Quasilocal conservation laws: why we need them

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/29/21/215012zbMATH Open1266.83068arXiv1206.6512OpenAlexW3099642939WikidataQ60721098 ScholiaQ60721098MaRDI QIDQ4920163FDOQ4920163

Paul L. McGrath, Richard J. Epp, Robert B. Mann

Publication date: 16 May 2013

Published in: Classical and Quantum Gravity (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We argue that conservation laws based on the local matter-only stress-energy-momentum tensor (characterized by energy and momentum per unit volume) cannot adequately explain a wide variety of even very simple physical phenomena because they fail to properly account for gravitational effects. We construct a general quasi}local conservation law based on the Brown and York total (matter plus gravity) stress-energy-momentum tensor (characterized by energy and momentum per unit area), and argue that it does properly account for gravitational effects. As a simple example of the explanatory power of this quasilocal approach, consider that, when we accelerate toward a freely-floating massive object, the kinetic energy of that object increases (relative to our frame). But how, exactly, does the object acquire this increasing kinetic energy? Using the energy form of our quasilocal conservation law, we can see precisely the actual mechanism by which the kinetic energy increases: It is due to a bona fide gravitational energy flux that is exactly analogous to the electromagnetic Poynting flux, and involves the general relativistic effect of frame dragging caused by the object's motion relative to us.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1206.6512

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zbMATH Keywords

gravitational effectselectromagnetic Poynting fluxgravitational energy fluxquasilocal conservation laws

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Equations of motion in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C10) Electromagnetic theory (general) (78A25) Gravitational energy and conservation laws; groups of motions (83C40)

Cited In (4)

• Relativistic rigid systems and the cosmic expansion
• Energy of cosmological spacetimes and perturbations: a quasilocal approach ^*
• Formulating the complete initial boundary value problem in numerical relativity to model black hole echoes
• Quasilocal conservation laws in cosmology: A first look

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