 Parallel photon beams in linearized gravity

For signature $(+---)$ and the curvature convention giving $\square {\bar{h}}_{ik}=-16\pi G{ϵ}^{-1}{T}_{ik}$, take $u=t-x$, ${\ell }_i=(1,-1,0,0)$ and $T_{ik}=ϵ\rho (u){\ell }_i{\ell }_k$. A trace-free Lorenz-gauge particular solution has the displayed form. The vector ${\ell }^i=(1,1,0,0)$ is null, and ${\Gamma }^i{}_{jk}{\ell }^j{\ell }^k=0$, so co-propagating test photons are undeflected by this beam field. For a transversely uniform source, $H=4\pi G\rho (u)(y^2+z^2)$ is one particular solution. A function of $u$ alone has vanishing wave operator and cannot source nonzero $\rho$; homogeneous gravitational perturbations and boundary conditions remain separate data.