"Gauge" in General Relativity: Second-order general relativistic gauge-invariant perturbation theory

Abstract

As in the case of the other gauge field theories, there is so called ``gauge'' also in general relativity. This ``gauge'' is unphysical degree of freedom. There are two kinds of ``gauges'' in general relativity. These are called the first- and the second-kind of gauges, respectively. The gauge of the first kind is just coordinate system on a single manifold. On the other hand, the gauge of the second kind arises in the general relativistic perturbations. Through the precise distinction of these two concepts of ``gauges'', we develop second-order gauge-invariant general relativistic perturbation theory.