The reduction of the Laplace equation in certain Riemannian spaces and the resulting Type II hidden symmetries

We prove a general theorem which allows the determination of Lie symmetries of the Laplace equation in a general Riemannian space using the conformal group of the space. Algebraic computing is not necessary. We apply the theorem in the study of the reduction of the Laplace equation in certain classes of Riemannian spaces which admit a gradient Killing vector, a gradient Homothetic vector and a special Conformal Killing vector. In each reduction we identify the source of Type II hidden symmetries. We find that in general the Type II hidden symmetries of the Laplace equation are directly related to the transition of the CKVs from the space where the original equation is defined to the space where the reduced equation resides. In particular we consider the reduction of the Laplace equation (i.e., the wave equation) in the Minkowski space and obtain the results of all previous studies in a straightforward manner. We consider the reduction of Laplace equation in spaces which admit Lie point symmetries generated from a non-gradient HV and a proper CKV and we show that the reduction with these vectors does not produce Type II hidden symmetries. We apply the results to general relativity and consider the reduction of Laplace equation in locally rotational symmetric space times (LRS) and in algebraically special vacuum solutions of Einstein’s equations which admit a homothetic algebra acting simply transitively. In each case we determine the Type II hidden symmetries.