Related papers: Self-dual variables, positive semi-definite action…
We perform the Dirac hamiltonian analysis of a four-dimensional gauge theory of gravity with an action of topological type, which generalizes some well-known two-dimensional models. We show that, in contrast with the two-dimensional case,…
The gauge gravity action for general relativity in any dimension using a connection for the Euclidean or Poincar\'e group and a symmetry-breaking scalar field is written using a particularly simple matrix technique. A discrete version of…
Quasi-conformal actions were introduced in the physics literature as a generalization of the familiar fractional linear action on the upper half plane, to Hermitian symmetric tube domains based on arbitrary Jordan algebras, and further to…
We overview some attempts to find S-duality analogues of non-supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, in the context of gravity theories. The case of MacDowell-Mansouri gauge theory of gravity is discussed. Three-dimensional dimensional reductions…
Constants of motion are calculated for 2+1 dimensional gravity with topology R x T^2 and negative cosmological constant. Certain linear combinations of them satisfy the anti - de Sitter algebra so(2,2) in either ADM or holonomy variables.…
Several lines of evidence hint that quantum gravity at very small distances may be effectively two-dimensional. I summarize the evidence for such ``spontaneous dimensional reduction,'' and suggest an additional argument coming from the…
We discuss a variation of quadratic gravity in which the gravitational interaction remains weakly coupled at all energies, but is assisted by a Yang-Mills gauge theory which becomes strong at the Planck scale. The Yang-Mills interaction is…
Classical gravitational evolution admits an elegant and compact re-expression in terms of gauge covariant generalizations of Lie derivatives with respect to a spatial phase space dependent $su(2)$ valued vector field called the Electric…
We revisit the construction of self-dual field theory in 4l+2 dimensions using Chern-Simons theory in 4l+3 dimensions, building on the work of Witten. Careful quantization of the Chern-Simons theory reveals all the topological subtleties…
It is known that one can formulate an action in teleparallel gravity which is equivalent to general relativity, up to a boundary term. In this geometry we have vanishing curvature, and non-vanishing torsion. The action is constructed by…
The (2+1)-dimensional analog self-dual gravity which is obtained via spacetime dimension reduction of the (3+1)-dimensional Holst action without reducing the internal gauge group is studied. A Chern-Simons formulation for this theory is…
We study the dynamics of a modified-gravity theory, which is supplemented by an extended Gibbons-Hawking-York boundary term and incorporates diffeomorphism violation through nondynamical background fields denoted as $u$ and $s^{\mu\nu}$ in…
One can try to define the theory of quantum gravity as the sum over geometries. In two dimensions the sum over {\it Euclidean} geometries can be performed constructively by the method of {\it dynamical triangulations}. One can define a {\it…
From a covariant Hamiltonian formulation, by using symplectic ideas, we obtain certain covariant boundary expressions for the quasilocal quantities of general relativity and other geometric gravity theories. The contribution from each of…
We analyze the action $\int d^4x \sqrt{\det||{\cal B} g_{\mu\nu}+ {\cal C} R_{\mu\nu}}||$ as a possible alternative or addition to the Einstein gravity. Choosing a particular form of ${\cal B}(R)= \sqrt {R}$ we can restore the Einstein…
The N-extended self-dual supergravity in the ultra-hyperbolic four-dimensional spacetime of kleinian signature (2+2) is given in the N-extended harmonic superspace. We reformulate the on-shell N-extended self-dual supergravity constraints…
The quantum contributions to the gravitational action are relatively easy to calculate in the higher derivative sector of the theory. However, the applications to the post-inflationary cosmology and astrophysics require the corrections to…
We use the action-angle variables to describe the geodesic motions in the $5$-dimensional Sasaki-Einstein spaces $Y^{p,q}$. This formulation allows us to study thoroughly the complete integrability of the system. We find that the…
We define a (semi-classical) path integral for gravity with Neumann boundary conditions in $D$ dimensions, and show how to relate this new partition function to the usual picture of Euclidean quantum gravity. We also write down the action…
We show that, in four-dimensional spacetimes with an arbitrary Einstein metric, with and without a cosmological constant, perturbative dynamical degrees of freedom in generic quadratic-curvature gravity can be decoupled into massless and…