Optical structures, algebraically special spacetimes, and the Goldberg-Sachs theorem in five dimensions

Abstract: Optical (or Robinson) structures are one generalisation of four-dimensional shearfree congruences of null geodesics to higher dimensions. They are Lorentzian analogues of complex and CR structures. In this context, we extend the Goldberg-Sachs theorem to five dimensions. To be precise, we find a new algebraic condition on the Weyl tensor, which generalises the Petrov type II condition, in the sense that it ensures the existence of such congruences on a five-dimensional spacetime, vacuum or under weaker assumptions on the Ricci tensor. This results in a significant simplification of the field equations. We discuss possible degenerate cases, including a five-dimensional generalisation of the Petrov type D condition. We also show that the vacuum black ring solution is endowed with optical structures, yet fails to be algebraically special with respect to them. We finally explain the generalisation of these ideas to higher dimensions, which has been checked in six and seven dimensions.