Null infinity, the BMS group and infrared issues

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding the structure of gravitational fields at null infinity, focusing on soft charges, infrared issues, and their implications for quantum gravity, providing context for broader relativity research.

Contribution

It summarizes recent developments on null infinity and infrared problems, connecting them with historical research and making the topic accessible to non-specialists.

Findings

Recent results on soft charges and infrared issues in quantum gravity.

Connections between null infinity structure and BMS group.

Broader context of gravitational research over decades.

Abstract

There has been a recent resurgence of interest in the structure of the gravitational field at null infinity, sparked by new results on soft charges and infrared issues related to the S matrix theory in perturbative quantum gravity. We summarize these developments and put them in the broader context of research in the relativity community that dates back to several decades. In keeping with intent of this series, this overview is addressed to gravitational scientists who are not experts in this specific area.