Electromagnetic perturbations of non-vacuum locally rotationally symmetric class II spacetimes

Abstract

We present a method that yields three decoupled covariant equations for three complex scalars, which completely govern electromagnetic perturbations of non-vacuum, locally rotationally symmetric class II spacetimes. One of these equations is equivalent to the previously established generalized Regge-Wheeler equation for electromagnetic fields. The remaining two equations are a direct generalization of the Bardeen-Press equations. The approach undertaken makes use of the well established 3+1 (and 2+1+1) formalism, and therefore, it is an ideal setting for specifying interpretable energy-momentum on an initial spacelike three-slice as the perturbation sources to the resultant electromagnetic radiation.