Distinct Minkowski Spaces from BMS Supertranslations

TL;DR

This paper constructs a smooth extension of BMS supertranslations into Minkowski space, revealing physically distinct, yet isometric, spacetimes, contrasting with traditional non-smooth transformations in gauge-fixed frameworks.

Contribution

It introduces a smooth, well-defined extension of BMS supertranslations into the bulk of Minkowski space, enabling the study of physically distinct spacetimes.

Findings

Supertranslations lead to distinct spacetimes that are isometric to Minkowski space.

The construction contrasts with non-smooth BMS transformations used in gauge-fixed descriptions.

Provides a new geometric framework for understanding BMS symmetries in Minkowski space.

Abstract

This work provides a smooth and everywhere well-defined extension of Bondi-Metzner-Sachs (BMS) supertranslations into the bulk of Minkowski space. The supertranslations lead to physically distinct spacetimes, all isometric to Minkowski space. This construction is in contrast to the often used, non-smooth BMS transformations that appear in a gauge-fixed description of the theory.