 Parallel auxiliary null vector

For an affine null geodesic congruence with future tangent $U$, choose a future unit timelike vector $T$ on a transverse section, put $E=-U\cdot T$, and set $N=T/E-U/(2E^2)$ there. It has $N^2=0$ and $U\cdot N=-1$. Parallel transport along each generator preserves these contractions by metric compatibility and ${\nabla }_{U}U=0$. The construction is local up to caustics and supplies the auxiliary normal for a screen-space projector.