The general stationary cylindrically symmetric solution of Einstein-massless scalar field system with a non-positive cosmological constant is presented. It is shown that the general solution is characterized by four integration constants. Two of these essential parameters have a local meaning and characterize the gravitational field strength. The other two have a topological origin, as they define an improper coordinate transformation that provides the stationary solution from the static one. The Petrov scheme is considered to explore the effects of the scalar field on the algebraic classification of the solutions. In general, these spacetimes are of type I. However, the presence of the scalar field allows us to find a non-vacuum type O solution and a wider family of type D spacetimes, in comparison with the vacuum case. The mass and angular momentum of the solution are computed using the Regge-Teitelboim method in the case of a negative cosmological constant. In absence of a cosmological constant, the curvature singularities in the vacuum solutions can be removed by including a phantom scalar field, yielding non-trivial locally homogeneous spacetimes. These spacetimes are of particular interest, as they have all their curvature invariants constant.

A generalized theory of gravitation is discussed which is based on a Riemann-Cartan space-time,U4, with an axial vector torsion field. Besides Einstein's equations determining the metric of theU4, a system of nonlinear field equations is established coupling an axial vector source current to the axial vector torsion field. The properties of the solutions of these equations are discussed assuming a London-type condition relating the axial current and torsion field. To characterize the solutions use is made of the Euler and Pontrjagin forms and the associated quadratic curvature invariants for theU4 space-time. It is found that there exists for a Riemann-Cartan space-time a relation between the zeros of the axial vector torsion field and the singularities of the Pontrjagin invariant, which is analogous to the well-known Hopf relation between the zeros of vector fields and the Euler characteristic.

The Sachs equations governing the evolution of the optical matrix of geodetic WANDs (Weyl aligned null directions) are explicitly solved in n-dimensions in several cases which are of interest in potential applications. This is then used to study Einstein spacetimes of type III and N in the higher dimensional Newman-Penrose formalism, considering both Kundt and expanding (possibly twisting) solutions. In particular, the general dependence of the metric and of the Weyl tensor on an affine parameter r is obtained in a closed form. This allows us to characterize the peeling behaviour of the Weyl "physical" components for large values of r, and thus to discuss, e.g., how the presence of twist affects polarization modes, and qualitative differences between four and higher dimensions. Further, the r-dependence of certain non-zero scalar curvature invariants of expanding spacetimes is used to demonstrate that curvature singularities may generically be present. As an illustration, several explicit type N/III spacetimes that solve Einstein's vacuum equations (with a possible cosmological constant) in higher dimensions are finally presented.

There are various types of global and local spacetime invariant in general relativity. Here I focus on the local invariants obtainable from the curvature tensor and its derivatives. The number of such invariants at each order of differentiation that are algebraically independent will be discussed. There is no universally valid choice of a minimal set. The number in a complete set will also be discussed. The invariants can then be used to characterize solutions of the Einstein equations (locally), to test apparently distinct solutions for equivalence, and to construct solutions. Other applications concern limits of families of spacetimes, and the characterization of horizons and singularities. Further uses are briefly mentioned.