Related papers: Geometry and W-Gravity
The geometric structure of theories with gauge fields of spins two and higher should involve a higher spin generalisation of Riemannian geometry. Such geometries are discussed and the case of $W_\infty$-gravity is analysed in detail. While…
A brief review is given of an adaptation of the coadjoint orbit method appropriate for study of models with infinite-dimensional symmetry groups. It is illustrated on several examples, including derivation of the WZNW action of induced…
Classical W-gravities and the corresponding quantum theories are reviewed. W-gravities are higher-spin gauge theories in two dimensions whose gauge algebras are W-algebras. The geometrical structure of classical W-gravity is investigated,…
The full non-linear structure of the action and transformation rules for $\W_N$-gravity coupled to matter are obtained from a non-linear truncation of those for $w_ \infty$ gravity. The geometry of the construction is discussed, and it is…
We review the structure of W_\infty algebras, their super and topological extensions, and their contractions down to (super) w_\infty. Emphasis is put on the field theoretic realisations of these algebras. We also review the structure of…
We apply the coadjoint orbit technique to the group of area preserving diffeomorphisms (APD) of a 2D manifold, particularly to the APD of the semi-infinite cylinder which is identified with $w_{\infty}$. The geometrical action obtained is…
A geometric derivation of $W_\infty$ Gravity based on Fedosov's deformation quantization of symplectic manifolds is presented. To lowest order in Planck's constant it agrees with Hull's geometric formulation of classical nonchiral…
We review the group-geometric approach to supergravity theories, in the perspective of recent developments and applications. Usual diffeomorphisms, gauge symmetries and supersymmetries are unified as superdiffeomorphisms in a supergroup…
In this paper, we study gravitational symmetry algebras that live on 2-dimensional cuts $S$ of asymptotic infinity. We define a notion of wedge algebra $\mathcal{W}(S)$ which depends on the topology of $S$. For the cylinder $S=\mathbb{C}^*$…
We relate the Teichmuller spaces obtained by Hitchin to the Teichmuller spaces of $WA_{n}$-gravity. The relationship of this space to $W$-gravity is obtained by identifying the flat $PSL(n+1,{\BR})$ connections of Hitchin to generalised…
By virtue of the Noether theorems, the vast gauge redundancy of general relativity provides us with a rich algebra of boundary charges that generate physical symmetries. These charges are located at codimension-2 entangling surfaces called…
In the presence of spacetime boundaries, diffeomorphisms in gravitational theories can become physical and acquire non-vanishing Noether charges. These charges obey an algebra which, within the extended phase-space formalism, faithfully…
We use the Chern-Simons formulation of higher spin theories in three dimensions to study aspects of holographic W-gravity. Concepts which were useful in studies of pure bulk gravity theories, such as the Fefferman-Graham gauge and the…
A geometrical study of supergravity defined on (1|1) complex superspace is presented. This approach is based on the introduction of generalized superprojective structures extending the notions of super Riemann geometry to a kind of super…
We study W-algebras obtained by quantum Hamiltonian reduction of $sl(Mn)$ associated to the $sl(2)$ embedding of rectangular type. The algebra can be realized as the asymptotic symmetry of higher spin gravity with $M \times M$ matrix valued…
We analyze the asymptotic symmetry of higher spin gravity with $M \times M$ matrix valued fields, which is given by rectangular W-algebras with su$(M)$ symmetry. The matrix valued extension is expected to be useful for the relation between…
Generalized geometry provides the framework for a systematic approach to non-symmetric metric gravity theory and naturally leads to an Einstein-Kalb-Ramond gravity theory with totally anti-symmetric contortion. The approach is related to…
A universal symmetry algebra organizing the gravitational phase space has been recently found. It corresponds to the subset of diffeomorphisms that become physical at corners -- codimension-$2$ surfaces supporting Noether charges. It…
The kinematical setting of spherically symmetric quantum geometry, derived from the full theory of loop quantum gravity, is developed. This extends previous studies of homogeneous models to inhomogeneous ones where interesting field theory…
The asymptotic structure of three-dimensional higher-spin anti-de Sitter gravity is analyzed in the metric approach, in which the fields are described by completely symmetric tensors and the dynamics is determined by the standard…