Generating Solutions in General Relativity using a Non-Linear Sigma Model

Abstract: This report studies the generation of new solutions to Einstein's field equations in general relativity by the method of sigma models. If, when projected from four to three dimensions, the relativistic action decouples into a gravity term and a non-linear sigma model term, target space isometries of the sigma model can be found that correspond to generating new solutions. We give a self-contained description of the method and relate it to the early articles through which the method was introduced. We discuss the virtues of the method and how it is used today. We find that it is a powerful technique of finding new solutions and can also give insight to the general features of the theory. We also identify some possible further developments of the method.