Real Formulations of Complex Gravity and a Complex Formulation of Real Gravity

Two gauge and diffeomorphism invariant theories on the Yang-Mills phase space are studied. They are based on the Lie-algebras $so(1,3)$ and $\widetilde{so(3)}$ -- the loop-algebra of $so(3)$. Although the theories are manifestly real, they can both be reformulated to show that they describe complex gravity and an infinite number of copies of complex gravity, respectively. The connection to real gravity is given. For these theories, the reality conditions in the conventional Ashtekar formulation are represented by normal constraint-like terms.Comment: 23 pages, CGPG-94/4-

Deformations of extended objects with edges

We present a manifestly gauge covariant description of fluctuations of a relativistic extended object described by the Dirac-Nambu-Goto action with Dirac-Nambu-Goto loaded edges about a given classical solution. Whereas physical fluctuations of the bulk lie normal to its worldsheet, those on the edge possess an additional component directed into the bulk. These fluctuations couple in a non-trivial way involving the underlying geometrical structures associated with the worldsheet of the object and of its edge. We illustrate the formalism using as an example a string with massive point particles attached to its ends.Comment: 17 pages, revtex, to appear in Phys. Rev. D5

Remarks on Pure Spin Connection Formulations of Gravity

In the derivation of a pure spin connection action functional for gravity two methods have been proposed. The first starts from a first order lagrangian formulation, the second from a hamiltonian formulation. In this note we show that they lead to identical results for the specific cases of pure gravity with or without a cosmological constant

ADM Worldvolume Geometry

We describe the dynamics of a relativistic extended object in terms of the geometry of a configuration of constant time. This involves an adaptation of the ADM formulation of canonical general relativity. We apply the formalism to the hamiltonian formulation of a Dirac-Nambu-Goto relativistic extended object in an arbitrary background spacetime.Comment: 4 pages, Latex. Uses espcrc2.sty To appear in the proceedings of the Third Conference on Constrained Dynamics and Quantum Gravity, September, 1999. To appear in Nuclear Physics B (Proceedings Supplement

Non-Orientable Lagrangian Cobordisms between Legendrian Knots

In the symplectization of standard contact $3$-space, $\mathbb R \times \mathbb R^3$, it is known that an orientable Lagrangian cobordism between a Legendrian knot and itself, also known as an orientable Lagrangian endocobordism for the Legendrian knot, must have genus $0$. We show that any Legendrian knot has a non-orientable Lagrangian endocobordism, and that the crosscap genus of such a non-orientable Lagrangian endocobordism must be a positive multiple of $4$. The more restrictive exact, non-orientable Lagrangian endocobordisms do not exist for any exactly fillable Legendrian knot but do exist for any stabilized Legendrian knot. Moreover, the relation defined by exact, non-orientable Lagrangian cobordism on the set of stabilized Legendrian knots is symmetric and defines an equivalence relation, a contrast to the non-symmetric relation defined by orientable Lagrangian cobordisms.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figure

Hamilton's equations for a fluid membrane

Consider a homogenous fluid membrane described by the Helfrich-Canham energy, quadratic in the mean curvature of the membrane surface. The shape equation that determines equilibrium configurations is fourth order in derivatives and cubic in the mean curvature. We introduce a Hamiltonian formulation of this equation which dismantles it into a set of coupled first order equations. This involves interpreting the Helfrich-Canham energy as an action; equilibrium surfaces are generated by the evolution of space curves. Two features complicate the implementation of a Hamiltonian framework: (i) The action involves second derivatives. This requires treating the velocity as a phase space variable and the introduction of its conjugate momentum. The canonical Hamiltonian is constructed on this phase space. (ii) The action possesses a local symmetry -- reparametrization invariance. The two labels we use to parametrize points on the surface are themselves physically irrelevant. This symmetry implies primary constraints, one for each label, that need to be implemented within the Hamiltonian. The two lagrange multipliers associated with these constraints are identified as the components of the acceleration tangential to the surface. The conservation of the primary constraints imply two secondary constraints, fixing the tangential components of the momentum conjugate to the position. Hamilton's equations are derived and the appropriate initial conditions on the phase space variables are identified. Finally, it is shown how the shape equation can be reconstructed from these equations.Comment: 24 page

On the solution of the initial value constraints for general relativity coupled to matter in terms of Ashtekar's variables

The method of solution of the initial value constraints for pure canonical gravity in terms of Ashtekar's new canonical variables due to CDJ is further developed in the present paper. There are 2 new main results : 1) We extend the method of CDJ to arbitrary matter-coupling again for non-degenerate metrics : the new feature is that the 'CDJ-matrix' adopts a nontrivial antisymmetric part when solving the vector constraint and that the Klein-Gordon-field is used, instead of the symmetric part of the CDJ-matrix, in order to satisfy the scalar constraint. 2) The 2nd result is that one can solve the general initial value constraints for arbitrary matter coupling by a method which is completely independent of that of CDJ. It is shown how the Yang-Mills and gravitational Gauss constraints can be solved explicitely for the corresponding electric fields. The rest of the constraints can then be satisfied by using either scalar or spinor field momenta. This new trick might be of interest also for Yang-Mills theories on curved backgrounds.Comment: Latex, 15 pages, PITHA93-1, January 9

The reduced phase space of spherically symmetric Einstein-Maxwell theory including a cosmological constant

We extend here the canonical treatment of spherically symmetric (quantum) gravity to the most simple matter coupling, namely spherically symmetric Maxwell theory with or without a cosmological constant. The quantization is based on the reduced phase space which is coordinatized by the mass and the electric charge as well as their canonically conjugate momenta, whose geometrical interpretation is explored. The dimension of the reduced phase space depends on the topology chosen, quite similar to the case of pure (2+1) gravity. We investigate several conceptual and technical details that might be of interest for full (3+1) gravity. We use the new canonical variables introduced by Ashtekar, which simplifies the analysis tremendously.Comment: 37p, LATE