Edge modes of gravity. Part II. Corner metric and Lorentz charges

In this second paper of the series we continue to spell out a new program for quantum gravity, grounded in the notion of corner symmetry algebra and its representations. Here we focus on tetrad gravity and its corner symplectic potential. We start by performing a detailed decomposition of the various geometrical quantities appearing in BF theory and tetrad gravity. This provides a new decomposition of the symplectic potential of BF theory and the simplicity constraints. We then show that the dynamical variables of the tetrad gravity corner phase space are the internal normal to the spacetime foliation, which is conjugated to the boost generator, and the corner coframe field. This allows us to derive several key results. First, we construct the corner Lorentz charges. In addition to sphere diffeomorphisms, common to all formulations of gravity, these charges add a local $$ \mathfrak{sl} $$ sl (2, ℂ) component to the corner symmetry algebra of tetrad gravity. Second, we also reveal that the corner metric satisfies a local $$ \mathfrak{sl} $$ sl (2, ℝ) algebra, whose Casimir corresponds to the corner area element. Due to the space-like nature of the corner metric, this Casimir belongs to the unitary discrete series, and its spectrum is therefore quantized. This result, which reconciles discreteness of the area spectrum with Lorentz invariance, is proven in the continuum and without resorting to a bulk connection. Third, we show that the corner phase space explains why the simplicity constraints become non-commutative on the corner. This fact requires a reconciliation between the bulk and corner symplectic structures, already in the classical continuum theory. Understanding this leads inevitably to the introduction of edge modes.

Dust in the York canonical basis of ADM tetrad gravity: The problem of vorticity

Brown's formulation of dynamical perfect fluids in Minkowski space-time is extended to ADM tetrad gravity in globally hyperbolic, asymptotically Minkowskian space-times. For the dust, we get the Hamiltonian description in closed form in the York canonical basis, where we can separate the inertial gauge variables of the gravitational field in the non-Euclidean 3-spaces of global non-inertial frames from the physical tidal ones. After writing the Hamilton equations of the dust, we identify the sector of irrotational motions and the gauge fixings forcing the dust 3-spaces to coincide with the 3-spaces of the non-inertial frame. The role of the inertial gauge variable York time (the remnant of the clock synchronization gauge freedom) is emphasized. Finally, the Hamiltonian Post-Minkowskian linearization is studied. This formalism is required when one wants to study the Hamiltonian version of cosmological models (for instance back-reaction as an alternative to dark energy) in the York canonical basis.

Canonical ADM tetrad gravity: From metrological inertial gauge variables to dynamical tidal Dirac observables

In this updated review of canonical ADM tetrad gravity in a family of globally hyperbolic asymptotically Minkowskian space-times without super-translations I show which is the status-of-the-art in the search of a canonical basis adapted to the first-class Dirac constraints and of the Dirac observables of general relativity (GR) describing the tidal degrees of freedom of the gravitational field. In these space-times the asymptotic ADM Poincaré group replaces the Poincaré group of particle physics, there is a York canonical basis diagonalizing the York–Lichnerowicz approach and a post-Minkowskian linearization is possible with the associated description of gravitational waves in the family of non-harmonic 3-orthogonal Schwinger time gauges. Moreover I show that every fixation of the inertial gauge variables (i.e. the choice of a non-inertial frame) of every generally covariant formulation of GR is equivalent to a set of conventions for the metrology of the space-time (like the GPS ones near the Earth): for instance the freedom in clock synchronization is described by the inertial gauge variable York time (the trace of the extrinsic curvature of the instantaneous 3-spaces). This inertial gauge freedom and the non-Euclidean nature of the instantaneous 3-spaces required by the equivalence principle are connected with the dark side of the universe and could explain the presence of dark matter or at least part of it by means of the adoption of suitable metrical conventions for the ICRS celestial reference system. Also some comments on a canonical quantization of GR coherent with this viewpoint are done.

Hamiltonian expression of curvature tensors in the York canonical basis: (II) Weyl tensor, Weyl scalars, Weyl eigenvalues and the problem of the observables of the gravitational field

We find the Hamiltonian expression in the York basis of canonical ADM tetrad gravity of the 4-Weyl tensor of the asymptotically Minkowskian space-time. Like for the 4-Riemann tensor we find a radar tensor (whose components are 4-scalars due to the use of radar 4-coordinates), which coincides with the 4-Weyl tensor on-shell on the solutions of Einstein's equations. Then, by using the Hamiltonian null tetrads, we find the Hamiltonian expression of the Weyl scalars of the Newman–Penrose approach and of the four eigenvalues of the 4-Weyl tensor. After having introduced the Dirac observables (DOs) of canonical gravity, whose determination requires the solution of the super-Hamiltonian and super-momentum constraints, we discuss the connection of the DOs with the notion of 4-scalar Bergmann observables (BOs). Due to the use of radar 4-coordinates these two types of observables coincide in our formulation of canonical ADM tetrad gravity. However, contrary to Bergmann proposal, the Weyl eigenvalues are shown not to be BOs, so that their relevance is only in their use (first suggested by Bergmann and Komar) for giving a physical identification as point-events of the mathematical points of the space-time 4-manifold. Finally we give the expression of the Weyl scalars in the Hamiltonian post-Minkowskian linearization of canonical ADM tetrad gravity in the family of (non-harmonic) 3-orthogonal Schwinger time gauges.

Hamiltonian expression of curvature tensors in the York canonical basis: (I) Riemann tensor and Ricci scalars

By using the York canonical basis of ADM tetrad gravity, in a formulation using radar 4-coordinates for the parametrization of the 3+1 splitting of the space-time, it is possible to write the 4-Riemann tensor of a globally hyperbolic, asymptotically Minkowskian space-time as a Hamiltonian tensor, whose components are 4-scalars with respect to the ordinary world 4-coordinates, plus terms vanishing due to Einstein's equations. Therefore, "on-shell" we find the expression of the Hamiltonian 4-Riemann tensor. Moreover, the 3+1 splitting of the space-time used to define the phase space allows us to introduce a Hamiltonian set of null tetrads and to find the Hamiltonian expression of the 4-Ricci scalars of the Newman–Penrose formalism. This material will be used in the second paper to study the 4-Weyl tensor, the 4-Weyl scalars and the 4-Weyl eigenvalues and to clarify the notions of Dirac and Bergmann observables.

The Einstein–Maxwell-particle system in the York canonical basis of ADM tetrad gravity. Part 2. The weak field approximation in the 3-orthogonal gauges and Hamiltonian post-minkowskian gravity: the N-body problem and gravitational waves with asymptotic background 1This paper is one of three companion papers published in the same issue of Can. J. Phys.

In this second paper we define a post-minkowskian (PM) weak field approximation leading to a linearization of the Hamilton equations of Arnowitt–Deser–Misner (ADM) tetrad gravity in the York canonical basis in a family of nonharmonic 3-orthogonal Schwinger time gauges. The York time 3K (the relativistic inertial gauge variable, not existing in newtonian gravity, parametrizing the family, and connected to the freedom in clock synchronization, i.e., to the definition of the the shape of the instantaneous 3-spaces) is set equal to an arbitrary numerical function. The matter are considered point particles, with a Grassmann regularization of self-energies, and the electromagnetic field in the radiation gauge: an ultraviolet cutoff allows a consistent linearization, which is shown to be the lowest order of a hamiltonian PM expansion. We solve the constraints and the Hamilton equations for the tidal variables and we find PM gravitational waves with asymptotic background (and the correct quadrupole emission formula) propagating on dynamically determined non-euclidean 3-spaces. The conserved ADM energy and the Grassmann regularization of self-energies imply the correct energy balance. A generalized transverse–traceless gauge can be identified and the main tools for the detection of gravitational waves are reproduced in these nonharmonic gauges. In conclusion, we get a PM solution for the gravitational field and we identify a class of PM Einstein space–times, which will be studied in more detail in a third paper together with the PM equations of motion for the particles and their post-newtonian expansion (but in the absence of the electromagnetic field). Finally we make a discussion on the gauge problem in general relativity to understand which type of experimental observations may lead to a preferred choice for the inertial gauge variable 3K in PM space–times. In the third paper we will show that this choice is connected with the problem of dark matter.

The Einstein–Maxwell-particle system in the York canonical basis of ADM tetrad gravity. Part 3. The post-minkowskian N-body problem, its post-newtonian limit in nonharmonic 3-orthogonal gauges and dark matter as an inertial effect 1This paper is one of three companion papers published in the same issue of Can. J. Phys.

We conclude the study of the post-minkowskian (PM) linearization of ADM tetrad gravity in the York canonical basis for asymptotically minkowskian space–times in the family of nonharmonic 3-orthogonal gauges parametrized by the York time 3K(τ, s) (the inertial gauge variable, not existing in Newton gravity, describing the general relativistic remnant of the freedom in clock synchronization in the definition of the shape of the instantaneous 3-spaces as 3-submanifolds of space–time). As matter we consider only N scalar point particles with a Grassmann regularization of the self-energies and with an ultraviolet cutoff making possible the PM linearization and the evaluation of the PM solution for the gravitational field. We study in detail all the properties of these PM space–times emphasizing their dependence on the gauge variable 3K(1) = (1/Δ)3K(1) (the nonlocal York time): Riemann and Weyl tensors, 3-spaces, time-like and null geodesics, red-shift, and luminosity distance. Then we study the post-newtonian (PN) expansion of the PM equations of motion of the particles. We find that in the two-body case at the 0.5PN order there is a damping (or antidamping) term depending only on 3K(1). This opens the possibility of explaining dark matter in Einstein theory as a relativistic inertial effect: the determination of 3K(1) from the masses and rotation curves of galaxies would give information on how to find a PM extension of the existing PN celestial frame used as an observational convention in the 4-dimensional description of stars and galaxies. Dark matter would describe the difference between the inertial and gravitational masses seen in the non-euclidean 3-spaces, without a violation of their equality in the 4-dimensional space–time as required by the equivalence principle.