
t = e1/2 f (t) dt ,

and after dropping the e on t the metric becomes

ds2 = −e−2λ(r) dt2 + e2λ(r) dr2 + r2 dΩ2 .

We have two different equations remaining from Ricci one forms

2λ0 −2λ
(Ric)0 , (Ric)1 → ( λ0 e−2λ )0 + e = 0, (2.24)
r
2λ0 −2λ 1
(Ric)2 , (Ric)3 → e + 2 (1 − e−2λ ) = 0 . (2.25)
r r

So we must satisfy
1
( λ0 e−2λ )0 = (1 − e−2λ ) . (2.26)
r2
This is achieved if we choose
³ A´
e−2λ = 1+ .
r

Taking the logarithm of both sides and derivation with respect to r it is shown
to satisfy (2.26) . Lastly to determine the arbitrary constant A in the solution, we
can make use of Komar mass integral [12]
Z
1 µ; ν 2
M= ξ (t) d Σµ ν (2.27)
8π
S2

where ξ µ(t) is a timelike Killing vector field

ξ µ(t) = ( 1, 0, 0, 0)

and
1
d2 Σµ ν = ²̂ µ ναβ dxα ∧ dxβ
2
where ²̂µναβ is the Levi-Civita tensor in curved space-time and it is defined as

√
²̂µναβ = −g ²µναβ (2.28)

9
where ²µναβ is the Levi-Civita tensor in Minkowski space-time . We can take
t = constant and r = constant so we are dealing with a spherical surface, then

√
d2 Σ01 = −g dθ ∧ dϕ ,

where g is the determinant of the metric and covariant derivative of Killing vector
is
ξ µ ; ν = g ν α ξ µ;α = g ν α Γµα λ ξ λ .

Since we have chosen r and t constant,

ξ µ ; ν → ξ 0 ; 1 = g 11 Γ 010

for this metric and the Christoffel symbols Γ αβ γ are defined as

wβα = Γ αβ γ dxγ .

The Komar integral becomes

Z
1 √
M= −g g 11 Γ010 dθ ∧ dϕ ,
4π

where −g = r4 sin2 θ and

Z ³
1 A ´ (−A)
M= r2 sinθ 1 + dθ ∧ dϕ .
4π r 2r (r + A)

As a result it is found that

A = −2 M ,

so the exact solution becomes

³ 2M ´ 2 ³ 2M ´−1 2
ds2 = − 1 − dt + 1 − dr + r2 (dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) ,
r r

where G = ~ = c = 1 units are used and despite we started by a metric which is

depended on time, the result is free of time outside of the black hole (Birkhoff’s
theorem) .

2.2. Complex Null-Tetrad Formalism

Starting from the metric written in an orthonormal basis

g = −e0 ⊗ e0 + e1 ⊗ e1 + e2 ⊗ e2 + e3 ⊗ e3 = ηa b ea ⊗ eb , (2.29)

10
the complex null tetrad components can be defined as

e3 + e0 e3 − e0 e1 + ie2
l= √ , n= √ , m= √ . (2.30)
2 2 2
m∗ being the complex conjugate of m, we can write the metric in the following

form:
g = l ⊗ n + n ⊗ l + m ⊗ m∗ + m∗ ⊗ m . (2.31)

Then we get the following structure equations:

1 1 1
dl + w30 ∧ l − (w3 − w10 − iw32 + iw20 ) ∧ m − (w31 − w10 + iw32 − iw20 ) ∧ m∗ = 0 ,
2 2
1 1
dn − w30 ∧ n − (w31 + w10 − iw32 − iw20 ) ∧ m − (w31 + w10 + iw32 − iw20 ) ∧ m∗ = 0 ,
2 2
1 1
dm − iw21 ∧ m + (w10 + iw20 + w31 + iw32 ) ∧ l − (w10 + iw20 − w31 − iw32 ) ∧ n = 0 .
2 2
We define complex valued connection one-forms

1
wj = − ( iwj0 + wlk ) , (2.32)
2
where j = 1, 2, 3 and jkl are cyclic. We introduce the complex one-forms

1
w1 = − ( iw10 + w32 ) ,
2
1
w2 = − ( iw20 − w31 ) , (2.33)
2
1
w3 = − ( iw30 + w21 ) ,
2
and w+ and w− defined as

1
w+ = w1 + iw2 = − ( iw10 + w32 − w20 − iw31 ) , (2.34)
2
1
w− = w1 − iw2 = − ( iw10 + w32 + w20 + iw31 ) .
2
We may write w30 = (w3 − w3∗ )i and w21 = −(w3 + w3∗ ) where w3∗ is complex

conjugate of w3 .
Finally we get the structure equations in newly defined complex one-forms

∗
dl + i(w3 − w3∗ ) ∧ l − iw+ ∧ m + iw+ ∧ m∗ = 0 ,

dn − i(w3 − w3∗ ) ∧ n − iw− ∧ m + iw−

∗
∧ m∗ = 0 , (2.35)

dm + i(w3 + w3∗ ) ∧ m − iw−

∗
∧ l − iw+ ∧ n = 0 .

11
Now we try to find connection one-forms of the following metric written in Kerr-

Schild form by comparing its structure equations with (2.35):

g = du ⊗ dv + dv ⊗ du + r2 (dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) + 2H(r)du2 , (2.36)

where u and v are given by

r+t r−t
u= √ , v= √
2 2
and H is a function of r only. For this metric the null tetrad can be chosen as

l = du ,

n = dv + Hdu , (2.37)
r
m = √ (dθ + isinθ dϕ)
2
and their d derivatives are

dl = 0 ,
H0
dn = √ n∧l, (2.38)
2
1 (1 − H) cotθ
dm = √ n ∧ m + √ l ∧ m − √ m ∧ m∗ .
2r 2r 2r
By comparing (2.35) and (2.38) the following complex connection one-forms are
found:

H0
w3 − w3∗ = i √ l ,
2
cotθ
w3 + w3∗ = i √ (m∗ − m) , (2.39)
2r
m
w+ = i √ ,
2r
m∗
w− = i √ (H − 1) .
2r
So we get the orthonormal connection one-forms as

H (2 − H)
w10 = − dθ , w32 = sinθ dϕ ,
2 2
H (2 − H)
w20 = − sinθ dϕ , w31 = dθ , (2.40)
2 2
H0
w21 = −cosθ dϕ , w30 = − √ du .
2

12
From the second Cartan structure equations we get the curvature two-forms

H0 0
R10 = − e ∧ e1 ,
2r
H0 0
R20 = − e ∧ e2 ,
2r
H 00 0
R30 = − e ∧ e3 , (2.41)
2
H 1
R21 = e ∧ e2 ,
r2
H0 1
R31 = e ∧ e3 ,
2r
H0 2
R32 = e ∧ e3 .
2r

Substituting these into the Einstein equations we get the following ordinary dif-
ferential equation for H(r):
H 00 H
= 2. (2.42)
2 r
So H(r) = A/ r. To find the constant A, we first write the standard Schwarzschild
metric

2M 2M −1 2
ds2 = −(1 − ) dt2 + (1 − ) dr + r2 (dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) , (2.43)
r r

and apply the transformation

r
t̄ = t + 2M log ( − 1) , (2.44)
2M

to we get the Kerr-Schild form of the Schwarzschild metric as

2M
ds2 = −dt̄2 + dr2 + r2 (dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) + (dt̄ + dr)2 . (2.45)
r

Comparing (2.36) and (2.45) and remembering

(dr + dt)
du = √ , (2.46)
2
we find A = 2M and the metric (2.36) becomes

4M 2
g = du ⊗ dv + dv ⊗ du + r2 (dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) + du . (2.47)
r

13
3. COMPLEX COORDINATE TRANSFORMATION

The Schwarzschild metric written in standard coordinates

2M 2M −1 2
ds2 = −(1 − ) dt2 + (1 − ) dr + r2 (dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) (3.1)
r r

can be written in advanced Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates by the following

transformation
r
dt = du − dr (3.2)
r − 2M

and in the new coordinates the metric becomes

2M
ds2 = −(1 − ) du2 + 2du dr + r2 (dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) . (3.3)
r
This metric is the advanced Eddington-Finkelstein form of the Schwarzschild so-
lution and the surface u = constant is a spherically symmetric null surface .
We can write this metric in complex null tetrad formalism

g = l ⊗ n + n ⊗ l + m ⊗ m∗ + m∗ ⊗ m (3.4)

choosing the corresponding null tetrad as

l = du ,
1³ 2M ´
n = dr − 1− du , (3.5)
2 r
r
m = √ ( dθ + isinθ dϕ) .
2
The inverse metric can be defined using dual null tetrad

g −1 = ˜l ⊗ ñ + ñ ⊗ ˜l + m̃ ⊗ m̃∗ + m̃∗ ⊗ m̃ , (3.6)

where ˜l ñ and m̃ are duals of l, n, m vectors and given by

˜l =∂
,
∂r
∂ 1³ 2M ´ ∂
ñ = + 1− , (3.7)
∂u 2 r ∂r
1 ³ ∂ i ∂ ´
m̃ = √ + .
2r ∂θ sinθ ∂ϕ

14
These vectors satisfy the duality relations

l (ñ) = n (˜l) = 1 ,

l (˜l) = n (ñ) = 0 , (3.8)

m (m̃∗ ) = m∗ (m̃) = 1 ,

m (m̃) = m∗ (m̃∗ ) = 0 .

One can apply a complex coordinate transformation on these frame vectors and de-
rive Kerr metric from Schwarzschild metric [2]. This method is used by Newman
and Janis on contravariant components of the advanced Eddington-Finkelstein
form of the Schwarzschild metric and the Kerr metric is obtained. To try this
method on coframe vectors l , n and m , we will use the same complex transfor-
mation

u = u0 + ia cosθ0 ,

r = r0 + ia cosθ0 , (3.9)

ϕ = ϕ0 , θ = θ0 .

Since we let r take complex values, the new null tetrad becomes

l = du ,
1h ³1 1 ´i
n = dr − 1−M + ∗ du , (3.10)
2 r r
r
m = √ ( dθ + isinθ dϕ) .
2
After applying (3.9) and dropping the primes they become

l = du − ia sinθ dθ ,
1³ 2M r ´
n = dr − ia sinθ dθ − 1− 2 ( du − ia sinθ dθ ) , (3.11)
2 r + cos2 θ
r + ia cosθ
m = √ ( dθ + isinθ dϕ) .
2
To make the metric stay real after this complex transformation we can use

g = l ∗ ⊗ n + n∗ ⊗ l + m ⊗ m∗ + m∗ ⊗ m , (3.12)

which results in
³ 2M r ´ 2 ³ 2M r ´ 2
ds2 = − 1 − du + 2du dr − 1 + a sin2 θ dθ2
Σ Σ
+ Σ ( dθ2 + sin2 θ dϕ2 ) , (3.13)

15
where
Σ = r2 + a2 cos2 θ .

But this metric does not satisfy the Einstein equations. On the contrary, the
metric obtained by Newman-Janis method which applies the complex coordinate
transformation onto the contravariant components of the metric, satisfies the Ein-
stein equations. We show it by the following procedure .
Starting from the metric (3.3), the non-zero inverse metric components are
³
2M ´
01 11
g = 1, g = 1 − ,
r
1 1
g 22 = 2 , g 33 = 2 . (3.14)
r r sin2 θ

They can be written in the complex null tetrad system (3.6) where ˜l, m̃ and ñ are
the following vectors

˜l = ∂r ,
1³ 2M ´
ñ = ∂u + 1− ∂r , (3.15)
2 r
1 i
m̃ = √ (∂θ + ∂ϕ ) ,
2r sinθ

where ∂xµ = ∂/∂xµ .

If we let r take complex values, the new vectors become

˜l = ∂r ,
1h ³1 1 ´i
ñ = ∂u + 1−M + ∂r , (3.16)
2 r r∗
1 i
m̃ = √ (∂θ + ∂ϕ ) .
2r ∗ sinθ
1 i
m̃∗ = √ (∂θ − ∂ϕ ) ,
2r sinθ

where the important thing is to keep ˜l and ñ real while m̃ and m̃∗ are complex
conjugate of each other.
Then the following transformation is applied

u0 = u − ia cosθ ,

r0 = r − ia cosθ , (3.17)

φ0 = φ , θ0 = θ .

16
After dropping the primes, the new null tetrad becomes

˜l = ∂r ,
µ ¶
1 2M r
ñ = ∂u + 1− 2 ∂r , (3.18)
2 r + a2 cos2 θ
· ¸
1 i
m̃ = √ ia sinθ (∂u + ∂r ) + ∂θ + ∂ϕ .
2(r − ia cosθ) sinθ

Then using the definition

g −1 = ˜l ⊗ ñ + ñ ⊗ ˜l + m̃ ⊗ m̃∗ + m̃∗ ⊗ m̃ , (3.19)

the new non-zero contravariant metric components are read as

a2 sin2 θ a2 sin2 θ
g 00 = , g 01
= 1 + ,
r2 + a2 cos2 θ r2 + a2 cos2 θ
a 2M r a2 sin2 θ
g 03 = 2 , g 11
= 1 − + , (3.20)
r + a2 cos2 θ r2 + a2 cos2 θ r2 + a2 cos2 θ
a 1 1
g 13 = 2 2 2
, g 22 = 2 2 2
, g 33 = 2 .
r + a cos θ r + a cos θ (r + a cos2 θ) sin2 θ
2

Therefore the metric becomes

2M r 4a M r sin2 θ
ds2 = −(1 − ) du2 + 2du dr − du dϕ − 2a sin2 θ dr dϕ
Σ Σ
2M ra2 sin2 θ
+Σ dθ2 + sin2 θ (r2 + a2 + ) dϕ2 , (3.21)
Σ

where
Σ = r2 + a2 cos2 θ .

The corresponding null basis one forms are found to be

l = du − a sin2 θ dϕ , (3.22)
1 ³ 2M r ´ 2 ³
a sin θ 2M r ´
n = dr − 1− 2 2
du − 1+ 2 dϕ ,
2 r + cos θ 2 r + cos2 θ
(r + ia cosθ)
m = √ ( dθ + isinθ dϕ) .
2
These are dual of frame vectors (3.18) and they satisfy the duality relations (3.8) ,
but can not be obtained by applying complex transformations (3.9) on null basis
one forms (3.10).

17
The metric (3.21) is called advanced Eddington-Finkelstein form of the Kerr so-
lution. To write this metric in Boyer-Lindquist form, where only the dt dϕ off-
diagonal terms remain, one should do the following coordinate transformation

(r2 + a2 )
du = dt + dr ,
∆
a
dϕ = dφ + dr , (3.23)
∆

where
∆ = r2 + a2 − 2M r .

So we get the Kerr metric in Boyer-Lindquist form

2M r 4M r a sin2 θ Σ
ds2 = −( 1 − ) dt2 − dt dφ + Σ dθ2 + dr2
Σ Σ ∆
2 2
2M r a sin θ
+ sin2 θ ( r2 + a2 + ) dφ2 . (3.24)
Σ

We can further write the metric (3.21) which is driven by a complex transforma-
tion, in the Kerr-Schild form by writing it in the following way

ds2 = −du2 + 2du dr − 2a sin2 θ dr dϕ + ( r2 + a2 ) sin2 θ dϕ2

2M r
+ Σ dθ2 + ( du − a sin2 θ dϕ )2 . (3.25)
Σ

This form is similar to Kerr-Schild form

gα β = ηα β + H lα lβ , (3.26)

where H is a scalar function and lα is a null vector both with respect to gα β and
ηα β
gα β lα lβ = ηα β lα lβ = 0 ,

and it is also geodesic both with respect to gα β and ηα β

l α ∂ α l β = l α ∇α l β = 0 .

The advantage of writing the metric in Kerr-Schild form is that we can divide it in
two parts and can get advantage of null geodesics properties. To obtain the stan-
dard Minkowski flat metric in the first part of (3.25) the following transformations

18
should be applied

x = r cosϕ sinθ − a sinθ sinϕ ,

y = r sinϕ sinθ + a sinθ sinϕ , (3.27)

z = r cosθ ,

t = u−r.

Then the following equation is obtained

−du2 +2du dr−2a sin2 θ dr dϕ+( r2 +a2 ) sin2 θ dϕ2 +Σ dθ2 = −dt2 +dx2 +dy 2 +dz 2 .
(3.28)

For the remaining part of (3.25),

2M r
( du − a sin2 θ dϕ )2 , (3.29)
Σ

we can make use of null geodesics while transforming it to the new coordinates
since it is similar to
2M r
lα lβ . (3.30)
Σ

From the contravariant metric components stated in (3.20) we see that the only
nonvanishing component of lα is lr = −1, so we find

−lν = {1, 0, 0, −a sinθ2 } . (3.31)

Since the only nonvanishing component of the tangent vector is lr = −1 so the

null geodesics move with constant values of u, θ and ϕ , then we have

dx = cosϕ sinθ dr ,

dy = sinϕ sinθ dr , (3.32)

dz = cosθ dr,

dt = −dr .

Using vector transformation for lν

∂x0ν µ
l0ν = l , (3.33)
∂xµ

19
and lowering the indices, we find that
n rx + ay ry − ax z o
−lν = 1, , , . (3.34)
r2 + a2 r2 + a2 r

Finally we end up with the Kerr metric in Kerr-Schild form

2 2M r3 ³ rx + ay ry − ax z ´2
ds = ηµν + 4 dt + 2 dx + 2 dy + dz , (3.35)
r + a2 z 2 r + a2 r + a2 r

where ηµν is the standard Minkowski metric signed as ( -, +, +, + ) . Also it should

be noted that r is defined by

r4 − ( x2 + y 2 + z 2 − a2 ) r2 − a2 z 2 = 0 .

The metric (3.35) is in the form which Kerr originally discovered it in his paper
using null tetrad formalism [1] .
As a result we can say that this method works only on contravariant components
of the advanced Eddington-Finkelstein form of the Schwarzschild metric and ap-
plying the complex coordinate transformation on the null basis one forms does
not give a solution to Einstein equations.

20
4. KERR SOLUTION DERIVED FROM SCHWARZSCHILD SOLUTION

IN N +1 DIMENSIONS

To find the Kerr solution in N + 1 dimensional space-time, which has a single

rotation parameter, by a complex transformation from Schwarzschild metric we
first derive the N + 1 dimensional static spherically symmetric solution.
In N + 1 dimensional spacetime, general metric for a spherically symmetric and
static spacetime is given by

ds2 = −e 2µ(r) dt2 + e−2µ(r) dr2 + r2 (dθ12 + sin2 θ1 dθ22

+ sin2 θ1 sin2 θ2 dθ32 + . . . + sin2 θ1 . . . sin2 θN −2 dθN

2
−1 ) . (4.1)

To determine the arbitrary function e2µ(r) we use differential forms starting by

defining basis one forms as

e0 = eµ(r) dt ,

e1 = e−µ(r) dr ,

e2 = r dθ1 ,

e3 = r sinθ1 dθ2 ,

e4 = r sin θ1 sinθ2 dθ3 ,

e5 = r sin θ1 sinθ2 sinθ3 dθ4 ,

... ...

... ......

eN = r sin θ1 sinθ2 . . . sinθN −2 dθN −1 . (4.2)

21
d derivatives of these basis one forms are

de0 = −µ0 eµ e0 ∧ e1 , (4.3)

de1 = 0 ,
eµ 1
de2 = e ∧ e2 ,
r
eµ 1 cotθ1 2
de3 = e ∧ e3 + e ∧ e3 ,
r r
eµ 1 cotθ1 2 cotθ2 3
de4 = e ∧ e4 + e ∧ e4 + e ∧ e4 ,
r r r sinθ1
eµ 1 cotθ1 2 cotθ2 3 cotθ3
de5 = e ∧ e5 + e ∧ e5 + e ∧ e5 + e4 ∧ e5 ,
r r r sinθ1 r sinθ1 sinθ2
... ...

... ......
eµ 1 cotθ1 2 cotθN −2
deN = e ∧ eN + e ∧ eN + . . . + eN −1 ∧ eN ,
r r r sinθ1 sinθ2 . . . sinθN −3
where 0 denotes the derivative with respect to r .
The first Cartan equations are

de0 + w10 ∧ e1 + w20 ∧ e2 + . . . + wN

0
∧ eN = 0 ,

de1 + w01 ∧ e0 + w21 ∧ e2 + . . . + wN

1
∧ eN = 0 ,

de2 + w02 ∧ e0 + w12 ∧ e1 + . . . + wN

2
∧ eN = 0 , (4.4)

... ...

...... ......

deN + w0N ∧ e0 + w1N ∧ e1 + . . . + wN

N
−1 ∧ e
N −1
= 0.

By comparing the structure equations with d derivatives of basis one forms one
can find the following connection one forms

w10 = µ0 eµ e0 ,

w20 = w30 = . . . . . . = wN
0
= 0,
µ µ
e e eµ
w21 = − e2 , w31 = − e3 , . . . , wN 1
= − eN , (4.5)
r r r
cotθ 1 cotθ 1 cotθ1 N
w32 = − e3 , w42 = − e4 , . . . , w N
2
=− e ,
r r r
cotθ2 4 cotθ2 5 cotθ2 N
w43 = − e , w53 = − e , . . . , wN 3
=− e ,
r sinθ1 r sinθ1 r sin θ1
... ...

... ......
N −1 cotθN −2
wN =− eN .
r sinθ1 sinθ2 . . . sinθN −3

22
Then using the second Cartan equations, the curvature two forms are found to be

R10 = −( µ0 e2µ )0 e0 ∧ e1 ,
1 1
R32 = 2 ( 1 − e2µ ) e2 ∧ e3 , . . . , RN
2
= 2 ( 1 − e2µ ) e2 ∧ eN , f or N > 2
r r
0 0
µ µ
R20 = − e2µ e0 ∧ e2 , . . . , RN 0
= − e2µ e0 ∧ eN , f or N > 1
r r
0 0
µ µ
R21 = − e2µ e1 ∧ e3 , . . . , RN 1
= − e2µ e1 ∧ eN , f or N > 2 . (4.6)
r r

The corresponding Ricci one forms are

(Ric)0 = l1 R01 + l2 R02 + l3 R03 + . . . + lN R0N

| {z }
(n−1) times R20

µ0 2µ 0
= ( µ0 e2µ )0 e0 + (n − 1) e e = 0, (4.7)
r
(Ric)1 = l0 R10 + l2 R12 + l3 R13 + . . . + lN R1N
| {z }
(n−1) times R21

µ0 2µ 1
= −( µ0 e2µ )0 e1 − (n − 1) e e = 0, (4.8)
r
(Ric)2 = l0 R20 + l1 R21 + l3 R23 + . . . + lN R2N
| {z }
(n−2) times R32

2µ0 2µ 2 (n − 2)
= − e e + ( 1 − e2 µ ) e2 = 0 , (4.9)
r r2
(Ric)3 = l0 R30 + l1 R31 + l2 R32 + . . . + lN R3N
| {z }
(n−2) times R32

2µ0 2µ 3 (n − 2)
= − e e + ( 1 − e2 µ ) e3 = 0 . (4.10)
r r2

From (Ric)0 and (Ric)2 components we have

µ0 2µ
( µ0 e2µ )0 + (n − 1) e = 0,
r
2µ0 2µ (n − 2)
− e + 2
( 1 − e2 µ ) = 0 .
r r
These imply
(n − 2) (n − 1) 2µ
( µ0 e2µ )0 = (e − 1) . (4.11)
2r2
If we now choose
³ A ´
e2µ = 1+ ,
r(N −2)
taking the logarithm of both sides and derivation with respect to r it satisfies the
related equations .

23
The metric becomes
µ ¶ µ ¶−1
2 A 2 A
ds = − 1 + N −2 dt + 1 + N −2 dr2 + r2 (dθ12 + sin2 θ1 dθ22
r r
+ sin2 θ1 sin2 θ2 dθ32 + .... + sin2 θ1 ....sin2 θN −2 dθN
2
−1 ) , (4.12)

by the transformation sin2 θ1 sin2 θ2 = cos2 θ1 it can be written as

µ ¶ µ ¶−1
2 A 2 A
ds = − 1 + N −2 dt + 1 + N −2 dr2 + r2 (dθ12 + sin2 θ1 dθ22 )
r r
2 2 2
+ r cos θ1 dΩN −3 , (4.13)

where

dΩ2N −3 = dθ32 + sin2 θ3 dθ42 + .... + sin2 θ3 ...sin2 θN −2 dθN

2
−1 . (4.14)

The arbitrary constant A can be determined by using Komar integral in N + 1

dimensions [10, 12] ,
Z
1 µ; ν N −1
m= ξ (t) d Σµ ν , (4.15)
(N − 2) AN −1
SN −1

and the relation between m and the total mass of black hole M is given by

16π M
m= . (4.16)
(N − 1) AN −1

Here AN −1 is the area of unit (N − 1)-sphere and

1
dN −1 Σµ ν = ²̂ µ να1 α2 ...αN −1 dxα1 ∧ dxα2 ∧ . . . ∧ dxαN −1
(N − 1)!

again
√
²̂ µ να1 α2 ...αN −1 = −g ² µ να1 α2 ...αN −1 .

To find g for this metric

√
N =3→ −g = r2 sinθ1 ,
√
N =4→ −g = r3 sinθ1 cosθ1 ,
√
N =5→ −g = r4 sinθ1 cosθ12 sinθ3 ,
√
N =6→ −g = r5 sinθ1 cosθ13 sinθ32 sinθ4 ,

... ...
√ √
N =N +1→ −g = rN −1 sinθ1 cosθ1N −3 χ , (4.17)

24
where χ is the determinant of the metric dΩ2N −3 .
Again here ξ µ(t) is the timelike Killing vector field

ξ µ(t) = ( 1, 0, 0, 0, . . . , 0)

and
A(N − 2)
ξ 0 ; 1 = g 11 Γ010 = − .
2 rN −1
Inserting these into (4.15)
Z
2 0; 1 N −1
m= ξ (t) d Σ0 1 , (4.18)
(N − 2) AN −1

which becomes
Z
−A √
m= sinθ1 cosθ1N −3 χ dθ1 dθ2 . . . dθN −1 . (4.19)
AN −1
| {z }
AN −1

So the unknown constant is found as

A = −m .

Therefore the N + 1 dimensional Schwarzschild metric reads

³ m ´ ³ m ´−1 2
ds2 = − 1 − N −2 dt2 + 1 − N −2 dr + r2 (dθ12 + sin2 θ1 dθ22
r r
+ sin2 θ1 sin2 θ2 dθ32 + .... + sin2 θ1 ....sin2 θN −2 dθN
2
−1 ) . (4.20)

For N = 3 using (4.16) it can be seen that m = 2M , so it gives the four dimen-
sional Schwarzschild metric (2.43) .
We can start to apply NJ method on this metric. To write Schwarzschild metric
in advanced EF coordinates the following transformation is applied

rN −2
dt = du − dr (4.21)
rN −2 − m

and in the new coordinates the metric becomes

m
ds2 = −(1 − ) du2 + 2du dr + r2 (dθ12 + sin2 θ1 dθ22 (4.22)
rN −2
+ sin2 θ1 sin2 θ2 dθ32 + .... + sin2 θ1 ....sin2 θN −2 dθN
2
−1 ) .

25
The non-zero inverse metric components are

m
g 01 = 1 , g 11 = (1 − ),
rN −2
1 1
g 22 = 2
, g 33 = 2 ,
r r sin2 θ1
1 1
g 44 = 2 2 2
, g 55 = 2 , (4.23)
r sin θ1 sin θ2 r sin θ1 sin2 θ2 sin2 θ3
2

.... ....

.... ....
1 1
g N −1 N −1 = , gN N = ,
r2 sin2 θ1 ... sin2 θN −3 r2 sin2 θ1 ... sin2 θN −2

which can be written in the following complex null form

g −1 = ˜l ⊗ ñ + ñ ⊗ ˜l + m̃1 ⊗ m̃1 ∗ + m̃1 ∗ ⊗ m̃1 + . . . . . .

+ m̃(N −1)/2 ⊗ m̃∗(N −1)/2 + m̃∗(N −1)/2 ⊗ m̃(N −1)/2 , (4.24)

where we have assumed N + 1 is even.

Corresponding null vectors are

˜l = ∂r ,
1³ m ´
ñ = ∂u + 1 − N −2 ∂r , (4.25)
2 r
1 i
m̃1 = √ (∂θ1 + ∂θ ) ,
2r sinθ1 2
1 i
m̃2 = √ (∂θ3 + ∂θ ) ,
2r sinθ1 sinθ2 sinθ3 4
.... ....

.... ....
1 ¡ i ¢
m̃(N −1)/2 = √ ∂θN −2 + ∂θN −1 .
2r sinθ1 ... sinθN −3 sinθN −2

26
If we let r take complex values, the new vectors become

˜l = ∂r ,
1³ m ´
ñ = ∂u + 1 − N −4 ∗ ∂r , (4.26)
2 r rr
1 i
m̃1 = √ (∂θ1 + ∂θ ) ,
2r∗ sinθ2 2
1 i
m̃2 = √ (∂θ3 + ∂θ ) ,
2r sinθ1 sinθ2 sinθ3 4
.... ....

.... ....
1 ¡ i ¢
m̃(N −1)/2 = √ ∂θN −2 + ∂θN −1 .
2r sinθ1 ... sinθN −3 sinθN −2

The important thing here is to obtain a solution satisfying Einstein equations with
a complexification that applies only on l, n and m1 while other null vector pairs
remain unchanged.

If the following transformation is applied

u0 = u − ia cosθ1 ,

r0 = r − ia cosθ1 , (4.27)

θ10 = θ1 , θ20 = θ2 , .... , θN

0
−1 = θN −1

and the primes are dropped, the new null vectors became

˜l = ∂r ,
1³ m ´
ñ = ∂u + 1 − N −4 2 ∂r ,
2 r (r + a2 cos2 θ1 )
1 ³ i ´
m̃1 = √ ia sinθ1 (∂u + ∂r ) + ∂θ1 + ∂θ2 ,
2(r − ia cosθ1 ) sinθ1
1 i
m̃2 = √ (∂θ3 + ∂θ ) , (4.28)
2r sinθ1 sinθ2 sinθ3 4
.... ....

.... ....
1 ¡ i ¢
m̃(N −1)/2 = √ ∂θN −2 + ∂θN −1 .
2r sinθ1 ... sinθN −3 sinθN −2

Using (4.24) for the inverse components of the metric, the new non-zero con-

27
travariant metric components are found as

a2 sin2 θ1 a2 sin2 θ1
g 00 = , g 01 = 1 + ,
Σ Σ
a m a2 sin2 θ1
g 03 = , g 11 = 1 − N −4 + , (4.29)
Σ r Σ Σ
a 1 1
g 13 = , g 22 = , g 33 = ,
Σ Σ Σ sin2 θ1
1 1
g 44 = 2 2
, ..... , g N N = 2 ,
r cos θ1 r cos θ1 sin θ3 ... sin2 θN −2
2 2

where again the transformation sin2 θ1 sin2 θ2 = cos2 θ1 is done and

Σ = r2 + a2 cos2 θ1 .

Finally the metric reads

m 2a m sin2 θ1
ds2 = −(1 − ) du2 + 2du dr − du dθ2 − 2a sin2 θ1 dr dθ2
rN −4 Σ rN −4 Σ
m a2 sin2 θ1
+ Σ dθ12 + sin2 θ1 (r2 + a2 + N −4
) dθ22 + r2 cos2 θ1 dΩ2N −3 . (4.30)
r Σ

To write this metric in Boyer-Lindquist form, one should do the following coordi-
nate transformation

(r2 + a2 )
du = dt + dr ,
∆
a
dθ2 = dθ20 + dr , (4.31)
∆

where
∆ = r2 + a2 − m r4−N .

So dropping the primes we get the Kerr metric in BL form

³ m ´ 2 2m a sin2 θ1 Σ
ds2 = − 1 − N −4 dt − N −4
dt dθ2 + Σ dθ12 + dr2
µr Σ
2
r ¶Σ
2
∆
m a sin θ
+ sin2 θ1 r2 + a2 + N −4
dθ22 + r2 cos2 θ1 dΩ2N −3 . (4.32)
r Σ

To summarize, we started from N + 1 dimensional Schwarzschild metric and by

performing a single complex transformation on it, we obtained the N + 1 dimen-
sional Kerr metric with only one rotation parameter.

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5. DISCUSSION

In this thesis, the concept of differential forms in general relativity is studied. Since
the metric is written in an orthonormal basis which are not related to any chosen
coordinate system, this method is very powerful. Furthermore we introduced the
complex null-tetrad formalism that is a very efficient form of the metric to find
solutions to Einstein equations.

If a metric can be written in Kerr-Schild form, then one can apply the complex
coordinate transformation method which is applicable to these kind of metrics.
In 1962, Trautman gave a generalized procedure to get new solutions starting
from given ones by a complex transformation. Later, Newman and Janis derived
the Kerr and Kerr- Newman solutions by applying complex coordinate trans-
formations on the contravariant components of the Schwarzschild and Reissner-
Nordström metrics written in null tetrad formalism.

A completely different approach with the same results as Newman-Janis was also
studied [7] where a complex transformation is performed on the solution so there
is no arbitrariness in this method.

After introducing differential forms in general relativity, spherically symmetric

black hole solutions are studied in the Chapter 2 of this thesis. Then after intro-
ducing complex null-tetrad formalism, complex coordinate transformation on the
null basis 1-forms has been tried, which gives no solution to Einstein equations.
On the other hand the same complex coordinate transformation applied on null
tetrad vectors as was first done by NJ gives a new solution to Einstein equations.
To understand this better, complex gravity studies can be done as a future work.

In the Chapter 4 a very specific Kerr metric with a single rotation parameter
in N + 1 dimensional spacetime is obtained by applying NJ complex coordinate
transformation method. This solution is a special case of known solutions [10, 11] .

29
REFERENCES

[1] Kerr, R. P., 1963. Physical Review Letters 11, 237

[2] Newman, E. T. and Janis, A. I., 1965. Note on the Kerr Spinning-
Particle Metric, Journal of Math. Physics, 915
[3] Trautman, A., 1962. Proc. R. Soc. London, A270, 326
[4] Debney, G. C., Kerr, R. P. and Schild, A., 1969. Journal of Math.
Physics, 10, 1842
[5] Newman, E. T., Couch, E., Chinnapared, K., Exton, A., Prakash,
A. and Torrence, R., 1965. Metric of a Rotating, Charged Mass Journal
of Math. Physics, 918

[6] Gürses, M., Gürsey, F., 1975. Journal of Math. Physics 16, 2385

[7] Schiffer, M. M., Adler, R. J., Mark, J., Sheffield, C., 1972. Kerr
geometry as complexified Schwarzschild geometry, Journal of Math. Physics
14, 52
[8] Chakrabarti, A., 1986. Physics Letters B 172, 175

[9] Tangherlini, F. R., 1963. Nuovo Cimento 77, 636

[10] Myers, R. C. and Perry, M. J., 1986. Annals of Physics 172, 304-347
[11] Gibbons, G.W., Lü, H., Page, D. N. and Pope, C. N., 2004. arXiv:
hep-th/0404008

[12] Wald, R. M., 1984. General Relativity ,pp. 288

30
BIOGRAPHY

Elif Büşra Güraksin was born in Ankara in 1981. She graduated from Sakarya
Mithatpaşa High School in 1999. She obtained her BSc. degree in 2004 from
İstanbul Technical University, Department of Physics . She started MSc education
at the same department in 2004. She has been working in İstanbul Technical
University, Department of Physics as a research assistant since November, 2005.

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