The Hamiltonian for a gravitating region includes a boundary term which determines not only the quasi-local values but also, via the boundary variation principle, the boundary conditions. Using our covariant Hamiltonian formalism, we found four particular quasi-local energy-momentum boundary term expressions; each corresponds to a physically distinct and geometrically clear boundary condition. Here, from a consideration of the asymptotics, we show how a fundamental Hamiltonian identity naturally leads to the associated quasi-local energy flux expressions. For electromagnetism one of the four is distinguished: the only one which is gauge invariant; it gives the familiar energy density and Poynting flux. For Einstein's general relativity two different boundary condition choices correspond to quasi-local expressions which asymptotically give the ADM energy, the TrautmanBondi energy and, moreover, an associated energy flux (both outgoing and incoming). Again there is a distinguished expression: the one which is covariant.

SummaryWe present a new finite action for Einstein gravity in which the Lagrangian is quadratic in the covariant derivative of a spinor field. Via a new spinor-curvature identity, it is related to the standard EinsteinHilbert Lagrangian by a total differential term. The corresponding Hamiltonian, like the one associated with the Witten positive energy proof is fully four-covariant. It defines quasi-local energy-momentum and can be reduced to the one in our recent positive energy proof. (Fourth Prize, 1994 Gravity Research Foundation Essay.)

From a covariant Hamiltonian formulation, using symplectic ideas, we obtain covariant quasilocal energy-momentum boundary expressions for general gravity theories. The expressions depend upon which variables are fixed on the boundary, a reference configuration and a displacement vector field. We consider applications to Einstein's theory, black hole thermodynamics and alternate spinor expressions.

We continue a previous analysis of the covariant Hamiltonian symplectic structure of General Relativity for spatially bounded regions of spacetime.To allow for wide generality, the Hamiltonian is formulated using any fixed hypersurface, with a boundary given by a closed spacelike 2-surface. A main result is that we obtain Hamiltonians associated to Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions on the gravitational field coupled to matter sources, in particular a Klein-Gordon field, an electromagnetic field, and a set of Yang-Mills-Higgs fields. The Hamiltonians are given by a covariant form of the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner Hamiltonian modified by a surface integral term that depends on the particular boundary conditions. The general form of this surface integral involves an underlying "energy-momentum" vector in the spacetime tangent space at the spatial boundary 2-surface. We give examples of the * a = g ab t * b . Now, define a projection operator P B with respect to B by