Surveys in Differential Geometry

Volume 21 (2016)

Energy, momentum, and center of mass in general relativity

Pages: 343 – 352

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4310/SDG.2016.v21.n1.a9

Author

Mu-Tao Wang (Department of Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.)

Abstract

These notions in the title are of fundamental importance in any branch of physics. However, there have been great difficulties in finding physically acceptable definitions of them in general relativity since Einstein’s time. I shall explain these difficulties and progresses that have been made. In particular, I shall introduce new definitions of center of mass and angular momentum at both the quasi-local and total levels, which are derived from first principles in general relativity and by the method of geometric analysis. With these new definitions, the classical formula $p = mv$ is shown to be consistent with Einstein’s field equation for the first time. This paper is based on joint work with Po-Ning Chen and Shing-Tung Yau.

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Published 13 January 2022