GRAVITATIONAL ENERGY-MOMENTUM - THE EINSTEIN PSEUDOTENSOR REEXAMINED

Journal article

By using a suitable two-point scalar field, a covariant formulation of the Einstein pseudotensor is given. A unique choice of scalar field is made possible by examining the role of linear and angular momentum in their correct geometric context. It is shown that, contrary to many text-book statements, linear momentum is not generated by infinitesimal coordinate transformations on space-time. Use is made of the nonintersecting lifted geodesies on the tangent bundle, TM, to space-time, to define a globally regular three-dimensional Lagrangian submanifold of TM, relative to an observer at some point z in space-time. By integrating over this submanifold rather than a necessarily singular spacelike hypersurface, gravitational linear and angular momentum, relative to z, are defined, and shown to have sensible physical properties. © 1980 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Authors: Palmer, T

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum Publishers
• Journal: GENERAL RELATIVITY AND GRAVITATION
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 149-154
• Publication date: 1980-01-01
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00756469
• EISSN: 1572-9532
• ISSN: 0001-7701
• Language: English