arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Marc Henneaux.
We explicitly establish the equivalence between the magnetic Carrollian limit of Einstein gravity defined through the Hamiltonian formalism and the Carrollian theory of gravity defined through a gauging of the Carroll algebra along the lines of standard Poincaré (or (A)dS) gaugings.
In this paper, three things are done. First, we study from an algebraic point of view the infinite-dimensional BMS-like extensions of the Carroll algebra relevant to the asymptotic structure of the electric and magnetic Carrollian limits of Einstein gravity. In the course of this study we exhibit by "Carroll-Galileo duality" a new infinite-dimensional BMS-like extension of the Galilean algebra and of its centrally extended Bargmann algebra. Second, we consider the electric Carrollian limit of the pure Einstein theory and indicate that more flexible boundary conditions than the ones that follow from just taking the limit of the Einsteinian boundary conditions are actually consistent. These boundary conditions lead to a bigger asymptotic symmetry algebra that involves spatial supertranslations depending on three functions of the angles (instead of one). Third, we turn to the Carrollian limit of the coupled Einstein-Yang-Mills system. An infinite-dimensional color enhancement of the gauge algebra is found in the electric Carrollian limit of the Yang-Mills field, which allows angle-dependent Yang-Mills transformations at spatial infinity, not available in the Einstein-Yang-Mills case prior to taking the Carrollian electric limit. This enhancement does not occur in the magnetic limit.
We develop the analysis of the asymptotic properties of gravity in higher spacetime dimensions $D$, with a particular emphasis on the case $D=5$. Our approach deals with spatial infinity and is Hamiltonian throughout. It is shown that the asymptotic symmetry algebra BMS$_5$, which is realized non linearly, contains a four-fold family of angle-dependent supertranslations. The structure of this non-linear algebra is investigated and a presentation in which the Poincaré subalgebra is linearly realized is constructed. Invariance of the energy is studied. Concluding comments on higher dimensions $D \geq 6$ are also given.
The final (close to the singularity) dynamical behavior of the metric inside black holes with massive charged scalar or vector hair is analyzed for general anisotropic and inhomogeneous initial conditions. These solutions are relevant to a holographic realization of superconductivity. It is shown that the dynamics falls within the scope of the "cosmological billiard" description and that in both cases, the corresponding hyperbolic billiard region has infinite volume so that the system ultimately settles down to a final Kasner regime. For massive vector hair, the conclusion holds because the longitudinal mode plays the same role as a scalar field. There exists, however, a measure-zero subset of solutions characterized by vanishing longitudinal modes that exhibit a chaotic behavior with an infinite number of BKL oscillations as one goes to the singularity.
We study asymptotically flat spacetimes in five spacetime dimensions by Hamiltonian methods, focusing on spatial infinity and keeping all asymptotically relevant nonlinearities in the transformation laws and in the charge-generators. Precise boundary conditions that lead to a consistent variational principle are given. We show that the algebra of asymptotic symmetries, which had not been uncovered before, is a nonlinear deformation of the semi-direct product of the Lorentz algebra by an abelian algebra involving four independent (and not just one) arbitrary functions of the angles on the $3$-sphere at infinity, with non trivial central charges. The nonlinearities occur in the Poisson brackets of the boost generators with themselves and with the other generators. They would be invisible in a linearized treatment of infinity.
We consider Carroll-invariant limits of Lorentz-invariant field theories. We show that just as in the case of electromagnetism, there are two inequivalent limits, one "electric" and the other "magnetic". Each can be obtained from the corresponding Lorentz-invariant theory written in Hamiltonian form through the same "contraction" procedure of taking the ultrarelativistic limit $c \rightarrow 0$ where $c$ is the speed of light, but with two different consistent rescalings of the canonical variables. This procedure can be applied to general Lorentz-invariant theories ($p$-form gauge fields, higher spin free theories etc) and has the advantage of providing explicitly an action principle from which the electrically-contracted or magnetically-contracted dynamics follow (and not just the equations of motion). Even though not manifestly so, this Hamiltonian action principle is shown to be Carroll invariant. In the case of $p$-forms, we construct explicitly an equivalent manifestly Carroll-invariant action principle for each Carroll contraction. While the manifestly covariant variational description of the electric contraction is rather direct, the one for the magnetic contraction is more subtle and involves an additional pure gauge field, whose elimination modifies the Carroll transformations of the fields. We also treat gravity, which constitutes one of the main motivations of our study, and for which we provide the two different contractions in Hamiltonian form.
Super-BMS$_4$ algebras -- also called BMS$_4$ superalgebras -- are graded extensions of the BMS$_4$ algebra. They can be of two different types: they can contain either a finite number or an infinite number of fermionic generators. We show in this letter that, with suitable boundary conditions on the graviton and gravitino fields at spatial infinity, supergravity on asymptotically flat spaces possesses as superalgebra of asymptotic symmetries a (nonlinear) super-BMS$_4$ algebra containing an infinite number of fermionic generators, which we denote SBMS$_4$. These boundary conditions are not only invariant under SBMS$_4$, but also lead to a fully consistent canonical description of the supersymmetries, which have in particular well-defined Hamiltonian generators that close according to the nonlinear SBMS$_4$ algebra. One finds in particular that the graded brackets between the fermionic generators yield all the BMS$_4$ supertranslations, of which they provide therefore "square roots".
We investigate the asymptotic structure of the free Rarita-Schwinger theory in four spacetime dimensions at spatial infinity in the Hamiltonian formalism. We impose boundary conditions for the spin-3/2 field that are invariant under an infinite-dimensional (abelian) algebra of non-trivial asymptotic fermionic symmetries. The compatibility of this set of boundary conditions with the invariance of the theory under Lorentz boosts requires the introduction of boundary degrees of freedom in the Hamiltonian action, along the lines of electromagnetism. These boundary degrees of freedom modify the symplectic structure by a surface contribution appearing in addition to the standard bulk piece. The Poincaré transformations have then well-defined (integrable, finite) canonical generators. Moreover, improper fermionic gauge symmetries, which are also well-defined canonical transformations, are further enlarged and turn out to be parametrized by two independent angle-dependent spinor functions at infinity, which lead to an infinite-dimensional fermionic algebra endowed with a central charge. We extend next the analysis to the supersymmetric spin-$(1,3/2)$ and spin-$(2,3/2)$ multiplets. First, we present the canonical realization of the super-Poincaré algebra on the spin-$(1,3/2)$ multiplet, which is shown to be consistently enhanced by the infinite-dimensional abelian algebra of angle-dependent bosonic and fermionic improper gauge symmetries associated with the electromagnetic and the Rarita-Schwinger fields, respectively. A similar analysis of the spin-$(2,3/2)$ multiplet is then carried out to obtain the canonical realization of the super-Poincaré algebra, consistently enhanced by the abelian improper bosonic gauge transformations of the spin-$2$ field (BMS supertranslations) and the abelian improper fermionic gauge transformations of the spin-$3/2$ field.
The asymptotic structure of the Pauli-Fierz theory at spatial infinity is investigated in four spacetime dimensions. Boundary conditions on the massless spin-$2$ field that are invariant under an infinite-dimensional group of non-trivial ``improper'' gauge symmetries are given. The compatibility of these boundary conditions with invariance of the theory under Lorentz boosts is a subtle issue which is investigated in depth and leads to the identification of the improper gauge symmetries with the pure BMS supertranslations. It is also shown how rigid Poincaré transformations and improper gauge symmetries of the free Pauli-Fierz theory merge into the full BMS group as one switches on the gravitational coupling. Contrary to the massless spin-$1$ case, where invariance under boosts is implemented differently and where important differences between the free and the interacting cases have been exhibited recently, the free Pauli-Fierz theory and general relativity show very similar behaviours at spatial infinity.
Explicit boundary conditions are given at spatial infinity for four-dimensional supergravity, which provide a realization of the super-BMS algebra of Awada, Gibbons and Shaw. The results are then generalized to the $N$- extended super-BMS algebras.
We derive the asymptotic symmetries of the manifestly duality invariant formulation of electromagnetism in Minkoswki space. We show that the action is invariant under two algebras of angle-dependent $u(1)$ transformations, one electric and the other magnetic. As in the standard electric formulation, Lorentz invariance requires the addition of additional boundary degrees of freedom at infinity, found here to be of both electric and magnetic types. A notable feature of this duality symmetric formulation, which we comment upon, is that the on-shell values of the zero modes of the gauge generators are equal to only half of the electric and magnetic fluxes (the other half is brought in by Dirac-string type contributions). Another notable feature is the absence of central extension in the angle-dependent $u(1)^2$-algebra.
The asymptotic dynamics of AdS$_3$ gravity with two asymptotically anti-de Sitter regions is investigated, paying due attention to the zero modes, i.e., holonomies along non-contractible circles and their canonically conjugates. This situation covers the eternal black hole solution. We derive how the holonomies around the non-contractible circles couple the fields on the two different boundaries and show that their canonically conjugate variables, needed for a consistent dynamical description of the holonomies, can be related to Wilson lines joining the boundaries. The action reduces to the sum of four free chiral actions, one for each boundary and each chirality, with additional non-trivial couplings to the zero modes which are explicitly written. While the Gauss decomposition of the $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ group elements is useful in order to treat hyperbolic holonomies, the Iwasawa decomposition turns out to be more convenient in order to deal with elliptic and parabolic holonomies. The connection with the geometric action is also made explicit. Although our paper deals with the specific example of two asymptotically anti-de Sitter regions, most of our global considerations on holonomies and radial Wilson lines qualitatively apply whenever there are multiple boundaries, independently of the form that the boundary conditions explicitly take there.
The (free) graviton admits, in addition to the standard Pauli-Fierz description by means of a rank-two symmetric tensor, a description in which one dualizes the corresponding (2,2)-curvature tensor on one column to get a (D-2,2)-tensor, where D is the spacetime dimension. This tensor derives from a gauge field with mixed Yound symmetry (D-3,1) called the "dual graviton" field. The dual graviton field is related non-locally to the Pauli-Fierz field (even on-shell), in much the same way as a p-form potential and its dual (D-p-2)-form potential are related in the theory of an abelian p-form. Since the Pauli-Fierz field has a Young tableau with two columns (of one box each), one can contemplate a double dual description in which one dualizes on both columns and not just on one. The double dual curvature is now a (D-2,D-2)-tensor and derives from a gauge field with (D-3, D-3) mixed Young symmetry, the "double dual graviton" field. We show, however, that the double dual graviton field is algebraically and locally related to the original Pauli-Fierz field and, so, does not provide a truly new description of the graviton. From this point of view, it plays a very different role from the dual graviton field obtained through a single dualization. We also show that these equations can be obtained from a variational principle in which the variables to be varied in the action are (all) the components of the double-dual field as well as an auxiliary field with (2,1) Young symmetry. By gauge fixing the shift symmetries of this action principle, one recovers the Pauli-Fierz action. Our approach differs from the interesting approach based on parent actions and covers only the free, sourceless theory. Similar results are argued to hold for higher spin gauge fields.
A review of our results on the asymptotic structure of gravity at spatial infinity in four spacetime dimensions is given. Finiteness of the action and integrability of the asymptotic Lorentz boost generators are key criteria that we implement through appropriate boundary conditions. These conditions are `twisted parity conditions', expressing that the leading order of the asymptotic fields obey strict parity conditions under the sphere antipodal map up to an improper gauge transformation. The asymptotic symmetries are shown to form the infinite-dimensional BMS group, which has a non trivial action. The charges and their algebra are worked out. The presentation aims at being self-contained and at possessing a pedagogical component.
The $(4,0)$ theory in six dimensions is an exotic theory of supergravity that has been argued to emerge as the strong coupling limit of theories having $N=8$ supergravity as their low energy effective theory in five spacetime dimensions. It has maximal supersymmetry and is superconformal. Very little is known about this intriguing theory. While the spectrum of fields occurring in its description has been given and their equations of motion in the absence of interactions have been written down, no action principle has been formulated, even in the free case. We extend here previous analyses by writing explicitly the action of the free $(4,0)$ theory from which the equations of motion derive. The variables of the variational principle are prepotentials adapted to the self-duality properties of the fields. The "exotic gravitini", described by chiral fermionic two-forms, are given special attention. The supersymmetry transformations are written down and the invariance of the action is explicitly proven. Even though the action is not manifestly covariant, the symmetry transformations are shown to close according to the $(4,0)$-extended Poincaré supersymmetry algebra. We also discuss exotic supergravity models with fewer supersymmetries. Remarks on dimensional reduction close the paper.
We investigate the asymptotic structure of electromagnetism in Minkowski space in even and odd spacetime dimensions $\geq 4$. We focus on $d>4$ since the case $d=4$ has been studied previously at length. We first consider spatial infinity where we provide explicit boundary conditions that admit the known physical solutions and make the formalism well defined (finite symplectic structure and charges). Contrary to the situation found in $d=4$ dimensions, there is no need to impose parity conditions under the antipodal map on the leading order of the fields when $d>4$. There is, however, the same need to modify the standard bulk symplectic form by a boundary term at infinity involving a surface degree of freedom. This step makes the Lorentz boosts act canonically. Because of the absence of parity conditions, the theory is found to be invariant under two independent algebras of angle-dependent $u(1)$ transformations ($d>4$). We then integrate the equations of motion in order to find the behaviour of the fields near null infinity. We exhibit the radiative and Coulomb branches, characterized by different decays and parities. The analysis yields generalized matching conditions between the past of $\mathscr{I}^+$ and the future of $\mathscr{I} ^-$.
Relativistic field theories with a power law decay in $r^{-k}$ at spatial infinity generically possess an infinite number of conserved quantities because of Lorentz invariance. Most of these are not related in any obvious way to symmetry transformations of which they would be the Noether charges. We discuss the issue in the case of a massless scalar field. By going to the dual formulation in terms of a $2$-form (as was done recently in a null infinity analysis), we relate some of the scalar charges to symmetry transformations acting on the $2$-form and on surface degrees of freedom that must be added at spatial infinity. These new degrees of freedom are necessary to get a consistent relativistic description in the dual picture, since boosts would otherwise fail to be canonical transformations. We provide explicit boundary conditions on the $2$-form and its conjugate momentum, which involves parity conditions with a twist, as in the case of electromagnetism and gravity. The symmetry group at spatial infinity is composed of `improper gauge transformations'. It is abelian and infinite-dimensional. We also briefly discuss the realization of the asymptotic symmetries, characterized by a non trivial central extension and point out vacuum degeneracy.
We introduce prepotentials for fermionic higher-spin gauge fields in four spacetime dimensions, generalizing earlier work on bosonic fields. To that end, we first develop tools for handling conformal fermionic higher-spin gauge fields in three dimensions. This is necessary because the prepotentials turn out to be three-dimensional fields that enjoy both "higher-spin diffeomorphism" and "higher-spin Weyl" gauge symmetries. We discuss a number of the key properties of the relevant Cotton tensors. The reformulation of the equations of motion as "twisted self-duality conditions" is then exhibited. We show next how the Hamiltonian constraints can be explicitly solved in terms of appropriate prepotentials and show that the action takes then the same remarkable form for all spins.