A vector field ka which satisfies
ka;b+kb;a=0
is called a Killing vector field. Prove that ka is a Killing vector field if and only if
kcgab,c+k,bcgac+k,acgbc=0
Prove also that if Va satisfies
V;baVb=0
then
(Vaka),bVb=0
for any Killing vector field ka.
In the two-dimensional space-time with coordinates xa=(u,v) and line element
ds2=−du2+u2dv2
verify that (0,1),e−v(1,u−1) and ev(−1,u−1) are Killing vector fields. Show, by using (∗) with Va the tangent vector to a geodesic, that geodesics in this space-time are given by
αev+βe−v=2γu−1
where α,β and γ are arbitrary real constants.