Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2014 / iii / Paper 52 / 2 / a / i / Solution

A null geodesic congruence is a smooth local family of null geodesics, with one generator through each point of the region being described. Choose an affine parameter $\lambda$ on each generator and write $U^a=d{x}^a/d\lambda$. Before a caustic, $U$ is a smooth, nonzero null vector field satisfying $U^a{U}_a=0$ and $U^b{\nabla }_b{U}^a=0$.

With $B^a{}_b={\nabla }_b{U}^a$, compatibility of the Levi-Civita connection with the metric givesThe geodesic equation with affine parameter gives the other contraction:Thus both contractions vanish. Nullness supplies the first identity, and affine parametrization supplies the second; a general nonaffine tangent would instead have $B^a{}_b{U}^b=\kappa U^a$.