Related papers: On a class of 2-surface observables in general rel…
A 3d generally covariant field theory having some unusual properties is described. The theory has a degenerate 3-metric which effectively makes it a 2d field theory in disguise. For 2-manifolds without boundary, it has an infinite number of…
We continue our investigation of the configuration space of general relativity begun in I (gr-qc/9411009). Here we examine the Hamiltonian constraint when the spatial geometry is momentarily static (MS). We show that MS configurations…
Change and local spatial variation are missing in canonical General Relativity's observables as usually defined, part of the problem of time. Definitions can be tested using equivalent formulations, non-gauge and gauge, because they must…
We study covariant models for vacuum spherical gravity within a canonical setting. Starting from a general ansatz, we derive the most general family of Hamiltonian constraints that are quadratic in first-order and linear in second-order…
The Hamiltonian for physical systems and dynamic geometry generates the evolution of a spatial region along a vector field. It includes a boundary term which not only determines the value of the Hamiltonian, but also, via the boundary term…
Some conceptual issues concerning general invariant theories, with special emphasis on general relativity, are analyzed. The common assertion that observables must be required to be gauge invariant is examined in the light of the role…
In [1,2] we established and discussed the algebra of observables for $2+1$ gravity at both the classical and quantum level, and gave a systematic discussion of the reduction of the expected number of independent observables to $6g - 6 (g >…
We derive for generally covariant theories the generic dependency of observables on the original fields, corresponding to coordinate-dependent gauge fixings. This gauge choice is equivalent to a choice of intrinsically defined coordinates…
We investigate the covariant Hamiltonian symplectic structure of General Relativity for spatially bounded regions of spacetime with a fixed time-flow vector. For existence of a well-defined Hamiltonian variational principle taking into…
It is well known that free (unconstrained) initial data for the gravitational field in general relativity can be identified on an initial hypersurface consisting of two intersecting null hypersurfaces. Here the phase space of vacuum general…
The Einstein equations for spacetimes with two commuting spacelike Killing field symmetries are studied from a Hamiltonian point of view. The complexified Ashtekar canonical variables are used, and the symmetry reduction is performed…
A systematic approach is developed in order to obtain spherically symmetric midisuperspace models that accept holonomy modifications in the presence of matter fields with local degrees of freedom. In particular, starting from the most…
Deformations of spacelike hypersurfaces in space-time play an important role in discussions of general covariance and slicing independence in gravitational theories. In a canonical formulation, they provide the geometrical meaning of gauge…
We use the canonical formalism developed together with David Robinson to st= udy the Einstein equations on a null surface. Coordinate and gauge conditions = are introduced to fix the triad and the coordinates on the null surface. Toget= her…
We consider second order differential operators $P$ with polynomial coefficients that preserve the vector space $V_k$ of polynomials of degrees not greater then $k$. We assume that the metric associated with the symbol of $P$ is flat and…
We describe a simple dynamical model characterized by the presence of two noncommuting Hamiltonian constraints. This feature mimics the constraint structure of general relativity, where there is one Hamiltonian constraint associated with…
The definition of a quantum system requires a Hilbert space, a way to define the dynamics, and an algebra of observables. The structure of the observable algebra is related to a tensor product decomposition of the Hilbert space and…
Observable currents are locally defined gauge invariant conserved currents; physical observables may be calculated integrating them on appropriate hypersurfaces. Due to the conservation law the hypersurfaces become irrelevant up to…
The abstract quantum algebra of observables for 2+1 gravity is analysed in the limit of small cosmological constant. The algebra splits into two sets with an explicit phase space representation;~one set consists of $6g-6$ {\it commuting}…
In general relativity as well as gauge theories, non-trivial symmetries can appear at boundaries. In the presence of radiation some of the symmetries are not Hamiltonian vector fields, hence the definition of charges for the symmetries…