The general property of the tensor gravitational memory effect in theories of gravity

Abstract

In this work, it is shown that based on the linear analysis, as long as a theory of gravity is diffeomorphism invariant and possesses the tensor degrees of freedom propagating at a constant, isotropic speed without dispersion, its asymptotic symmetry group of an isolated system contains the (extended/generalized) Bondi-Metzner-Sachs group. The tensor gravitational wave induces the displacement, spin and center-of-mass memory effects. They depend on the asymptotic shear tensor. The displacement memory effect is the vacuum transition and parameterized by a supertranslation transformation. All of these hold even when the Lorentz symmetry is broken by a special timelike direction.