Generating new gravitational solutions by matrix multiplication

Explicit solutions to the nonlinear field equations of some gravitational theories can be obtained, by means of a Riemann–Hilbert approach, from a canonical Wiener–Hopf factorization of certain matrix functions called monodromy matrices. In this paper, we describe other types of factorization from which solutions can be constructed in a similar way. Our approach is based on an invariance problem, which does not constitute a Riemann–Hilbert problem and allows to construct solutions that could not have been obtained by Wiener–Hopf factorization of a monodromy matrix. It gives rise to a novel solution generating method based on matrix multiplications. We show, in particular, that new solutions can be obtained by multiplicative deformation of the canonical Wiener–Hopf factorization, provided the latter exists, and that one can superpose such solutions. Examples of applications include Kasner, Einstein–Rosen wave and gravitational pulse wave solutions.