Gravitational memory effects and higher derivative actions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that internal Lorentz symmetry charges in general relativity with higher derivative boundary terms correspond to observable gravitational wave effects, linking theoretical charges to measurable phenomena.

Contribution

It reveals how boundary charges associated with internal Lorentz symmetries relate to gravitational wave observables in theories with higher derivative actions.

Findings

Gauss-Bonnet charge measures gyroscope precession

Pontryagin charge encodes test mass acceleration

Highlights the role of tetrad formalism in gravitational physics

Abstract

We show that charges associated with the internal Lorentz symmetries of general relativity, with higher derivative boundary terms included in the action, capture observable gravitational wave effects. In particular, the Gauss-Bonnet charge measures the precession rate of a freely-falling gyroscope, while the Pontryagin charge encodes the relative radial acceleration of freely-falling test masses. This relation highlights the importance of the tetrad formalism and the physical significance of asymptotic internal Lorentz symmetries.