A classification of spherically symmetric spacetimes

A complete classification of locally spherically symmetric four-dimensional Lorentzian spacetimes is given in terms of their local conformal symmetries. The general solution is given in terms of canonical metric types and the associated conformal Lie algebras. The analysis is based upon the local conformal decomposition into 2+2 reducible spacetimes and the Petrov type. A variety of physically meaningful example spacetimes are discussed. (paper)