Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space
We review a new theory of orthogonal separation of variables on pseudo-Riemannian spaces of constant zero curvature via concircular tensors and warped products. We then apply this theory to three-dimensional Minkowski space, obtaining an invariant classification of the forty-five orthogonal separabl...
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| Опубліковано в: : | Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications |
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| Дата: | 2022 |
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Інститут математики НАН України
2022
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| Цитувати: | Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space. Carlos Valero and Raymond G. Mclenaghan. SIGMA 18 (2022), 019, 28 pages |
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Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine| _version_ | 1859821177934970880 |
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| author | Valero, Carlos McLenaghan, Raymond G. |
| author_facet | Valero, Carlos McLenaghan, Raymond G. |
| citation_txt | Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space. Carlos Valero and Raymond G. Mclenaghan. SIGMA 18 (2022), 019, 28 pages |
| collection | DSpace DC |
| container_title | Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications |
| description | We review a new theory of orthogonal separation of variables on pseudo-Riemannian spaces of constant zero curvature via concircular tensors and warped products. We then apply this theory to three-dimensional Minkowski space, obtaining an invariant classification of the forty-five orthogonal separable webs modulo the action of the isometry group. The eighty-eight inequivalent coordinate charts adapted to the webs are also determined and listed. We find a number of separable webs that do not appear in previous works in the literature. Further, the method used seems to be more efficient and concise than those employed in earlier works.
|
| first_indexed | 2026-03-16T12:21:30Z |
| format | Article |
| fulltext |
Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications SIGMA 18 (2022), 019, 28 pages
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs
for the Hamilton–Jacobi and Klein–Gordon Equations
on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space
Carlos VALERO a and Raymond G. MCLENAGHAN b
aq Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McGill University,
Montréal, Québec, H3A 0G4, Canada
E-mail: charles.valero@mail.mcgill.ca
bq Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo,
Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
E-mail: rgmclenaghan@uwaterloo.ca
Received July 03, 2021, in final form March 02, 2022; Published online March 12, 2022
https://doi.org/10.3842/SIGMA.2022.019
Abstract. We review a new theory of orthogonal separation of variables on pseudo-Rieman-
nian spaces of constant zero curvature via concircular tensors and warped products. We then
apply this theory to three-dimensional Minkowski space, obtaining an invariant classification
of the forty-five orthogonal separable webs modulo the action of the isometry group. The
eighty-eight inequivalent coordinate charts adapted to the webs are also determined and
listed. We find a number of separable webs which do not appear in previous works in the
literature. Further, the method used seems to be more efficient and concise than those
employed in earlier works.
Key words: Hamilton–Jacobi equation; Laplace–Beltrami equation; separation of variables;
Minkowski space; concircular tensors; warped products
2020 Mathematics Subject Classification: 53Z05; 70H20; 83A05
1 Introduction
In this paper we consider the Hamilton–Jacobi equation for geodesics on an n-dimensional
pseudo-Riemannian manifold pM, gq
1
2
gijpqqBWBqi
BW
Bqj � E, (1.1)
where q � �
q1, . . . , qn
�
denotes a local coordinate system, gij the contravariant components of
the metric tensor g, and E is a non-zero constant. We also consider the Klein–Gordon equation
1a
|det g|
B
Bqi
�a
|det g|gij BφBqj
�m2φ � 0, (1.2)
where det g denotes the determinant of pgijq, and m � 0 is constant.
By additive separability of equation (1.1) with respect to a coordinate system q, we mean
that the equation admits a complete integral, i.e., a solution of the form
W pq, cq �
ņ
i�1
Wi
�
qi, c
�
,
mailto:charles.valero@mail.mcgill.ca
mailto:rgmlena@uwaterloo.ca
https://doi.org/10.3842/SIGMA.2022.019
2 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
where c � pc1, . . . , cnq denotes n constants which satisfy the completeness relation
det
� B2W
BciBqj
� 0.
Product separability of equation (1.2) in a coordinates system q means that the equation pos-
sesses a complete separated solution of the form [2]
φpq, cq �
n¹
i�1
φi
�
qi, c
�
,
that depend on 2n parameters c � pc1, . . . , c2nq which satisfy the completeness relation [2]
det
�
��
Bui
Bc
Bvi
Bc
�
�
� 0, ui � φ1i
φi
, vi � φ2i
φi
.
Separation of variables with respect to coordinates q is said to be orthogonal if the coordinates q
are orthogonal, i.e., if gij � 0, for all i � j. The separation of variables property for a coordinate
system q is preserved by any coordinate transformation with diagonal Jacobian. An orthogonal
web on pM, gq is a set of n mutually transversal and orthogonal foliations of dimension n � 1.
A coordinate system q is adapted to the web if its leaves are represented locally by qi � ci, where
the ci are constant parameters. An orthogonal web is said to be separable if the Hamilton–Jacobi
equation is separable in any system of coordinates adapted to the web [2]. Such a web is called
an orthogonal separable web. It may be shown that if the Klein–Gordon equation is separable
in coordinates q, then the Hamilton–Jacobi equation is separable in the same coordinates [29].
However, in a space of constant curvature where the Riemann curvature tensor has the form
Rijkl � kpgikgjl � gilgjkq,
where k is constant, the separability of the Klein–Gordon equation in coordinates q is equivalent
to the separability of the Hamilton–Jacobi equation in the same system [9]. Furthermore, the
separable coordinates are necessarily orthogonal [20]. We will say that two orthogonal webs in
a pseudo-Riemannian manifold are inequivalent if they cannot be mapped into each other by an
isometry.
The purpose of the present paper is to determine by a new method the inequivalent orthogonal
webs on flat 3-dimensional Minkowski space, E3
1, whose adapted coordinate systems permit
additive (resp. product) separation for the Hamilton–Jacobi equation for the geodesics (resp.
Klein–Gordon equation) and to contrast our solution with previously known results. The article
is an extension of the work of Rajaratnam, McLenaghan and Valero [28] who solved a similar
problem for 2-dimensional Minkowski space E2
1 and de Sitter space dS2. McLenaghan and
Valero have also used this method to obtain a classification of the orthogonal separable webs for
3-dimensional hyperbolic and de Sitter spaces [31]. A classification of separable webs in these
spacetimes could be used to solve boundary value problems whose geometries are adapted to one
of these coordinate systems, or to study the integrability of Hamilton–Jacobi or Klein–Gordon
equations when coupled to an external field. For example, in [21], all separable webs that separate
the Hamilton–Jacobi equation for a test charge moving in the electromagnetic field produced
by a point particle are classified, and it is therein concluded that only the Cavendish-Coulomb
field admits complete separation.
The approach used in this paper is based on the theory of concircular tensors and warped
products developed by Rajaratnam [25] and Rajaratnam and McLenaghan [26, 27]. It is a syn-
thesis of the results of Kalnins [17], Crampin [7] and Benenti [1] that has been extended to include
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 3
general pseudo-Riemannian spaces with application to pseudo-Riemannian spaces of constant
curvature [28, 31]. This theory is derived from Eisenhart’s [9] characterization of orthogonal
separability by means of valence-two Killing tensors which have simple eigenvalues and orthog-
onally integrable eigendirections, called characteristic Killing tensors. We recall that a Killing
tensor is a symmetric tensor Kij which satisfies the equation [9]
∇iKjk �∇jKki �∇kKij � 0,
where ∇ denotes the covariant derivative associated to the Levi-Civita connection of g.
This problem has been studied via other methods by different authors including Kalnins [16],
Kalnins and Miller [19], Kalnins, Kress and Miller [18], Hinterleitner [10, 11], and Horwood
and McLenaghan [14]. In [19] it is shown by a method based on the use of pentaspherical
coordinates [3] that the coordinate systems which allow separation have the property that the
coordinate surfaces are orthogonal families of confocal quadrics or their limits. The distinct
classes of separable coordinates are then classified under the action of the isometry group.
In [10, 11] the coordinate domains and horizons for the coordinate systems of Kalnins and Miller
which cannot be reduced to separable coordinate systems in two dimensions are constructed by
means of projective plane coordinates. This work adds global considerations to the otherwise
local aspects of separable of variables in this case.
In [14] the canonical separable coordinates and their associated webs are found by a purely
geometric method which involves the systematic integration of the Killing tensor equations
together with the flatness condition in a general orthogonal coordinate system. The transfor-
mation to pseudo-Cartesian coordinates is then obtained by the method described in [13]. The
components of these tensors with respect to pseudo-Cartesian coordinates are obtained from
the components in canonical separable coordinates by applying the tensor transformation law.
This procedure defines the Killing tensor in question on a coordinate patch of E3
1. Because the
components of the general Killing tensor are polynomial functions in pseudo-Cartesian coordi-
nates, the Killing tensor is defined on all of E3
1 by analytic continuation. The separable webs
are finally obtained as the integral curves of the eigenvector fields of the Killing tensor. Using
this procedure Horwood and McLenaghan [12] found thirty-nine orthogonally separable webs
and fifty-eight inequivalent metrics in adapted coordinate systems which permit orthogonal sep-
aration of variables for the associated Hamilton–Jacobi equation and Klein–Gordon equations.
In a subsequent paper Horwood, McLenaghan and Smirnov [15] employ the invariant theory of
Killing tensors [5, 6, 12, 22, 23, 30] to classify the separable webs of E3
1 by sets of functions of
the coefficients of the characteristic Killing tensors which are invariant under the action of the
isometry group Ep2, 1q of E3
1.
The use of the Rajaratnam et al. [26, 27] theory to solve this problem has a number of
advantages:
1. It gives directly the coordinate transformation between the separable coordinates and
pseudo-Cartesian coordinates.
2. It gives directly the expression for the metric tensor in the separable coordinates.
3. It gives a partially invariant characterization of the separable webs under the appropriate
equivalence relation (see Section 2).
4. It provides an apparently more compact treatment compared to the other methods de-
scribed above.
Our calculations yield forty-five orthogonal separable webs which include the thirty-nine
found in [14] as well as six additional webs, one of which does not appear in [11]. We also note
that the number of inequivalent adapted coordinate systems we obtain does not agree with the
4 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
number given in [11]. In this paper we shall provide what appear to be the missing webs in [14]
and discuss the discrepancies with the results of [11].
The paper is organized as follows: in Section 2 we review the theory of concircular tensors,
their algebraic classification and how certain classes of concircular tensors can be used to con-
struct separable coordinates. In Section 3 the theory of warped products is summarized and an
algorithm is given for the construction of reducible separable webs. In both Sections 2 and 3, we
restrict ourselves to the case of constant zero curvature; for a compact review of the theory in the
case of constant non-zero curvature, we direct the reader to [31, Sections 2 and 3]. In Section 4,
the theory reviewed in Sections 2 and 3 are applied to obtain a complete list of the separable
webs and inequivalent adapted coordinate systems on E3
1. For ease of comparison with previous
results we indicate in parentheses how the web is classified in [14]; we also indicate which webs
are not found therein. For the irreducible webs, we also give in square brackets the notation
used by [11] and [19], again indicating which webs are not found therein. Concluding remarks
are given in Section 5.
We end this section with a word on notation and conventions. We denote the n-dimensio-
nal pseudo-Euclidean space with signature ν by En
ν . By n-dimensional Minkowski space, we
mean En
1 . As En
ν is a vector space, we make liberal use of the canonical isomorphism between En
ν
and TpEn
ν to identify points and tangent vectors. Accordingly, we denote the metric in En
ν by
both g and x�, �y. Furthermore, as the metric induces an isomorphism between tensor spaces
via ‘raising and lowering indices’, we will adopt the standard practice of identifying tensors
under this correspondence, using the same symbol regardless of type. It may be convenient
to sometimes make this distinction explicit for vectors. In that case, we will write v5 for the
one-form corresponding to the vector v via the isomorphism induced by the metric.
Finally, this paper relies heavily on some elementary results regarding the classification of
self-adjoint linear operators on En
ν . A review of the relevant material may be found in [28];
for convenience, in the appendix we have summarized the main results for the special case of
Minkowski space. Any reader not familiar with this subject should look at the appendix before
proceeding. The notation and definitions found therein will be used hereafter without comment.
2 Concircular tensors in En
ν
We recall the basic properties of concircular tensors as they relate to separation of variables. In
this section, let pM, gq be a pseudo-Riemannian manifold. A concircular tensor (CT) L on M
is a 2-tensor satisfying
∇kLij � αigjk � αjgik
for some 1-form α on M . These tensors are generalization of concircular vectors, which were
so-called since they arise as gradients ∇ρ of functions ρ such that the conformal scaling g ÞÑ ρ2g
maps circles to circles; for more information on concircular vectors, see [8].
We say that L is an orthogonal, concircular tensor, if it is pointwise diagonalizable. We say
that L is a Benenti tensor if its eigenfunctions are pointwise simple, i.e., if its eigenvalues at each
point are distinct. We call L an irreducible concircular tensor, if its eigenfunctions λ1, . . . , λn are
functionally independent. A CT that is not irreducible is called reducible. One can show that
an orthogonal CT is irreducible if and only if none of its eigenfunctions are constant [27]. We
will only need to work with orthogonal CTs in classifying separable webs on spaces of constant
curvature. It is therefore of no harm in assuming all CTs to be orthogonal from this point
forward.
One can show [7] that the general concircular tensor L in En
ν is given by
L � A� 2w d r �mr d r,
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 5
where A is a constant symmetric tensor, w P En
ν , m P R, d is the symmetric tensor product,
and r is the dilatational vector field, defined in pseudo-Cartesian coordinates pxiq by r :� xiBi.
If L is irreducible, then the distributions orthogonal to its eigenspaces are integrable and
define a separable web [27]. In this case, the eigenfunctions of L themselves give separable
coordinates adapted to this web. If L is reducible, then there are often multiple separable webs
adapted to its eigenspaces; for this case we will need a warped product decomposition of M to
determine all the separable coordinates associated with L. This will be the subject of the next
section.
Therefore, any orthogonal CT induces at least one separable web. It is a remarkable fact
that in spaces of constant curvature, all such separable webs arise in this fashion; see [26, 27]
for a proof of this theorem. However, it is clear that distinct orthogonal CTs may give rise to
separable webs which are related by an isometry. So, to classify separable webs modulo isometry,
we must classify orthogonal CTs modulo an appropriate equivalence relation. More precisely,
let L and L1 be two concircular tensors on a pseudo-Riemannian manifold pM, gq. We say that L
and L1 are geometrically equivalent if there exists a P Rzt0u, b P R, and an isometry Λ P IpMq
such that L1 � a
�
Λ�1
��
L�bg. The reason for studying the equivalence classes of CTs under this
relation lies in the following result: if L and L1 are orthogonal CTs on a connected manifold M ,
with at least one being non-constant, then their associated separable webs are related by an
isometry if and only if they are geometrically equivalent [27].
This is a good place to mention some useful results which allow one to connect concircular
tensors with the general theory of separation using Killing tensors, as is done in [12, 14]. We
refer the reader to [28] for details on the following construction. If L is a CT, we first define
K1 :� trpLqg � L,
where trpLq denotes the trace of L. K1 is a Killing tensor with the same eigenspaces as L; in
particular if L is Benenti, then K1 is a characteristic Killing tensor called the Killing–Bertrand–
Darboux tensor pKBDTq associated with L. We may then define inductively, for 2 ¤ m ¤ n� 1,
Km :� 1
m
trpKm�1Lqg �Km�1L,
where Km�1L is a product of endomorphisms. One can show [1] that tg,K1, . . . ,Kn�1u generate
a real n-dimensional vector space of Killing tensors which are all diagonalized in the separable
coordinates induced by L. This space is called the Killing–Stäckel algebra associated with the
web; it plays an important role in the Killing tensor approach to separation of variables.
We now quote the following theorem from [28] which will be absolutely paramount in our
classification of concircular tensors (and hence separable webs) in E3
1. For simplicity, we state
the theorem for the special case of En
1 , which shall be sufficient for our purposes.
Theorem 2.1. Any orthogonal concircular tensor L̃ � Ã�wbr5�rbw5�mrbr5 in En
1 , after
a possible change of origin and after passing to a geometrically equivalent concircular tensor L,
admits precisely one of the following canonical forms:
� Cartesian, if m � 0 and w � 0, then L � Ã,
� central, if m � 0, then L � A� r b r5,
� non-null axial, if m � 0 and xw,wy � 0, then there exists a vector e1 P spantwu such that
L � A� e1 b r5 � r b e51, Ae1 � 0, and xe1, e1y � ε � �1,
� null axial, if m � 0, w � 0 and xw,wy � 0, then there is a skew-normal sequence psee the
appendix for the definition of a skew-normal sequenceq β � te1, . . . , eku with e1 P spantwu
and xe1, eky � ε, which is A-invariant, such that L � A�e1br5�rbe51 and the restriction
of A to spantβu is represented by Jkp0qT. In Minkowski space, either k � 2, in which case
ε � �1, or k � 3, in which case ε � 1.
6 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
In Theorem 2.1, ε is called the sign of L. For central CTs, the sign is defined to be 1, and for
Cartesian CTs, the sign is not defined. For a proof of Theorem 2.1 in a flat space of arbitrary
signature, the reader should consult [25].
Let L be a CT in its canonical form. Then we let D denote the A-invariant subspace spanned
by
w,Aw,A2w, . . .
(
. This subspace is either zero (if w � 0), or non-degenerate. We define
Ac :� A|DK
as well as the following two characteristic polynomials:
ppzq :� detpzI � Lq, Bpzq :� detpzI �Acq,
where the latter determinant is evaluated in DK. We therefore have that the classification of CTs
within each of the cases listed in Theorem 2.1, is reducible to a classification of the metric-Jordan
canonical forms for Ac.
We also note that in the classification of orthogonal CTs as per Theorem 2.1, CTs which
differ by multiples of the metric in DK induce the same separable webs if dimD ¤ 2. While not
explicitly stated in [25], this result is implied by the proof of Theorem 2.1 given therein. We
shall use this result frequently to simplify our canonical forms for the axial concircular tensors.
We finish this section with some results that will allows us to extract explicit formulae for sep-
arable coordinates from an irreducible CT. Recall that an irreducible CT determines a separable
web, and its eigenfunctions are separable coordinates adapted to this web; we call these canonical
coordinates associated with the irreducible CT. Furthermore, one can show that a non-constant
CT L � A� 2wd r�mrd r in En
ν (for ν ¤ 1) is an irreducible CT if and only if Ac has no mul-
tidimensional eigenspaces; equivalently, L is reducible if and only if Ac has a multidimensional
eigenspace [25].
The following technical results are derived in [25] and allow one to obtain, given an irreducible
CT L, the transformation equations between the induced canonical coordinates
�
ui
�
, and the
lightcone-Cartesian coordinates
�
xi
�
in which pA, gq take the prescribed form. First, if L �
A� rb r5 is a central irreducible CT in canonical form, and if A and g take the following forms
in coordinates
�
xi
�
, where the matrices Jkpλq and Sk are defined in Appendix A:
A � Jkp0qT ` diagpλk�1, . . . , λnq, g � ϵ0Sk ` diagpϵk�1, . . . , ϵnq (2.1)
then, from [25], we have the following equations:
l�1̧
i�1
xixl�2�i � �ϵ0
l!
�
d
dz
l � ppzq
BUKpzq
����
z�0
, l � 0, . . . , k � 1, (2.2)
�
xi
�2 � �ϵi ppλiq
B1pλiq , i � k � 1, . . . , n, (2.3)
where U is the subspace corresponding to Jkp0qT, and BUKpzq is the characteristic polynomial
of A restricted to UK. The transformation equations from the canonical coordinates
�
ui
�
and
the coordinates
�
xi
�
can then be obtained by writing
ppzq �
n¹
i�1
�
z � ui
�
. (2.4)
Now let L � A� e1b r5� rb e51 be an axial irreducible CT in canonical form and suppose that
in coordinates
�
xi
�
, we have A � Ad ` Ac with Ad � Jkp0qT and g � ϵ0Sk ` gc. Then we have
from [25] that the characteristic polynomial of L takes the form
ppzq � pdpzqBpzq � ϵ0ppcpzq �Bpzqq, (2.5)
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 7
where pdpzq is the characteristic polynomial of L restricted to the subspace corresponding to Ad,
and is given explicitly as follows (for k ¥ 2):
pdpzq � zk �
ķ
l�2
l�1̧
i�1
xk�1�i�lxk�1�izk�l � 2ϵ0
ķ
i�1
xk�i�1zk�i. (2.6)
Again, the coordinate transformations from lightcone-Cartesian coordinates
�
xi
�
to the canon-
ical coordinates puiq may be obtained by using the equations (2.5) and (2.6), along with the
factorization of ppzq, just as with central CTs. We note that in the case A � Ad, we of course
have ppzq � pdpzq. Furthermore, for k � 1, it is clear that pdpzq � z � 2ϵ0x
1.
The last result from [25] that we quote in this section allows one to quickly write down the
expression for the metric in canonical coordinates puiq associated with an irreducible CT L. For
i � 1, . . . , n,
gii � ε
4
±
j�i
�
ui � uj
�
±n�k
j�1
�
ui � λj
� , (2.7)
where λ1, . . . , λn�k are the roots of Bpzq, and ε is the sign of L (see the remarks following
Theorem 2.1). Of course the separable coordinates
�
ui
�
are orthogonal, so gij � 0 for i � j.
3 Warped products in Enν and reducible concircular tensors
Here we recall warped product decompositions of En
ν and their importance for constructing
separable webs in En
ν . In this section, we quote the relevant results, referring the reader to [31]
or [25] for details. Recall that given pseudo-Riemannian manifolds pNi, giq for 0 ¤ i ¤ k and
smooth positive functions ρj for 1 ¤ j ¤ k, we define the warped product N0 �ρ1 � � � � �ρk Nk
to be the product manifold equipped with the metric
g :� π�0g0 �
ķ
i�1
�
ρ2i � π0
�
π�i gi,
where πi : N0 � � � � �Nk Ñ Ni is the i-th projection. We call N0 the geodesic factor and Ni for
i ¡ 0 the spherical factors. A warped product decomposition of a manifoldM is a diffeomorphism
ψ : N0 �ρ1 N1 � � � � �ρk Nk Ñ M . We will often speak of warped product decompositions of
open subsets of M without much distinction. Moreover, we may at times use the terms warped
product and warped product decomposition interchangeably.
Let L be a CT in M and let ψ : N0�ρ1 � � � �ρn Nk ÑM be a warped product decomposition
of M . We say that ψ is adapted to L if for each i ¡ 0 and for all points p P Ni, ψ�pTpNiq is an
invariant subspace of L, meaning that L acting as an endomorphism maps this subspace into
itself. In this case, one can show [27] that the restriction (via ψ) of L to N0 is a Benenti tensor,
and therefore induces a separable web on N0 which we may lift to M using ψ. In particular, if
the restriction of L to N0 is an irreducible CT, then its eigenfunctions yield a set of separable
coordinates on N0. By choosing a separable web for each of the spherical factors and lifting
them to M via ψ, we hence obtain a separable web in M . Therefore, our method for dealing
with a reducible CT L will be to find warped product decompositions of En
ν adapted to L.
Suppose we are given the following data: a point p̄ P M ; an orthogonal decomposition
Tp̄M � V0 k � � � k Vk into non-trivial and non-degenerate subspaces; and k mutually orthogonal
and linearly independent vectors a1, . . . , ak P V0. We can without loss of generality assume that
xp̄, aiy � 1 for all i such that ai � 0; we say that this data is in canonical form. Then one can
construct a warped product N0 �ρ1 � � � � �ρk Nk of En
ν adapted to L, passing through p̄, such
8 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
that Tp̄Ni � Vi and Ni is a spherical submanifold of En
ν having mean curvature normal ai at p̄.
A detailed exposition of this construction is given in [31], for example. For the classification in
Section 4, we shall only need warped products with 2 factors; we thus recall the relevant results
from [31].
Let ψ : N0 �ρ1 N1 Ñ En
ν be a warped product determined by initial data pp̄;V0 k V1; a1q. If
a1 � 0, then the warped product is in fact an ordinary Cartesian product, and
ψpp0, p1q � p0 � p1.
In this case, the image of ψ is all of En
ν , and the warping function is of course just 1. Now
assume that a1 is non-null. Define W0 :� V0 X aK1 , and let P0 : En
ν ÑW0 denote the orthogonal
projection. Then ψ takes the form
ψpp0, p1q � P0p0 � xa1, p0ypp1 � cq,
where c :� p̄ � xa1, a1y�1a1. The warping function is given by ρpp0q � xp0, a1y. In this case, if
P1 : En
ν Ñ Ra1 k V1 denotes the orthogonal projection, we have [25]
Impψq � tp P En
ν | signxP1ppq, P1ppqy � signxa1, a1yu. (3.1)
If we restrict our warped product to a domain such thatN1 is connected, then we must impose the
extra condition xa1, P1ppqy ¡ 0 in (3.1). Now consider the case where a1 is lightlike. Then there
is another lightlike vector b P V0 such that xa1, by � 1. Here, we define W0 :� V0 X spanta1, buK
and W1 :� V1, and let Pi : En
ν ÑWi for i � 0, 1 denote the orthogonal projection. Then ψ takes
the form
ψpp0, p1q � P0p0 �
�
xb, p0y � 1
2
xa1, p0yxP1p1, P1p1y
a1 � xa1, p0yb� xa1, p0yP1p1.
The warping function is ρpp0q � xa1, p0y and the image of this warped product is
Impψq �
p P En
ν | xa1, py ¡ 0
(
.
For the remainder of this section, we restrict ourselves to Euclidean and Minkowski spaces,
i.e., ν � 0 and ν � 1 respectively. Let L � A � 2w d r �mr d r be a reducible CT in En
ν . As
ν ¤ 1, we have that L is reducible iff it is constant, or if Ac has a multi-dimensional eigenspace
(see the remarks following Theorem 2.1 for the definition of Ac). If L is constant, then it is
diagonalizable with real eigenspaces, and the Cartesian product of these eigenspaces is in fact
the warped product adapted to L. If L is non-constant, then we may use the following algorithm
from [31], which yields a warped product decomposition adapted to L.
Algorithm 3.1. Let L � A� 2w d r �mr d r be a reducible, non-constant CT, and let tEiui
be the multidimensional eigenspaces of Ac. For each i:
(i) If Ei is non-degenerate, choose a unit vector ai P Ei and define Vi :� Ei X aKi .
(ii) If Ei is a degenerate subspace, then there is a cycle v1, . . . , vr of generalized eigenvectors
of A, such that vr P Ei is lightlike. Let ai :� vr, and define Vi :� Ei X vK1 . Note that Vi is
non-degenerate, and in En
1 , we have r ¤ 3.
Define V0 :� V K
1 X� � �XV K
k , and let p̄ P En
ν be such that the warped product ψ : N0�ρ1 � � ��ρkNk
Ñ En
ν determined by initial data pp̄;V0 k � � � k Vk; a1, . . . , akq is in canonical form. Then ψ is
a warped product adapted to L.
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 9
Let us denote the restriction of L to N0 via ψ by L̃. It is given by
L̃ � ��
ψ�1
�
�
L
���
N0
� Ã� 2w d r̃ �mr̃ d r̃,
where à � A|V0 and r̃ is the dilatational vector field in N0. As discussed above, L̃ is Benenti
and so induces separable coordinates
�
uj0
�
on N0 which we may lift to En
ν via ψ. We choose
separable coordinates
�
uji
�
on the spherical factors Ni, and lift all of these to En
ν with ψ. Then
the product coordinates
�
uj0, u
j
1, . . . , u
j
k
�
parametrize a separable web on En
ν .
This finally gives us a procedure for constructing separable webs from reducible CTs in En
ν .
Note that obtaining all separable webs induced by a reducible CT L requires knowledge of
all the separable webs in the lower-dimensional spaces that could appear as spherical factors in
Algorithm 3.1. In particular, our classification of the separable webs in E3
1 will require knowledge
of all separable webs in E2, E2
1, H2 and dS2. These can be found for example in [28].
4 Classification of separable webs on E3
1
In this section we apply the theory of concircular tensors reviewed in the last two sections to
classify all 45 separable webs on E3
1 modulo action of the isometry group. We further determine
the inequivalent coordinate charts adapted to the webs; recall that two coordinate charts are
said to be equivalent if they can be mapped into each other by an isometry. In the following,
we make liberal use of the results presented in the previous two sections, particularly equations
(2.2)–(2.7) for irreducible CTs, and Algorithm 3.1 for reducible CTs.
For the purposes of comparison, beside the name of each separable web below, we indicate in
parentheses how the web is classified in [14] using the invariant theory of Killing tensors; we also
indicate which webs are not found therein. For the irreducible webs, we also give the notation
used by [11] and [19] in square brackets, again indicating which webs are not found therein.
For each separable web below, we give the transformation equations between the separable
coordinates and Cartesian coordinates, the form of the metric in the separable coordinates, and
the coordinate ranges; if a web has more than one inequivalent region, we give the coordinate
charts for each. Note that while we only give the charts for a particular domain in each equiv-
alence class, all other charts of the web can be obtained by isometry (often x Ø y or some
combination of t ÞÑ �t, x ÞÑ �x and y ÞÑ �y).
For consistency, we shall adopt the convention of using the same lightcone coordinates pη, ξq
throughout this section, defined by η � x � t, ξ � 1
2px � tq. Notice that xBη, Bξy � 1. Letting
ξ ÞÑ �ξ gives lightcone coordinates whose basis vectors have scalar product �1.
4.1 Cartesian CTs, L � A
In the Cartesian case, L � A is constant and diagonalizable with real eigenvalues. If A has
distinct eigenvalues, L is Benenti and the induced separable web coincides with the eigenspaces
of A. We therefore obtain the familiar Cartesian coordinates pt, x, yq on E3
1.
If A has only one eigenvalue, then it is a multiple of the metric, say λg. Thus, being geomet-
rically equivalent to A�λg � 0, it is trivial. The only other cases we have to consider are those
where A has a 2-dimensional eigenspace. There are two possibilities:
4.1.i. A � J�1p1q ` J1p0q ` J1p0q. If A has a spacelike multidimensional eigenspace, then
upon passing to a geometric equivalent tensor, we may choose a basis such that A takes the
above form; i.e., A � e0be50 for some timelike unit vector e0. It is easy to see that this Cartesian
CT is reducible. By the remarks preceding Algorithm 3.1, we see that a warped product which
10 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
decomposes L is
ψ : E1
1 �1 E2 Ñ E3
1,
pte0, pq ÞÑ te0 � p.
We get a separable web on E3
1 by taking t in the above map as our coordinate on E1
1, and lifting
any separable web on E2. These are the timelike-cylindrical webs, one of which is the Cartesian
web already obtained. The separable webs on E2 can be found throughout the literature; see,
for instance, [28, Table 1]. We thus obtain the following four separable webs from this CT via
the above warped product.
1. Cartesian web (spacelike translational web I)$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � dv2 � dw2,
t � u, x � v, y � w,
�8 u 8, �8 v 8, �8 w 8.
2. Timelike-cylindrical polar web (timelike translational web I)$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � dv2 � v2dw2,
t � u, x � v cosw, y � v sinw,
�8 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w 2π.
3. Timelike-cylindrical elliptic web (timelike translational web III)$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � a2
�
cosh2 v � cos2w
��
dv2 � dw2
�
,
t � u, x � a cosh v cosw, y � a sinh v sinw,
�8 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w 2π, a ¡ 0.
4. Timelike-cylindrical parabolic web (timelike translational web II)$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � �
v2 � w2
��
dv2 � dw2
�
,
t � u, x � 1
2
�
v2 � w2
�
, y � vw,
�8 u 8, 0 v 8, �8 w 8.
4.1.ii. A � J�1p0q ` J1p0q ` J1p1q. If A has a multidimensional Lorentzian eigenspace,
then using geometric equivalence, we may choose a basis such that A takes the above form; i.e.,
A � e1 b e51 for some spacelike unit vector e1. This CT is reducible, and by Algorithm 3.1, we
see that a warped product which decomposes L is
ψ : E1 �1 E2
1 Ñ E3
1,
pye1, pq ÞÑ p� ye1.
We obtain a separable web on E3
1 by taking y in the above map as our coordinate on E1, and
choosing any separable web on E2
1. These are the spacelike-cylindrical webs, one of which is the
Cartesian web already obtained. The separable webs on E2
1 may be found in [28, Table 2], for
instance. Hence we obtain the following 9 (omitting Cartesian coordinates) separable webs from
the above warped product.
5. Spacelike-cylindrical Rindler web (spacelike translational web II),
for �t2 � x2 0$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � u2dv2 � dw2,
t � u cosh v, x � u sinh v, y � w,
0 u 8, �8 v 8, �8 w 8;
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 11
for �t2 � x2 ¡ 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � du2 � u2dv2 � dw2,
t � u sinh v, x � u cosh v, y � w,
0 u 8, �8 v 8, �8 w 8.
6. Spacelike-cylindrical elliptic web I (spacelike translational web VI)
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cosh2 u� sinh2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t � a coshu sinh v, x � a cosh v sinhu, y � w,
0 u 8, 0 v 8, �8 w 8, a ¡ 0.
7. Spacelike-cylindrical elliptic web II (spacelike translational web VII),
for |t| � |x| ¡ a
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cosh2 v � cosh2 u
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t � a coshu cosh v, x � a sinh v sinhu, y � w,
0 u v 8, �8 w 8, a ¡ 0;
for |t| � |x| �a
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cosh2 u� cosh2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t � a sinhu sinh v, x � a cosh v coshu, y � w,
0 v u 8, �8 w 8, a ¡ 0;
for |t| � |x| a
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cos2 u� cos2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t � a cosu cos v, x � a sin v sinu, y � w,
0 v u π
2 , �8 w 8, a ¡ 0.
8. Spacelike-cylindrical complex elliptic web (spacelike translational web VIII)
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2psinh 2u� sinh 2vq�du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t� x � a cosh pu� vq, t� x � a sinh pu� vq, y � w,
0 |v| u 8, �8 w 8, a ¡ 0.
9. Spacelike-cylindrical null elliptic web I (spacelike translational web IX)
$'&
'%
ds2 � �
e2u � e2v
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t� x � eu�v, t� x � 2 sinh pu� vq, y � w,
�8 u 8, �8 v 8, �8 w 8.
10. Spacelike-cylindrical null elliptic web II (spacelike translational web X),
for �t2 � x2 ¡ |t� x|
$'&
'%
ds2 � �
e2u � e2v
�pdu2 � dv2q � dw2,
t� x � �eu�v, t� x � 2 cosh pu� vq, y � w,
�8 v u 8, �8 w 8;
12 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
for �t2 � x2 �|t� x|
$'&
'%
ds2 � �
e2v � e2u
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t� x � eu�v, t� x � 2 cosh pu� vq, y � w,
�8 u v 8, �8 w 8.
11. Spacelike-cylindrical timelike parabolic web (spacelike translational web III)
$'&
'%
ds2 � �
u2 � v2
���du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t � 1
2
�
u2 � v2
�
, x � uv, y � w,
0 v u 8, �8 w 8.
12. Spacelike-cylindrical spacelike parabolic web (spacelike translational web IV)
$'&
'%
ds2 � �
u2 � v2
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t � uv, x � 1
2
�
u2 � v2
�
, y � w,
0 v u 8, �8 w 8.
13. Spacelike-cylindrical null parabolic web (spacelike translational web V)
$'&
'%
ds2 � pu� vq��du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t� x � u� v, t� x � �1
2pu� vq2, y � w,
0 |v| u 8, �8 w 8.
4.2 Central CTs, L � A � r b r5
Since all central CTs have the this canonical form, we need only classify the inequivalent canon-
ical forms for A. Since Ac � A in this case, a central CT L � A� rb r5 is reducible if and only
if A has a multidimensional eigenspace.
4.2.i. A � 0. In this case, L � r b r5 is reducible, and hence Algorithm 3.1 must be used to
construct a warped product which yields the separable webs induced by L. This decomposition
depends on the point p̄ with which we construct our warped product (see Algorithm 3.1).
For a timelike unit vector e0, Algorithm 3.1 gives the following warped product which de-
composes L in the connected timelike region containing e0:
ψ : N0 �ρ H2 Ñ E3
1,
p�ue0, pq ÞÑ up,
where N0 �
�ue0 P E3
1 |u ¡ 0
(
, and ρp�ue0q � u. For a spacelike unit vector e1, Algorithm 3.1
gives the following warped product in the spacelike region:
ψ : N0 �ρ dS2 Ñ E3
1,
pwe1, pq ÞÑ wp,
where N0 �
we1 P E3
1 |w ¡ 0
(
, and ρpwe1q � w. We obtain an induced separable web in the
timelike (resp. spacelike) region by taking the coordinate u (resp. w) on the geodesic factor,
and lifting any separable web on H2 (resp. dS2). We hence construct a separable web on E3
1 by
choosing a separable web in the timelike regions, and a corresponding web in the spacelike region
(i.e., the webs in each region should correspond to the same characteristic Killing tensor). The
separable webs and coordinate systems on dS2 may be found in [28, Table 3], while those for H2
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 13
may be found in, say, [24] or [4]. We so obtain the following nine dilatationally invariant webs,
in which Kpaq denotes the complete elliptic integral of the first kind with elliptic modulus a, for
0 a 1.
14. Dilatational elliptic web I (not in [14]),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � w2
�
dc2pu; aq � a2 sn2pv; aq���du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t � w scpu; aqdnpv; aq, x � w ncpu; aq cnpv; aq, y � w dcpu; aq snpv; aq,
0 u Kpaq, 0 v Kpaq, 0 w 8, 0 a 1;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � u2
�
a2 cd2pv; aq � cs2pw; bq��dv2 � dw2
�
,
t � undpv; aqnspw; bq, x � u sdpv; aqdspw; bq, y � u cdpv; aq cspw; bq,
0 u 8, 0 v Kpaq, 0 w Kpbq, 0 a 1, 0 b 1, a2 � b2 � 1.
15. Dilatational elliptic web II (dilatational web IV),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0, a|t| � |x| ¡ b
a
�t2 � x2 � y2
$'&
'%
ds2 � w2
�
dc2pu; aq � dc2pv; aq���du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t � wb
a ncpu; aqncpv; aq, x � wb scpu; aq scpv; aq, y � w
a dcpu; aqdcpv; aq,
0 v u Kpaq, 0 w 8, 0 a 1, 0 b 1, a2 � b2 � 1;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0, a|t| � |x| b
a
�t2 � x2 � y2
$'&
'%
ds2 � w2a2
�
nd2pu; bq � nd2pv; bq��du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t � wab sdpu; bq sdpv; bq, x � wb cdpu; bq cdpv; bq, y � wandpu; bq ndpv; bq,
0 v u Kpbq, 0 w 8, 0 a 1, 0 b 1, a2 � b2 � 1;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � u2pdc2pv; aq � a2 sc2pw; bqq�dv2 � dw2
�
,
t � uncpv; aqncpw; bq, x � u scpv; aqdcpw; bq, y � udcpv; aq scpw; bq,
0 u 8, 0 v Kpaq, 0 w Kpbq, 0 a 1, 0 b 1, a2 � b2 � 1.
16. Spherical web I (timelike rotational web I),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � w2
��du2 � cosh2 udv2
�� dw2,
t � w sinhu, x � w coshu cos v, y � w coshu sin v,
�8 u 8, 0 v 2π, 0 w 8;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � u2
�
dv2 � sinh2 vdw2
�
,
t � u cosh v, x � u sinh v cosw, y � u sinh v sinw,
0 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w 2π.
14 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
17. Spherical web II (spacelike rotational web I),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0, �t2 � x2 ¡ 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � w2
�
du2 � sin2 udv2
�� dw2,
t � w sinu sinh v, x � w sinu cosh v, y � w cosu,
0 u π, �8 v 8, 0 w 8;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0, �t2 � x2 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � w2
��du2 � sinh2 udv2
�� dw2,
t � w sinhu cosh v, x � w sinhu sinh v, y � w coshu,
0 u 8, �8 v 8, 0 w 8;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � u2
�
dv2 � cosh2 vdw2
�
,
t � u cosh v coshw, x � u cosh v sinhw, y � u sinh v,
0 u 8, �8 v 8, �8 w 8.
18. Dilatational complex elliptic web (dilatational web V),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0
$'''''''''&
'''''''''%
ds2 � w2
�
sn2pu; aq dc2pu; aq � sn2pv; aq dc2pv; aq���du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t2 � x2 � 2w2 dnp2u; aqdnp2v; aq
abp1� cnp2u; aqqp1� cnp2v; aqq ,
�t2 � x2 � 2w2pcnp2u; aq � cnp2v; aqq
p1� cnp2u; aqqp1� cnp2v; aqq ,
y � snpu; aqdcpu; aq snpv; aq dcpv; aq,
0 v u Kpaq, 0 w 8, 0 a 1, 0 b 1, a2 � b2 � 1.
for �t2 � x2 � y2 0
$'''''''''&
'''''''''%
ds2 � �du2 � u2
�
sn2pv; aqdc2pv; aq � sn2pw; bqdc2pw; bq��dv2 � dw2
�
,
t2 � x2 � 2u2 dnp2v; aqdnp2w; bq
abp1� cnp2v; aqqp1� cnp2w; bqq ,
t2 � x2 � 2u2p1� cnp2v; aq cnp2w; bqq
p1� cnp2v; aqqp1� cnp2w; bqq ,
y � u snpv; aq dcpv; aq snpw; bqdcpw; bq,
0 u 8, 0 v Kpaq, 0 w Kpbq, 0 a 1, 0 b 1, a2 � b2 � 1.
19. Dilatational null elliptic web I (dilatational web II),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0
$''''&
''''%
ds2 � w2
�
sech2 u� csch2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t� x � w sechu csch v, x� t � w coshu sinh v
�
1� tanh2 u coth2 v
�
,
y � w tanhu coth v,
0 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w 8;
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 15
for �t2 � x2 � y2 0
$''''&
''''%
ds2 � �du2 � u2
�
sec2 v � sech2w
��
dv2 � dw2
�
,
t� x � u sec v sechw, t� x � u cos v coshw
�
1� tan2 v tanh2w
�
,
y � u tan v tanhw,
0 u 8, 0 v π
2 , 0 w 8.
20. Dilatational null elliptic web II (dilatational web III),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0, |x| ¡
a
�t2 � x2 � y2, tx ¡ 0
$''''&
''''%
ds2 � w2
�
sec2 u� sec2 v
���du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t� x � w secu sec v, t� x � �w cosu cos v
�
1� tan2 u tan2 v
�
,
y � w tanu tan v,
0 v u π
2 , 0 w 8;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0, |x| ¡
a
�t2 � x2 � y2, tx 0, |y| ¡
a
�t2 � x2 � y2
$''''&
''''%
ds2 � w2
�
csch2 v � csch2 u
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t� x � w cschu csch v, t� x � �w sinhu sinh v
�
1� coth2 u coth2 v
�
,
y � w cothu coth v,
0 v u 8, 0 w 8;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0, |x| ¡
a
�t2 � x2 � y2, tx 0, |y|
a
�t2 � x2 � y2
$''''&
''''%
ds2 � w2
�
sech2 u� sech2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t� x � w sechu sech v, t� x � �w coshu cosh v
�
1� tanh2 u tanh2 v
�
,
y � w tanhu tanh v,
0 u v 8, 0 w 8;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 0
$''''&
''''%
ds2 � �du2 � u2
�
csch2 v � sec2w
��
dv2 � dw2
�
,
t� x � u csch v secw, t� x � u sinh v cosw
�
1� coth2 v tan2w
�
,
y � u coth v tanw,
0 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w π
2 .
21. Null spherical web (null rotational web I),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � w2
��du2 � e2udv2
�� dw2,
t� x � w
�
e�u � v2eu
�
, t� x � �weu, y � wveu,
�8 u 8, �8 v 8, 0 w 8;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � �du2 � u2
�
dv2 � e2vdw2
�
,
t� x � uev, t� x � u
�
e�v � w2ev
�
, y � uwev,
0 u 8, �8 v 8, �8 w 8.
16 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
22. Dilatational null elliptic web III (dilatational web I),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0
$''''&
''''%
ds2 � w2
�
1
u2
� 1
v2
��du2 � dv2
�� dw2,
t� x � w
uv
, t� x � w
�
u2 � v2
�2
4uv
, y � w
�
u2 � v2
�
2uv
,
0 u v 8, 0 w 8;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 0
$''''&
''''%
ds2 � �du2 � u2
�
1
v2
� 1
w2
�
dv2 � dw2
�
,
t� x � u
vw
, t� x � u
�
v2 � w2
�2
4vw
, y � u
�
w2 � v2
�
2vw
,
0 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w 8.
4.2.ii. A � J�1pa2q ` J1p0q ` J1p0q, a ¡ 0. If A has a multidimensional spacelike eigenspace
corresponding to the smallest eigenvalue, we can cast A into this form using geometric equiva-
lence. Hence, A � a2e0 b e50 for some timelike unit vector e0. L is reducible, and Algorithm 3.1
gives the following warped product (letting e1 be a spacelike unit vector orthogonal to e0):
ψ : N0 �ρ S1 Ñ E3
1,
pte0 � x̃e1, pq ÞÑ te0 � x̃p,
where N0 �
te0 � x̃e1 P E3
1 | x̃ ¡ 0
(
and ρpte0 � x̃e1q � x̃. Following Algorithm 3.1, the
restriction of L to N0 induces elliptic coordinates of type II on N0, upon identifying spante0, e1u
with E2
1. Choosing the standard coordinate on S1, we thus obtain the following web.
23. Elliptic-circular web II (timelike rotational web IV),
for |t| �
a
x2 � y2 ¡ a
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cosh2 v � cosh2 u
��
du2 � dv2
�� a2 sinh2 v sinh2 udw2,
t � a coshu cosh v, x � a sinh v sinhu cosw, y � a sinh v sinhu sinw,
0 u v 8, 0 w 2π, a ¡ 0,
for |t| �
a
x2 � y2 �a
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cosh2 u� cosh2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� a2 cosh2 v cosh2 udw2,
t � a sinh v sinhu, x � a coshu cosh v cosw, y � a coshu cosh v sinw,
0 v u 8, 0 w 2π, a ¡ 0;
for |t| �
a
x2 � y2 a
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cos2 u� cos2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� a2 sin2 u sin2 vdw2,
t � a cosu cos v, x � a sin v sinu cosw, y � a sin v sinu sinw,
0 v u π
2 , 0 w 2π, a ¡ 0,
4.2.iii. A � J�1
��a2� ` J1p0q ` J1p0q, a ¡ 0. If A has a multidimensional spacelike
eigenspace corresponding to the largest eigenvalue, we may cast A into the above form using
geometric equivalence. Hence, A � �a2e0 b e50 for some timelike unit vector e0. L is reducible,
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 17
and Algorithm 3.1 gives precisely the same warped product as in the previous case. In this case,
however, the restriction of L to N0 induces elliptic coordinates of type I on N0.
24. Elliptic-circular web I (timelike rotational web III)$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cosh2 u� sinh2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� a2 cosh2 v sinh2 udw2,
t � a coshu sinh v, x � a cosh v sinhu cosw, y � a cosh v sinhu sinw,
0 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w 2π, a ¡ 0.
4.2.iv. A � J�1p0q ` J1p0q ` J1
�
a2
�
, a ¡ 0. If A has a multidimensional Lorentzian
eigenspace corresponding to its smallest eigenvalue, we may cast it into this canonical form; i.e.,
A � a2e2 b e52 for some spacelike unit vector e2. L is reducible, and following Algorithm 3.1,
we must choose a unit vector in the multidimensional eigenspace of A. Since this vector can be
spacelike or timelike, we obtain two warped products, corresponding to different regions.
For a warped product with a spacelike vector e1, Algorithm 3.1 gives
ψ : N0 �ρ dS1 Ñ E3
1,
pye2 � x̃e1, pq ÞÑ ye2 � x̃p,
where N0 �
ye2 � x̃e1 P E3
1 | x̃ ¡ 0
(
and ρpye2 � x̃e1q � x̃. The restriction of L to N0 induces
elliptic coordinates on N0, upon identifying spante1, e2u with E2. For a warped product with
a timelike vector e0, Algorithm 3.1 gives
ψ : N0 �ρ H1 Ñ E3
1,
p�t̃e0 � xe2, pq ÞÑ p̃� xe2,
where N0 �
�t̃e0� xe2 P E3
1 | t̃ ¡ 0
(
and ρp�t̃e0� xe2q � t̃. The restriction of L to N0 induces
elliptic coordinates of type I on N0, upon identifying spante0, e2u with E2
1. So, choosing the
standard coordinate on dS1 (resp. H1), we obtain the following web.
25. Elliptic-hyperbolic web I (spacelike rotational web III),
for �t2 � x2 ¡ 0$'&
'%
ds2 � �a2 cosh2 v cos2wdu2 � a2
�
cosh2 v � cos2w
��
dv2 � dw2
�
,
t � a sinhu cosh v cosw, x � a coshu cosh v cosw, y � a sinh v sinw,
0 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w π
2 , a ¡ 0;
for �t2 � x2 0$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cosh2 u� sinh2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� a2 cosh2 u sinh2 vdw2,
t � a coshu sinh v coshw, x � a coshu sinh v sinhw, y � a sinhu cosh v,
0 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w 8, a ¡ 0.
4.2.v. A � J�1p0q ` J1p0q ` J1
��a2�, a ¡ 0. If A has a multidimensional Lorentzian
eigenspace corresponding to the largest eigenvalue, we may cast A into the above form, i.e.,
A � �a2e2 b e52. L is reducible, and Algorithm 3.1 gives precisely the same warped products as
in the previous case. In this case, however, the restriction of L to N0 induces elliptic coordinates
in the first case, and elliptic coordinates of type II in the second. We thus obtain at the following
web.
26. Elliptic-hyperbolic web II, (spacelike rotational web IV),
for �t2 � x2 ¡ 0$'&
'%
ds2 � �a2 sinh2 v sin2wdu2 � a2
�
cosh2 v � cos2w
��
dv2 � dw2
�
,
t � a sinhu sinh v sinw, x � a coshu sinh v sinw, y � a cosh v cosw,
0 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w π, a ¡ 0;
18 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
for �t2 � x2 0,
?
t2 � x2 � |y| ¡ a
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cosh2 v � cosh2 u
��
du2 � dv2
�� a2 cosh2 u cosh2 vdw2,
t � a coshu cosh v coshw, x � a coshu cosh v sinhw, y � a sinhu sinh v,
0 u v 8, 0 w 8, a ¡ 0;
for �t2 � x2 0,
?
t2 � x2 � |y| �a
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cosh2 u� cosh2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� a2 sinh2 u sinh2 vdw2,
t � a sinhu sinh v coshw, x � a sinhu sinh v sinhw, y � a coshu cosh v,
0 v u 8, 0 w 8, a ¡ 0;
for �t2 � x2 0,
?
t2 � x2 � |y| a
$'&
'%
ds2 � a2
�
cos2 u� cos2 v
��
du2 � dv2
�� a2 cos2 u cos2 vdw2,
t � a cosu cos v coshw, x � a cosu cos v sinhw, y � a sinu sin v,
0 v u π
2 , 0 w 8, a ¡ 0.
4.2.vi. A � J2p0qT ` J1p0q. We now consider the above canonical form, i.e., A � k b k5 for
some nonzero lightlike vector k. Then A has a degenerate two-dimensional eigenspace, and so L
is reducible. If k1 is a null vector such that xk, k1y � 1, Algorithm 3.1 gives the following null
warped product which decomposes L
ψ : N0 �ρ E1 Ñ E3
1,
pη̃k � ξk1, pq ÞÑ ξpk1 � p� 1
2
p2kq � η̃k,
where N0 �
η̃k � ξk1 P E3
1 | ξ ¡ 0
(
and ρpη̃k � ξk1q � ξ. The restriction of L to N0 induces
null elliptic coordinates of type II on N0, upon identifying spantk, k1u with E2
1. Thus, choosing
the standard coordinate w on E1 and rewriting in terms of Cartesian coordinates, we obtain the
following web.
27. Parabolically-embedded null elliptic web II (null rotational web III),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ |t� x|
$'&
'%
ds2 � �
e2u � e2v
��
du2 � dv2
�� e2pu�vqdw2,
t� x � �eu�v, t� x � 2 cosh pu� vq � w2eu�v, y � weu�v,
�8 v u 8, �8 w 8;
for �t2 � x2 � y2 �|t� x|
$'&
'%
ds2 � �
e2v � e2u
��
du2 � dv2
�� e2pu�vqdw2,
t� x � eu�v, t� x � 2 cosh pu� vq � w2eu�v, y � weu�v,
�8 u v 8, �8 w 8.
4.2.vii. A � J�2p0qT ` J1p0q. Consider now the above canonical form, i.e., A � �k b k5
for some nonzero null vector k. Then A again has a degenerate two-dimensional eigenspace,
L is once again reducible, and Algorithm 3.1 gives precisely the same warped product as in the
previous case. In this case, however, the restriction of L to N0 yields null elliptic coordinates of
type I on N0. We therefore obtain the following web:
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 19
28. Parabolically-embedded null elliptic web I (null rotational web II)$'&
'%
ds2 � �
e2u � e2v
��
du2 � dv2
�� e2pu�vqdw2,
t� x � eu�v, t� x � 2 sinh pu� vq � w2eu�v, y � weu�v,
�8 u 8, �8 v 8, �8 w 8.
4.2.viii. A � J�1p0q ` J1paq ` J1pbq, 0 a b. If A is diagonalizable with real distinct
eigenvalues, and has a timelike eigenvector corresponding to the smallest eigenvalue, then modulo
geometric equivalence, A takes the above form in some Cartesian coordinates pt, x, yq. L is
a central irreducible CT in canonical form, and in these coordinates, A and g take the form (2.1)
with k � 0; therefore, equation (2.2) is superfluous and the subspace U referred to therein is
trivial. So we need only equations (2.3) and (2.4) to obtain the transformation between Cartesian
coordinates pt, x, yq and the separable coordinates pu, v, wq induced by L.
The characteristic polynomial of A is given by Bpzq � zpz � aqpz � bq. The eigenvalues 0, a
and b of A correspond to t, x and y respectively, and writing the characteristic polynomial of L as
ppzq � pz�uqpz�vqpz�wq, we obtain the transformation equations via equation (2.3). Moreover,
the metric coefficients in canonical coordinates are readily obtained from (2.7). The metric and
transformation equations for all other irreducible CTs below follow just as straightforwardly by
an application of equations (2.1)–(2.7) as appropriate.
Therefore, in this case, we see the above irreducible CT induces the following web.
29. Ellipsoidal web I (asymmetric web IX) [B.1.a]$''&
''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4upu� aqpu� bqdu
2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4vpv � aqpv � bqdv
2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4wpw � aqpw � bqdw
2,
t2 � �uvw
ab
, x2 � pa� uqpa� vqpa� wq
apb� aq , y2 � �pb� uqpb� vqpb� wq
bpb� aq .
We may find the ranges of the coordinates by imposing the constraints that the metric have
Lorentzian signature, and that the Cartesian coordinates are real. We thus have, assuming
w v u without loss of generality,
w 0 a v b u (w timelike).
In order to find the coordinate domains one would need to analyze the discriminant ∆ of
the characteristic polynomial of L, which is here a polynomial of degree 8 in t, x and y. The
regions where ∆ ¡ 0 give the coordinate domains. While this task is generally intractable, we
can deduce from the coordinate ranges that, for this web, there is only one adapted coordinate
chart up to isometry. For a much more detailed exposition on the coordinate domains and
singularities, we refer the reader to [11].
At this point we would like to mention that in this web, and in all of the irreducible webs to
follow, it is possible to set one of the parameters (in this case a or b) equal to 1 via a homothetic
transformation of E3
1, reducing the number of parameters. Indeed, this is what is typically done
in [11]. However, under isometries, the above parameters (or more precisely, the number of
parameters) are essential and cannot be removed.
4.2.ix. A � J�1paq ` J1pbq ` J1p0q, 0 a b. In the case that A has the above canonical
form modulo geometric equivalence, L is irreducible and we readily obtain the transformation
from Cartesian coordinates and the form of the metric from equations (2.1)–(2.7).
30. Ellipsoidal web II (not in [14]) [B.1.d]$''&
''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4upu� aqpu� bqdu
2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4vpv � aqpv � bqdv
2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4wpw � aqpw � bqdw
2,
t2 � �pa� uqpa� vqpa� wq
apb� aq , x2 � �pb� uqpb� vqpb� wq
bpb� aq , y2 � uvw
ab
.
20 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
We find the coordinate ranges by requiring that the Cartesian coordinates are real-valued, and
that the metric is Lorentzian. Taking, without loss of generality, w v u, we have that the
only possible coordinate ranges are the following
w v 0 a b u (w timelike),
0 w v a b u (v timelike),
0 a w v b u (w timelike),
0 a b w v u (v timelike).
Just as in the previous case, we cannot solve for the coordinate domains explicitly, but we
can deduce from the above coordinate ranges that this web has four isometrically inequivalent
regions, each of which realizes one of the above possibilities for the coordinate ranges.
4.2.x. A � J�1pbq ` J1paq ` J1p0q, 0 a b. If A takes the above canonical form up to
geometric equivalence, then L is irreducible and we readily obtain the transformation equations
from Cartesian coordinates, as well as the form of the metric in canonical coordinates from
equations (2.1)–(2.7).
31. Ellipsoidal web III (not in [14]) [B.1.c]
$''&
''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4upu� bqpu� aqdu
2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4vpv � bqpv � aqdv
2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4wpw � bqpw � aqdw
2,
t2 � pb� uqpb� vqpb� wq
bpb� aq , x2 � pa� uqpa� vqpa� wq
apb� aq , y2 � uvw
ab
.
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u without loss of generality, we find the
only possibilities for the coordinates ranges are the following:
w v 0 u a b (w timelike),
0 w v u a b (v timelike),
0 w a v u b (u timelike),
0 w a b v u (v timelike).
This web has four isometrically inequivalent regions, each of which realizes one of the above
possibilities for the coordinate ranges.
4.2.xi. A � J1pibq ` J1p�ibq ` J1pcq, b ¡ 0. If A has (non-real) complex eigenvalues,
then using geometric equivalence, we may assume A takes the above form in complex-Cartesian
coordinates pz, z̄, yq. Then, using equations (2.3) and (2.7), we obtain the form of the metric,
as well as the transformation equations between the canonical coordinates and the complex-
Cartesian coordinates. One obtains the equations for standard Cartesian coordinates using the
transformation
z � 1?
2
px� itq
and observing that Re
�
z2
� � 1
2
�
x2 � t2
�
and |z|2 � 1
2
�
x2 � t2
�
. This yields the following web.
32. Complex ellipsoidal web (asymmetric web X) [B.1.f]
$'''''''&
'''''''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4
�
u2 � b2
�pu� cqdu
2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4
�
v2 � b2
�pv � cqdv
2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4
�
w2 � b2
�pw � cqdw
2,
x2 � t2 � b2pu� v � w � cq � cpuv � uw � vwq � uvw
b2 � c2
,
x2 � t2 �
?
u2 � b2
?
v2 � b2
?
w2 � b2
b
?
b2 � c2
, y2 � �pc� uqpc� vqpc� wq
c2 � b2
.
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 21
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u without loss of generality, we find the
only possibilities for the coordinates ranges are the following:
c w v u (v timelike),
w v c u (w timelike).
4.2.xii. A � J2p0qT ` J1pcq, c ¡ 0. In this case, since A does not have a multidimensional
eigenspace, L is an irreducible CT. So, using equations (2.2)–(2.3) and (2.7), we obtain the
form of the metric, and the transformation equations between canonical coordinates and the
lightcone coordinates pη, ξ, yq in which A takes the above form. Rewriting in terms of Cartesian
coordinates, we have the following web.
33. Null ellipsoidal web I (asymmetric web VIII) [D.1.d]
$'''''&
'''''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4u2pu� cq du2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4v2pv � cq dv2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4w2pw � cq dw2,
px� tq2 � �uvw
c
, x2 � t2 � 1
c
puv � uw � vwq � 1
c2
uvw,
y2 � �pc� uqpc� vqpc� wq
c2
.
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u, we have
w 0 v c u (w timelike).
4.2.xiii. A � J2p0qT` J1p�cq, c ¡ 0. In this case, L is irreducible and we readily obtain the
form of the metric and the transformation equations between the canonical coordinates and the
lightcone coordinates pη, ξ, yq in which A takes the above form. Rewriting in terms of Cartesian
coordinates, we have the following web.
34. Null ellipsoidal web II (not in [14]) [not in [11]]
$'''''&
'''''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4u2pu� cq du2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4v2pv � cq dv2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4w2pw � cq dw2,
px� tq2 � uvw
c
, x2 � t2 � �1
c
puv � uw � vwq � 1
c2
uvw,
y2 � pc� uqpc� vqpc� wq
c2
.
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u, we have
�c 0 w v u (v timelike),
�c w v 0 u (v timelike).
4.2.xiv. A � J�2p0qT ` J1pcq, c ¡ 0. In this case, L is irreducible and we readily obtain
the form of the metric and the transformation equations between the canonical coordinates and
the lightcone coordinates pη,�ξ, yq in which A takes the above form. Rewriting in terms of
Cartesian coordinates, we have the following web.
35. Null ellipsoidal web III (not in [14]) [D.1.a]
$'''''&
'''''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4u2pu� cq du2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4v2pv � cq dv2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4w2pw � cq dw2,
px� tq2 � uvw
c
, x2 � t2 � 1
c
puv � uw � vwq � 1
c2
uvw,
y2 � �pc� uqpc� vqpc� wq
c2
.
22 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u, we have
0 c w v u (v timelike),
0 w v c u (w timelike),
w v 0 c u (w timelike).
4.2.xv. A � J�2p0qT ` J1p�cq, c ¡ 0. In this case, L is irreducible and we readily obtain
the form of the metric and the transformation equations between the canonical coordinates and
the lightcone coordinates pη,�ξ, yq in which A takes the above form. Rewriting in terms of
Cartesian coordinates, we have the following web.
36. Null ellipsoidal web IV (not in [14]) [D.1.b]
$'''''&
'''''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4u2pu� cq du2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4v2pv � cq dv2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4w2pw � cq dw2,
px� tq2 � �uvw
c
, x2 � t2 � �1
c
puv � uw � vwq � 1
c2
uvw,
y2 � pc� uqpc� vqpc� wq
c2
.
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u, we have
�c w 0 v u (v timelike),
�c w v u 0 (v timelike),
w v �c u 0 (w timelike).
4.2.xvi. A � J3p0qT. If A takes the above canonical form modulo geometric equivalence,
then L is irreducible and we readily obtain the form of the metric, and the transformation
equations between the canonical coordinates and the lightcone coordinates pη, y, ξq in which A
takes the above form. Passing to the standard Cartesian coordinates, we have the following web.
37. Null ellipsoidal web V (asymmetric web VII) [F.1.a]
$'&
'%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4u3
du2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4v3
dv2 � pu� wqpv � wq
4w3
dw2,
px� tq2 � uvw, px� tqy � �1
2
puv � uw � vwq, �t2 � x2 � y2 � u� v � w.
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u, we find
0 w v u (v timelike),
w v 0 u (w timelike).
4.3 Non-null axial CTs, L � A � w b r5 � r b w5, xw,wy � 0
Since any non-null axial CT takes the above canonical form with Aw � 0, we need only classify
the geometrically inequivalent forms for Ac � AwK ; furthermore, in classifying canonical forms
for non-null axial CTs, we may apply geometric equivalence in the subspace wK, since in this
case dim spantwu � 1 (cf. the remarks following Theorem 2.1). For convenience, we choose
coordinates such that w � Bt when w is timelike, and w � By when w is spacelike.
4.3.i. xw,wy � �1, A � 0. The above canonical form corresponds to any timelike axial CT
for which wK is an eigenspace of A. L is then reducible and Algorithm 3.1 gives the following
warped product which decomposes L (upon choosing a unit vector e1 in wK)
ψ : N0 �ρ S1 Ñ E3
1,
ptw � x̃e1, pq ÞÑ tw � x̃p,
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 23
where N0 �
tw � x̃e1 P E3
1 | x̃ ¡ 0
(
and ρptw � x̃e1q � x̃. The restriction of L to N0 induces
timelike parabolic coordinates on N0, upon identifying spantw, e1u with E2
1. Choosing the
standard coordinate on S1, we obtain the following web.
38. Timelike parabolic-circular web (timelike rotational web II)$'&
'%
ds2 � �
u2 � v2
���du2 � dv2
�� u2v2dw2,
t � 1
2
�
u2 � v2
�
, x � uv cosw, y � uv sinw,
0 v u 8, 0 w 2π.
4.3.ii. xw,wy � �1, A � J�1p0q ` J1p0q ` J1paq, a ¡ 0. If Ac is diagonalizable with real
distinct eigenvalues, then we may set the least of them to 0 by geometric equivalence in wK. L is
irreducible, and using equations (2.5)–(2.7), we obtain the transformation equations between
Cartesian coordinates and the induced separable coordinates, as well as the form of the metric
in the separable coordinates.
39. Timelike paraboloidal web (asymmetric web IV) [C.a]$''&
''%
ds2 � �pu� vqpu� wq
4upu� aq du2 � pu� vqpv � wq
4vpv � aq dv2 � pu� wqpv � wq
4wpw � aq dw2,
t � �1
2
pu� v � wq, x2 � uvw
a
, y2 � �pu� aqpv � aqpw � aq
a
.
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u without loss of generality, we obtain the
following admissible ranges for the above coordinates:
w v 0 u a (w timelike),
0 w v u a (v timelike).
While imposing our constraints also yields 0 w a v u as an admissible set of ranges,
the corresponding coordinate patch is equivalent to the one induced by the first set of ranges
above; this can be easily seen by multiplying L by �1.
4.3.iii. xw,wy � 1, A � 0. The above canonical form corresponds to any spacelike axial CT
for which wK is an eigenspace of A. L is then reducible, and following Algorithm 3.1, we must
choose a unit vector in wK. Since this vector can be spacelike or timelike, we obtain two warped
products, depending on the point p̄ with which we apply Algorithm 3.1.
For a spacelike vector e1, Algorithm 3.1 gives
ψ : N0 �ρ dS1 Ñ E3
1,
pyw � x̃e1, pq ÞÑ tw � x̃p,
where N0 �
yw � x̃e1 P E3
1 | x̃ ¡ 0
(
and ρpyw � x̃e1q � x̃. The restriction of L to N0 induces
parabolic coordinates on N0, upon identifying spante1, wu with E2. If instead we use a timelike
vector e0, then Algorithm 3.1 yields
ψ : N0 �ρ H1 Ñ E3
1,
pyw � t̃e0, pq ÞÑ yw � t̃p,
where N0 �
yw � t̃e0 P E3
1 | t̃ ¡ 0
(
and ρ
�
yw � t̃e0
� � t̃. The restriction of L to N0 induces
spacelike parabolic coordinates on N0, upon identifying spante0, wu with E2
1. So choosing the
standard coordinate on dS1 (resp. H1), we obtain the following web.
40. Spacelike parabolic-hyperbolic web (spacelike rotational web II),
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0, �t2 � x2 ¡ 0$'&
'%
ds2 � �v2w2du2 � �
v2 � w2
��
dv2 � dw2
�
,
t � vw sinhu, x � vw coshu, y � 1
2
�
v2 � w2
�
,
�8 u 8, 0 v 8, 0 w 8;
24 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
for �t2 � x2 � y2 ¡ 0, �t2 � x2 0
$'&
'%
ds2 � �
u2 � v2
��
du2 � dv2
�� u2v2dw2,
t � uv coshw, x � uv sinhw, y � 1
2
�
u2 � v2
�
,
0 v u 8, �8 w 8.
4.3.iv. xw,wy � 1, A � J�1paq ` J1p0q ` J1p0q, a ¡ 0. If Ac is diagonalizable with real
distinct eigenvalues, then modulo geometric equivalence in wK, A has the above form in some
Cartesian coordinates. So L is an irreducible CT and we readily obtain the form of the metric
as well as the transformation equations.
41. Spacelike paraboloidal web (asymmetric web IV) [C.b]
$''&
''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4upu� aq du2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4vpv � aq dv2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4wpw � aq dw2,
t2 � �pu� aqpv � aqpw � aq
a
, x2 � �uvw
a
, y � 1
2
pu� v � wq.
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u without loss of generality, we obtain the
following admissible ranges for the above coordinates:
w 0 a v u (v timelike),
w 0 v u a (u timelike),
w v u 0 a (v timelike).
4.3.v. xw,wy � 1, A � J1pibq ` J1p�ibq ` J1p0q, b ¡ 0. If Ac has (non-real) complex
eigenvalues, then by geometric equivalence, we may assume A takes the above form in complex-
Cartesian coordinates pz, z̄, yq. Since L is an irreducible CT, we readily obtain the form of the
metric as well as the transformation equations between the separable coordinates and pz, z̄, yq.
We pass to standard Cartesian coordinates pt, x, yq precisely as described in 4.2.xi.
42. Spacelike complex-paraboloidal web (asymmetric web VI) [C.d]
$''''''&
''''''%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4
�
u2 � b2
� du2 � pv � uqpv � wq
4
�
v2 � b2
� dv2 � pw � uqpw � vq
4
�
w2 � b2
� dw2,
t2 � x2 � uv � uw � vw � b2, y � 1
2
pu� v � wq,
t2 � x2 �
?
u2 � b2
?
v2 � b2
?
w2 � b2
b
.
Assuming as usual that w v u, we see that this gives a unique set of coordinate ranges, and
the timelike coordinate is v.
4.3.vi. xw,wy � 1, A � J2p0qT ` J1p0q. We consider now the above canonical form, i.e.,
Ac � kb k5 for some nonzero null vector k P wK. Note that this canonical form is equivalent to
the one with Ac � �k b k5, which can be easily seen by multiplying L by �1. Now, since L is
irreducible, using equations (2.5)–(2.7), we obtain the metric and the transformation equations
from the separable coordinates to the lightcone coordinates in which A takes the above form.
Passing to standard Cartesian coordinates, we have the following web.
43. Spacelike null-paraboloidal web (asymmetric web III) [F.1.c]
$'&
'%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4u2
du2 � pu� vqpv � wq
4v2
dv2 � pv � wqpu� wq
4w2
dw2,
pt� xq2 � uvw, t2 � x2 � uv � uw � vw, y � 1
2
pu� v � wq.
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 25
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u without loss of generality, we obtain the
following admissible ranges for the above coordinates:
0 w v u (v timelike),
w v 0 u (v timelike).
4.4 Null axial CTs, L � A � w b r5 � r b w5, w � 0, xw,wy � 0
Any null axial CT can be put into the above form using geometric equivalence, with the canonical
form for A given by Theorem 2.1. Recall from the remarks following Theorem 2.1 that D is the
A-invariant subspace span
w,Aw,A2w, . . .
(
. In classifying canonical forms for null axial CTs,
we may apply geometric equivalence in the subspace DK insofar that dimD ¤ 2 (this is only
relevant for 4.4.i below). For convenience, we choose coordinates such that w � Bη � Bt � Bx.
4.4.i. w � 0, xw,wy � 0, A � J2p0qT ` J1p0q. We consider the above canonical form, i.e.,
A � kbk5 for some nonzero null vector k such that xw, ky � 1. This case is equivalent to the null
axial CT with A � �kbk5. Since L is an irreducible CT, using equations (2.5)–(2.7), we obtain
the metric and the transformation equations from the separable coordinates to the lightcone
coordinates in which A takes the above form. Passing to standard Cartesian coordinates, we
have the following web.
44. Null paraboloidal web I (asymmetric web II) [E.1.a]
$'&
'%
ds2 � pu� vqpu� wq
4u
du2 � pu� vqpv � wq
4v
dv2 � pv � wqpu� wq
4w
dw2,
x� t � 1
8
�
u2 � v2 � w2
�� 1
4
puv � uw � vwq, x� t � u� v � w, y2 � uvw.
Imposing the usual constraints, and taking w v u without loss of generality, we obtain the
following admissible ranges for the above coordinates:
0 w v u (v timelike),
w v 0 u (w timelike).
4.4.ii. w � 0, xw,wy � 0, A � J3p0qT. We finally consider the above canonical form for
a null axial CT L, which is easily seen to be irreducible. We readily obtain the metric and
the transformation equations between the separable coordinates and the lightcone coordinates
in which A takes the above form. Passing to standard Cartesian coordinates, we obtain the
following final web.
45. Null paraboloidal web II (asymmetric web I) [G]
$'''''&
'''''%
ds2 � 1
4
pu� vqpu� wqdu2 � 1
4
pu� vqpv � wqdv2 � 1
4
pu� wqpv � wqdw2,
x� t � 1
16
pu� v � wqpu� v � wqpu� v � wq, x� t � u� v � w,
y � 1
8
�
u2 � v2 � w2
�� 1
4
puv � uw � vwq.
Assuming as usual that w v u, we see that this gives a unique set of coordinate ranges, and
the timelike coordinate is v.
5 Concluding remarks
The above analysis illustrates the ease with which the method of concircular tensors yields an in-
variant classification of the orthogonal separable webs in E3
1. This approach appears to be much
26 C. Valero and R.G. McLenaghan
less computationally demanding than other methods described in the introduction, and is in
many ways much more elementary, since the crux of this method is essentially a problem of linear
algebra. Furthermore, provided we have determined all possible canonical forms modulo geomet-
ric equivalence, the theory presented in [25] and [26] guarantees that the above 45 webs are all the
orthogonal separable webs in E3
1; and insofar that our analysis of each case is complete, we can be
confident that the 88 inequivalent adapted coordinate charts determined above are exhaustive.
It is worth noting that the use of concircular tensors in classifying separable webs is likely to
be fruitful only in spaces of constant curvature, since in spaces of non-constant curvature the
space of concircular tensors will in general be very small.
In [11], one finds 31 inequivalent coordinate charts corresponding to irreducible webs; more-
over, it is asserted therein that there are 51 inequivalent coordinate systems arising from re-
ducible webs, based on computations done in [11]. Counting up the results from Section 4,
we find 33 inequivalent charts from the irreducible webs, and 55 inequivalent charts from the
reducible webs. As indicated above, the only two coordinate charts not appearing in [11] are
those from null ellipsoidal web II (web number 34 above). The discrepancy in the number of
reducible chart domains seems to be a result of overlooked equivalences. For instance, in [11]
it appears that the Rindler web (web number 5 above and coordinate system B.6.b in [11]) is
counted as inducing only one inequivalent chart domain instead of two.
Any other discrepancies between the equations appearing here, and those appearing in [11]
or [14] can be attributed to the various freedoms in defining the separable coordinates (i.e.,
geometric equivalence and reparametrizations of the web. See also the remarks following 4.2.viii
above).
The method presented here achieves simultaneously both a global classification of the orthog-
onal separable webs, as well as the equations for the separable coordinates adapted to each web;
the former gives the intrinsic geometric object of interest, while the latter gives the information
necessary to orthogonally separate the Hamilton–Jacobi and Klein–Gordon equations given in
the introduction.
A Self-adjoint operators in Minkowski space
In this appendix, we review some of the key results regarding self-adjoint operators on n-
dimensional Minkowski space En
1 , whose theory and classification differ tremendously from the
Euclidean case. We simply quote the main results in this section, and refer the reader to [25]
for details and proofs.
We first define a k-dimensional Jordan block with eigenvalue λ, Jkpλq, and a k-dimensional
skew-normal matrix Sk, to be the following k � k matrices:
Jkpλq :�
�
�������
λ 1 0
λ
. . .
. . . 1
λ 1
0 λ
�
������
, Sk :�
�
������
0 1
1
. .
.
1
1 0
�
�����
.
A sequence of vectors in which the metric (restricted to their span) takes the form εSk is
called a skew-normal sequence. Recall that a linear operator A : En
ν Ñ En
ν is self-adjoint with
respect to the scalar product if xAx, yy � xx,Ayy for all x and y. This holds if and only if the
contravariant or covariant tensor metrically equivalent to A is symmetric. Since the metric is
not positive definite in En
1 , our classification of self-adjoint operators will specify the forms taken
by both A and g in an appropriate basis. The canonical form for the pair pA, gq is called the
metric-canonical form or metric-Jordan form for A.
Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs 27
For this purpose, we introduce a signed integer εk P Z, where ε � �1 and k P N, and write
A � Jεkpλq as a shorthand for the pair A � Jkpλq and g � εSk. For square matrices A1 and A2,
we also define the block diagonal matrix
A1 `A2 :�
�
A1 0
0 A2
.
We write Jεkpλq ` Jδmpµq as a shorthand the pair Jkpλq ` Jmpµq and g � εSk ` δSm. We now
summarize the different possible canonical forms for a self-adjoint operator A in En
1 :
Case 1. A is diagonalizable with real eigenvalues. In this case, there is a basis such that
A � J�1pλ1q ` J1pλ2q ` � � � ` J1pλnq.
Equivalently, A is diagonalized in Cartesian coordinates.
Case 2. A has a complex eigenvalue λ � a � ib with b � 0. Since A is real, λ̄ must be
another eigenvalue; in Minkowski space, all other eigenvalues must be real. Then,
A � J1pλq ` J1pλ̄q ` J1pλ3q ` � � � ` J1pλnq
in some orthogonal basis where the first two vectors are complex. Notice that since they are
complex, we may assume they have length squared �1.
Case 3. A has real eigenvalues but is not diagonalizable. Then there are three possibilities
for the metric-canonical form. The first two occur when
A � Jε2pλq ` J1pλ3q ` � � � ` J1pλnq
with ε � �1, in some basis where the first two vectors are null. The last case occurs when
A � J3pλq ` J1pλ4q ` � � � ` J1pλnq
in some basis where the first and third vectors are null; the second is spacelike. Notice that in
Minkowski space, a metric-Jordan block J�3pλq is inadmissible. These are all the possibilities
for the canonical forms of self-adjoint endomorphisms in Minkowski space.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank K. Rajaratnam and the anonymous referees for their careful reading
of the paper and a number of helpful suggestions and comments. We also wish to acknowledge
financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada in the
form of a Undergraduate Student Research Award (CV) and a Discovery Grant (RGM).
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1 Introduction
2 Concircular tensors in E^n_nu
3 Warped products in E^n_nu and reducible concircular tensors
4 Classification of separable webs on E^3_1
4.1 Cartesian CTs, L=A
4.2 Central CTs, L=A+r otimes r^{flat}
4.3 Non-null axial CTs, L=A+w otimes r^{flat} + r otimes w^{flat}, <w, w> not = 0
4.4 Null axial CTs, L=A+ w otimes r^{flat}+r otimes w^{flat}, w not= 0, <w,w>=0
5 Concluding remarks
A Self-adjoint operators in Minkowski space
References
|
| id | nasplib_isofts_kiev_ua-123456789-211526 |
| institution | Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine |
| issn | 1815-0659 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-03-16T12:21:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | Інститут математики НАН України |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | Valero, Carlos McLenaghan, Raymond G. 2026-01-05T12:25:23Z 2022 Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space. Carlos Valero and Raymond G. Mclenaghan. SIGMA 18 (2022), 019, 28 pages 1815-0659 2020 Mathematics Subject Classification: 53Z05; 70H20; 83A05 arXiv:1805.12228 https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/211526 https://doi.org/10.3842/SIGMA.2022.019 We review a new theory of orthogonal separation of variables on pseudo-Riemannian spaces of constant zero curvature via concircular tensors and warped products. We then apply this theory to three-dimensional Minkowski space, obtaining an invariant classification of the forty-five orthogonal separable webs modulo the action of the isometry group. The eighty-eight inequivalent coordinate charts adapted to the webs are also determined and listed. We find a number of separable webs that do not appear in previous works in the literature. Further, the method used seems to be more efficient and concise than those employed in earlier works. The authors wish to thank K. Rajaratnam and the anonymous referees for their careful reading of the paper and a number of helpful suggestions and comments. We also wish to acknowledge financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada in the form of an Undergraduate Student Research Award (CV) and a Discovery Grant (RGM). en Інститут математики НАН України Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space Article published earlier |
| spellingShingle | Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space Valero, Carlos McLenaghan, Raymond G. |
| title | Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space |
| title_full | Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space |
| title_fullStr | Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space |
| title_full_unstemmed | Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space |
| title_short | Classification of the Orthogonal Separable Webs for the Hamilton-Jacobi and Klein-Gordon Equations on 3-Dimensional Minkowski Space |
| title_sort | classification of the orthogonal separable webs for the hamilton-jacobi and klein-gordon equations on 3-dimensional minkowski space |
| url | https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/211526 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT valerocarlos classificationoftheorthogonalseparablewebsforthehamiltonjacobiandkleingordonequationson3dimensionalminkowskispace AT mclenaghanraymondg classificationoftheorthogonalseparablewebsforthehamiltonjacobiandkleingordonequationson3dimensionalminkowskispace |