Parallel waves in Einstein-non linear sigma models

Abstract

We study a family of solutions of Einstein-non linear sigma models with $S^2$ and $SU(2) \sim S^3$ target manifolds. In the $S^2$ case, the solutions are smooth everywhere, free of conical singularities, and approach asymptotically the metric of a cosmic string, with a mass per length that is proportional to the absolute value of the winding number from topological spheres onto the target $S^2$. This gives an interesting example of a relation between a mass and a topological charge. The case with target $SU(2)$ generalizes the stationary solution found in Eur. Phys. J. C (2021) 81:55 to parallel waves with a non-planar wavefront $\mathcal{W}$. We prove that these $\mathcal{W}$-fronted parallel waves are sub-quadratic in the classification in Class. Quant. Grav. \textbf{20} (2003) 2275, and thus causally well behaved. These spacetimes have a non-vanishing baryon current and their geometry has many striking features.