Determining parameters of the Neugebauer family of vacuum spacetimes in terms of data specified on the symmetry axis

Abstract

We express the complex potential E and the metrical fields omega and gamma of all stationary axisymmetric vacuum spacetimes that result from the application of two successive quadruple-Neugebauer (or two double-Harrison) transformations to Minkowski space in terms of data specified on the symmetry axis, which are in turn easily expressed in terms of multipole moments. Moreover, we suggest how, in future papers, we shall apply our approach to do the same thing for those vacuum solutions that arise from the application of more than two successive transformations, and for those electrovac solutions that have axis data similar to that of the vacuum solutions of the Neugebauer family. (References revised following response from referee.)