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arXiv · 2511.10637

Asymptotic Simplicity and Scattering in General Relativity from Quantum Field Theory

Stefano De Angelis·Aidan Herderschee·Radu Roiban·Fei Teng
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Abstract

We investigate the fate of asymptotic simplicity in physically relevant settings of compact-object scattering. Using the stress tensor of a two-body system as a source, we compute the spacetime metric in General Relativity at finite observer distance in an asymptotic expansion. To do so, we relate the metric to the final-state graviton one-point function in momentum space, which is computed using perturbative QFT techniques. Both the simple pole and the infrared-related logarithmic branch cut in the virtuality of the external graviton contribute nontrivially. We focus on determining the fall-off behavior of the Newman-Penrose scalars, confirming previous predictions that Sachs's peeling property is violated at leading order in the post-Minkowski expansion. Our analysis at higher orders in the post-Minkowskian expansion reveals a significantly stronger breakdown of the peeling property than previously recognized, which is the result of nonlinear, long-range interactions between localized sources and the surrounding gravitational field.

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Stefano De Angelis, Aidan Herderschee, Radu Roiban, Fei Teng. 2026-03-12. Asymptotic Simplicity and Scattering in General Relativity from Quantum Field Theory. https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.10637

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