General framework of higher order gauge invariant perturbation theory

Abstract

Based on the gauge invariant variables proposed in [K. Nakamura, Prog. Theor. Phys. vol.110 (2003), 723.], general framework of the second order gauge invariant perturbation theory on arbitrary background spacetime is considered. We derived formulae of the perturbative Einstein tensor of each order, which have the similar form to the definitions of gauge invariant variables for arbitrary perturbative fields. As a result, each order Einstein equation is necessarily given in terms of gauge invariant variables.