Four-dimensional stationary algebraically special solutions, Weyl invariants, and soft hairs beyond large gauge transformations

We revisit the Ricci-flat metrics in four dimensions that are stationary and algebraically special, together with the locally asymptotically flat conditions in the generalized Bondi-Sachs framework. We show that the Einstein equation is reduced to the Laplacian equation on the celestial sphere. The solutions consist of two pairs of arbitrary holomorphic and antiholomorphic functions analogous to the Virasoro modes. We prove that the higher modes of one pair of the (anti)holomorphic function contain an infinite tower of soft hairs from the perspectives of the asymptotic supertranslation charges. We verify that different modes of the soft hairs are distinct solutions that cannot be connected by diffeomorphism, using the Weyl invariants associated to the solutions. Extending the construction to Einstein-Maxwell theory introduces a third pair of (anti)holomorphic functions, arising from the Maxwell tensor, which generates soft electric hair. We further present an exact soft-hairy solution of Einstein-Maxwell theory with a cosmological constant, offering a potential understanding of soft hair from the AdS/CFT correspondence.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Published
2026-01-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/hx3b-8t9g
Primary Topic
Mathematics and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Four-dimensional stationary algebraically special solutions, Weyl invariants, and soft hairs beyond large gauge transformations

H. Lu, Pujian Mao
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Mathematics and Applications
article

Four-dimensional stationary algebraically special solutions, Weyl invariants, and soft hairs beyond large gauge transformations

H. Lu, Pujian Mao
article en

Abstract

We revisit the Ricci-flat metrics in four dimensions that are stationary and algebraically special, together with the locally asymptotically flat conditions in the generalized Bondi-Sachs framework. We show that the Einstein equation is reduced to the Laplacian equation on the celestial sphere. The solutions consist of two pairs of arbitrary holomorphic and antiholomorphic functions analogous to the Virasoro modes. We prove that the higher modes of one pair of the (anti)holomorphic function contain an infinite tower of soft hairs from the perspectives of the asymptotic supertranslation charges. We verify that different modes of the soft hairs are distinct solutions that cannot be connected by diffeomorphism, using the Weyl invariants associated to the solutions. Extending the construction to Einstein-Maxwell theory introduces a third pair of (anti)holomorphic functions, arising from the Maxwell tensor, which generates soft electric hair. We further present an exact soft-hairy solution of Einstein-Maxwell theory with a cosmological constant, offering a potential understanding of soft hair from the AdS/CFT correspondence.

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.Vol. 113(2)
Tianjin University (CN), Tianjin International Joint Academy of Biomedicine (CN), Peng Huanwu Center for Fundamental Theory (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 97%
Mathematics and Applications
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