Abstract. The structure of the gravitational field at infinity of asymptotically anti-de Sitter space-time is analysed in detail using conformal techniques. It is found that the situation differs from that in the case of asymptotically Minkowskian space-times in a number of respects, primarily because J is now time-like rather than null. In particular, the asymptotic symmetry group is quite different from the BMS group, and there is no analogue of the Bondi news. The analysis also introduces definitions of 'conserved' quantities at J in terms of the curvature tensor which are free of the ambiguities present in the previous definitions based on the deviation of the physical metric from an anti-de Sitter background.

Print publication: Issue 4 (July 1984)