Interacting electromagnetic shock waves in general relativity

It is shown that the continuity conditions of Lichnerowicz must generally be relaxed in favour of the O'Brien-Synge conditions in the case of shock electromagnetic waves. This is in particular true when two electromagnetic shock waves are in collision. Gravitational impulse waves are produced as a result of the weakened conditions. An exact solution exhibiting this behaviour is derived, and the effect of the impulse waves on a measuring device are compared with experimental results of Weber.