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arXiv · 1801.09503

Gravitational Energy and the Gauge Theory Perspective

Chiang-Mei Chen·James M. Nester
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Abstract

Gravity, and the puzzle regarding its energy, can be understood from a gauge theory perspective. Gravity, i.e., dynamical spacetime geometry, can be considered as a local gauge theory of the symmetry group of Minkowski spacetime: the Poincare group. The dynamical potentials of the Poincare gauge theory of gravity are the frame and the metric-compatible connection. The spacetime geometry has in general both curvature and torsion. Einstein's general relativity theory is a special case. Both local gauge freedom and energy are clarified via the Hamiltonian formulation. We have developed a covariant Hamiltonian formulation. The Hamiltonian boundary term gives covariant expressions for the quasi-local energy, momentum and angular momentum. A key feature is the necessity to choose on the boundary a non-dynamic reference. With a best matched reference one gets good quasi-local energy-momentum and angular momentum values.

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Chiang-Mei Chen, James M. Nester. 2018-01-29. Gravitational Energy and the Gauge Theory Perspective. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789813237278_0006

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