Abstract. The definition of angular momentum recently given by Penrose (1982) is analysed on I. It is shown that this definition is essentially a supertranslation of previous definitions. The origin dependence of Penrose's angular momentum is shown to have the correct form. Based on Penrose's expression, the authors then define a momentum for all elements of the BMS Lie algebra, which is the first such expression with the property that its flux vanishes identically in Minkowski space.

Print publication: Issue 1 (January 1984)