English

General Definition of Gravitational Tension

High Energy Physics - Theory 2009-11-10 v2 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

In this note we give a general definition of the gravitational tension in a given asymptotically translationally-invariant spatial direction of a space-time. The tension is defined via the extrinsic curvature in analogy with the Hawking-Horowitz definition of energy. We show the consistency with the ADM tension formulas for asymptotically-flat space-times, in particular for Kaluza-Klein black hole solutions. Moreover, we apply the general tension formula to near-extremal branes, constituting a check for non-asymptotically flat space-times.

Cite

@article{arxiv.hep-th/0403103,
  title  = {General Definition of Gravitational Tension},
  author = {T. Harmark and N. A. Obers},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/0403103},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

17 pages, v2: Appendix added on deriving ADM-type tension formula from general tension formula