Gauge Invariant Variables in Two-Parameter Nonlinear Perturbations

Abstract

The procedure to find gauge invariant variables for two-parameter nonlinear perturbations in general relativity is considered. For each order metric perturbation, we define the variable which is defined by the appropriate combination with lower order metric perturbations. Under the gauge transformation, this variable is transformed in the manner similar to the gauge transformation of the linear order metric perturbation. We confirm this up to third order. This implies that gauge invariant variables for higher order metric perturbations can be found by using a procedure similar to that for linear order metric perturbations. We also derive gauge invariant combinations for the perturbation of an arbitrary physical variable, other than the spacetime metric, up to third order.