Herlt metrics and gravitational-electrostatic balance in general relativity

The balance problem in general relativity is reviewed. The transformation connecting the Herlt equations for electrovacuum and the Weyl equations for axially symmetric vacuum is given. This yields a new exact solution for the superposition of two separated Reissner-Nordström sources with a balance condition which depends upon their separation distance. This result has potential implications for averting gravitational collapse. Details of the singularity structure are also presented. © 1992 Plenum Publishing Corporation.