Riccati equations for bounded radiating systems

Abstract: We systematically analyze the nonlinear partial differential equation that determines the behaviour of a bounded radiating spherical mass in general relativity. Four categories of solution are possible. These are identified in terms of restrictions on the gravitational potentials. One category of solution can be related to the horizon function transformation which was recently introduced. A Lie symmetry analysis of the resulting Riccati equation shows that several new classes of exact solutions are possible. The relationship between the horizon function, Euclidean star models and other earlier investigations is clarified.