Carroll expansion of general relativity

We study the small speed of light expansion of general relativity, utilizing the modern perspective on non-Lorentzian geometry. This is an expansion around the ultra-local Car-roll limit, in which light cones close up. To this end, we first rewrite the Einstein???Hilbert action in pre-ultra-local variables, which is closely related to the 3+1 decomposition of general relativity. At leading order in the expansion, these pre-ultra-local variables yield Carroll geometry and the resulting action describes the electric Carroll limit of general relativity. We also obtain the next-to-leading order action in terms of Carroll geometry and next-to-leading order geometric fields. The leading order theory yields constraint and evolution equations, and we can solve the evolution analytically. We furthermore construct a Carroll version of Bowen???York initial data, which has associated conserved boundary linear and angular momentum charges. The notion of mass is not present at leading order and only enters at next-to-leading order. This is illustrated by considering a particular truncation of the next-to-leading order action, corresponding to the magnetic Carroll limit, where we find a solution that describes the Carroll limit of a Schwarzschild black hole. Finally, we comment on how a cosmological constant can be incorporated in our analysis.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigate the small speed of light expansion in general relativity using a modern perspective on non-Lorentzian geometry. We focus on the ultra-local Car-roll limit and examine the associated Carroll geometry and geometric fields. The concept of mass only emerges at the next-to-leading order, and we also discuss the inclusion of a cosmological constant in our analysis.