Dual spacetimes, Mach's Principle and topological defects

Abstract

By resolving the Riemann curvature relative to a unit timelike vector into electric and magnetic parts, we define a duality transformation which interchanges active and passive electric parts. It implies interchange of roles of Ricci and Einstein curvatures. Further by modifying the vacuum/flat equation we construct spacetimes dual to the Schwarzschild solution and flat spacetime. The dual spacetimes describe the original spacetimes with global monopole charge and global texture. The duality so defined is thus intimately related to the topological defects and also renders the Schwarzschild field asymptotically non-flat which augurs well with Mach's Principle.