Anisotropic fluids and conformal motions in general relativity

Abstract

We study the consequences of the existence of a one-parameter group of conformal motions for anisotropic matter, in the context of general relativity. It is shown that for a class of conformal motions (special conformal motions), the equation of state is uniquely determined by the Einstein equations. For spherically symmetric and static distributions of matter we found two analytical solutions of the Einstein equations which correspond to isotropic and anisotropic matter, respectively. Both solutions can be matched to the Schwarzschild exterior metric and possesses positive energy density larger than the stresses, everywhere within the sphere. © 1984 American Institute of Physics.