Related papers: Ashtekar's variables without spin
It is known that Ashtekar's formulation for pure Einstein gravity can be cast into the form of a topological field theory, namely the $SU(2)$ BF theory, with the B-fields subject to an algebraic constraint. We extend this relation between…
The 2(2s+1)-component relativistic basis spinors for the arbitrary spin particles are established in position, momentum and four-dimensional spaces, where s=0,1 / 2,1, 3 / 2, 2, ... . These spinors for integral- and half-integral spins are…
In order to perform accurate and stable long-term numerical integration of the Einstein equations, several hyperbolic systems have been proposed. We here report our numerical comparisons between weakly hyperbolic, strongly hyperbolic, and…
Ashtekar's canonical theory of classical complex Euclidean GR (no Lorentzian reality conditions) is found to be invariant under the full algebra of infinitesimal 4-diffeomorphisms, but non-invariant under some finite proper 4-diffeos when…
If a higher derivative theory arises from a transformation of variables that involves time derivatives, a tailor-made Hamiltonian formulation is shown to exist. The details and advantages of this elegant Hamiltonian formulation, which…
Dimensional reductions of various higher dimensional (super)gravity theories lead to effectively two-dimensional field theories described by gravity coupled G/H nonlinear sigma-models. We show that a new set of complexified variables can be…
Starting from the Ashtekar Hamiltonian variables for general relativity, the self-dual Einstein equations (SDE) may be rewritten as evolution equations for three divergence free vector fields given on a three dimensional surface with a…
Quantum field theory successfully explains the origin of all fundamental forces except gravity due to the renormalizability problem. In this paper, we proposed a topological scenario to understand this puzzle. First, we proposed a $3+1$D…
In 1975, Ashtekar and Magnon showed that an energy condition selects a unique quantization procedure for certain observers in general, curved spacetimes. We generalize this result in two important ways, by eliminating the need to assume a…
We examine tensor perturbations around a deSitter background within the framework of Ashtekar's variables and cousins parameterized by the Immirzi parameter $\gamma$. At the classical level we recover standard cosmological perturbation…
We propose a (3+1)D linear set of covariant vector equations, which unify the spin 0 ``new Dirac equation'' with its spin 1/2 counterpart, proposed by Staunton. Our equations describe a spin (0,1/2) supermultiplet with different numbers of…
I attempt to answer the question of the title by giving an annotated list of the major results achieved, over the last six years, in the program to construct quantum general relativity using the Ashtekar variables and the loop…
The Ashtekar-Barbero-Immirzi formulation of General Relativity is extended to include spinor matter fields. Our formulation applies to generic values of the Immirzi parameter and reduces to the Ashtekar-Romano-Tate approach when the Immirzi…
On the basis of an algebraic relation between torsion and a classical spinor field a new interpretation of Einstein-Cartan gravity interacting with classical spinor field is proposed. In this approach the spinor field becomes an auxiliary…
The Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble theory of gravity removes the constraint of general relativity that the affine connection be symmetric by regarding its antisymmetric part, the torsion tensor, as a dynamical variable. The minimal coupling…
The rank-2 sector of classical $3+1$ dimensional Ashtekar gravity is considered. It is found that the consistency of the evolution equations with the reality of the volume requires that the 3-surface of initial data is foliated by…
We perform a covariant 1+3 split of the Newton-Cartan equations. The resulting 3-dimensional system of equations, called \textit{the 1+3-Newton-Cartan equations}, is structurally equivalent to the 1+3-Einstein equations. In particular it…
The classical dynamics of N spinning point sources in 2+1 Einstein-Cartan gravity is considered. It corresponds to the ISO(2,1) Chern-Simons theory, in which the torsion source is restricted to its intrinsic spin part. A class of explicit…
We characterize the Lie derivative of spinor fields from a variational point of view by resorting to the theory of the Lie derivative of sections of gauge-natural bundles. Noether identities from the gauge-natural invariance of the first…
We study the possible existence of static traversable wormholes without invoking exotic matter in the framework of the Einstein--Cartan theory. A family of exact static, spherically symmetric wormhole solutions with an arbitrary throat…