On a remarkable electromagnetic field in the Einstein Universe

Abstract

We present a time-dependent solution of the Maxwell equations in the Einstein universe, whose electric and magnetic fields, as seen by the stationary observers, are aligned with the Clifford parallels of the $3$-sphere $S^3$. The conformal equivalence between Minkowski's spacetime and (a region of) the Einstein cylinder is then exploited in order to obtain a knotted, finite energy, radiating solution of the Maxwell equations in flat spacetime. We also discuss similar electromagnetic fields in expanding closed Friedmann models, and compute the matter content of such configurations.