INCORPORATION OF SPACE-TIME SYMMETRIES IN EINSTEINS FIELD-EQUATIONS

In the search for exact solutions to Einstein's field equations the ma in simplification tool is the introduction of space-time symmetries. M otivated by this fact, we develop a method to write the field equation s for general matter in a form that fully incorporates the character o f the symmetry. The method is being expressed in a covariant formalism using the framework of a double congruence, The basic notion on which it is based is that of the geometrization of a general symmetry. As a special application of our general method we consider the case of a s pace-like conformal Killing vector field on the space-time manifold re garding special types of matter fields. New perspectives in General Re lativity are discussed. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.