Supertranslation invariance and covariance of Lorentz charges

Massimo Porrati (NYU, New York)

Apr 18. 2024, 14:00 — 15:00

This talk reviews some aspects of the "angular momentum problem" in general relativity as well as of old and new results in the search for covariant and supertranslation-invariant formulas for the flux of angular momentum and other Lorentz charges in asymptotically flat spacetimes. It addresses in particular three problems with all existing solutions: 1) Supertranslation-invariance and covariance imply invariance under spacetime translations; 2) the flux depends on redundant auxiliary degrees of freedom that cannot be set to zero in all Lorentz frames without breaking Lorentz covariance; 3) supertranslation-invariant Lorentz charges do not generate the transformations of the Bondi mass aspect implied by the isometries of the asymptotic metric. The resolution of these problems leads to new, covariant formulas for the fluxes that make explicit the choice of reference frame underpinning seemingly unambiguous results presented in the current literature.

Further Information
Venue:
ESI Schrödinger and Boltzmann Lecture Hall
Recordings:
Recording
Associated Event:
Carrollian Physics and Holography (Thematic Programme)
Organizer(s):
Andrea Campoleoni (U of Mons)
Pedro del Real Lavergne (U of Vienna)
Laura Donnay (SISSA, Trieste)
Adrien Fiorucci (TU Vienna)
Stefan Fredenhagen (U of Vienna)
Daniel Grumiller (TU Vienna)
Stefan Prohazka (U of Vienna)