Abstract
Corresponding to the similarity between the Lorentz gauge in electrodynamics and in gravity, we show that the counterpart of the radiation gauge is , instead of other forms as discussed before. Particularly, 1) at least for a weak field, fixes the gauge completely and picks out exactly the two physical components of the gravitational field; 2) like , the nondynamical components are solved instantaneously; 3) gravitational radiation is generated by the “transverse” part of the energy-momentum tensor, similar to the transverse current . This “true” radiation gauge is especially pertinent for studying gravitational energy, such as the energy flow in gravitational radiation. It agrees with the transverse-traceless gauge for a pure wave, and reveals remarkably how the transverse-traceless gauge can be adapted in the presence of source.
- Received 22 June 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.83.061501
© 2011 American Physical Society