The linear theory of gravitation in the radiation gauge

A global gauge for the linear theory of gravity is given which avoids the (In(R))/R problem of harmonic coordinates. Consequently it is possible to do 1/R expansions for precisely those null sources which lead to difficulties in the harmonic gauge. This is important, for example, in second order calculations where the first order field is a gravitational wave. This gauge makes manifest the two degrees of freedom for the dynamic fields. In it the second time derivative of the metric itself has physical significance since R_oioj=–1/2h_ij.Work supported in part by NSF Grant No. GP-13959.