 Gauge-invariant scalar-vector-tensor perturbations of Minkowski spacetime

For signature $(+---)$, decompose a metric perturbation into $h_{00}=2A$, $h_{0i}={\partial }_{i}B+B_i$ and $h_{ij}=2C{\delta }_{ij}+2({\partial }_i{\partial }_j-{\delta }_{ij}\Delta /3)E+{\partial }_i{E}_j+{\partial }_j{E}_i+h_{ij}^{\mathrm{TT}}$, where the spatial vectors are divergence-free and $h^{\mathrm{TT}}$ is a transverse-traceless tensor. Under a passive coordinate shift ${\xi }^0=\tau$, ${\xi }^i={\partial }_{i}L+L_i$, with ${\partial }_i{L}_i=0$, the changes are $\delta A=-\dot{\tau }$, $\delta B=\dot{L}-\tau$, $\delta C=\Delta L/3$, $\delta E=L$, $\delta B_i={\dot{L}}_i$, and $\delta E_i=L_i$. The displayed combinations and $h^{\mathrm{TT}}$ are therefore gauge invariant. The decomposition is unique after appropriate spatial decay or mode restrictions; homogeneous and boundary modes require separate conventions.