A curious general relativistic sphere

We present a particular solution to the Einstein field equations that could arise as a magnetic monopole in the strong field limit of the Born-Infeld electrodynamics. We solve its geodesics exactly and show that they can mimic the gravitational lensing of a singular isothermal sphere, but with matter and radiation following the same trajectories. This solution has previously been called “cloud of strings” or “string hedgehog,” and has appeared as the limit of a global O(3) monopole.