Einstein-Maxwell theory and the Weyl double copy

The Weyl double copy relates vacuum solutions in general relativity to Abelian gauge fields in Minkowski spacetime. In a previous work, we showed how the Weyl double copy can be extended to provide a treatment of external gravitational sources consistent with the classical Kerr-Schild double copy. Using this generalization, here we provide a complete double-copy analysis of electrovacuum Petrov type-D spacetimes. This includes the first analysis of the charged C metric, whose single-copy interpretation invokes the two-potential formalism of electrodynamics. We also present the first double-copy prescription for the Ricci spinor, which for nonaccelerating spacetimes, takes a form similar to the original double-copy relation for the Weyl spinor.

Automated summary

The Weyl double copy connects vacuum solutions in general relativity with Abelian gauge fields in Minkowski spacetime. In a previous work, the authors extended the Weyl double copy to handle external gravitational sources in line with the classical Kerr-Schild double copy. In this study, the authors provide a comprehensive double-copy analysis of electrovacuum Petrov type-D spacetimes, including the first analysis of the charged C metric and the introduction of the first double-copy prescription for the Ricci spinor.