In two previous papers [1, 2] we have computed the inelasticity ϵ in a head-on collision of two D -dimensional Aichelburg-Sexl shock waves, using perturbation theory to calculate the geometry in the future light-cone of the collision. The first order result, obtained as an accurate numerical fit, yielded the remarkably simple formula ϵ 1st order = 1 / 2 − 1 /D . Here we show, analytically , that this result is exact in first order perturbation theory. Moreover, we clarify the relation between perturbation theory and an angular series of the inelasticity’s angular power around the symmetry axis of the collision ( θ = 0 , π ). To establish these results, firstly, we show that at null infinity the angular dependence factorises order by order in perturbation theory, as a result of a hidden symmetry. Secondly, we show that a consistent truncation of the angular series in powers of sin 2 θ at some order O n $$ \mathcal{O}(n) $$ requires knowledge of the metric perturbations up to O n + 1 $$ \mathcal{O}\left(n+1\right) $$ . In particular, this justifies the isotropy assumption used in first-order perturbation theory. We then compute, analytically, all terms that contribute to the inelasticity and depend linearly on the initial conditions ( surface terms ), including second order contributions.
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