Five-dimensional (5D) generalized Godel-type manifolds are examined in the
light of the equivalence problem techniques, as formulated by Cartan. The n
ecessary and sufficient conditions for local homogeneity of these 5D manifo
lds are derived. The local equivalence of these homogeneous Riemannian mani
folds is studied. It is found that they are characterized by three essentia
l parameters k, m(2), and omega: identical triads (k,m(2),omega) correspond
to locally equivalent 5D manifolds. An irreducible set of isometrically no
nequivalent 5D locally homogeneous Riemannian generalized Godel-type metric
s are exhibited. A classification of these manifolds based on the essential
parameters is presented, and the Killing vector fields as well as the corr
esponding Lie algebra of each class are determined. It is shown that the ge
neralized Godel-type 5D manifolds admit maximal group of isometry G(r) with
r = 7, r = 9, or r = 15 depending on the essential parameters k, m(2), and
omega. The breakdown of causality in all these classes of homogeneous Gode
l-type manifolds are also examined. It is found that in three out of the si
x irreducible classes the causality can be violated. The unique generalized
Godel-type solution of the induced matter (IM) field equations is found. T
he question as to whether the induced matter version of general relativity
is an effective therapy for these types of causal anomalies of general rela
tivity is also discussed in connection with a recent work by Romero, Tavako
l, and Zalaletdinov. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0022-2488(99
)00108-5].