The behaviour of geodesics in constant-curvature spacetimes with expanding impulsive gravitational waves

Robert Svarc, Jiri Podolsky

The motion of free test particles in the spacetimes of constant curvature with expanding impulsive gravitational waves is completely described. The explicit formulae identifying particle’s positions and velocities “in front of” and “behind” the impulse are derived for a general impulse of this type. In particular, the effect of the wave generated by a snapped cosmic string is analyzed and visualized in detail.