Light cones in relativity: Real, complex, and virtual, with applications

We study geometric structures associated with shear-free null geodesic congruences in Minkowski space-time and asymptotically shear-free null geodesic congruences in asymptotically flat space-times. We show how in both the flat and asymptotically flat settings, complexified future null infinity ${\mathfrak{I}}_{\mathbb{C}}^{+}$ acts as a “holographic screen,” interpolating between two dual descriptions of the null geodesic congruence. One description constructs a complex null geodesic congruence in a complex space-time whose source is a complex worldline, a virtual source as viewed from the holographic screen. This complex null geodesic congruence intersects the real asymptotic boundary when its source lies on a particular open-string type structure in the complex space-time. The other description constructs a real, twisting, shear-free or asymptotically shear-free null geodesic congruence in the real space-time, whose source (at least in Minkowski space) is in general a closed-string structure: the caustic set of the congruence. Finally we show that virtually all of the interior space-time physical quantities that are identified at null infinity ${\mathfrak{I}}^{+}$ (center of mass, spin, angular momentum, linear momentum, and force) are given kinematic meaning and dynamical descriptions in terms of the complex worldline.