The standard way of deriving Euler-Lagrange (EL) equations given a point particle action is to vary the trajectory and set the first variation of the action to zero. However, if the action is (i) reparameterisation invariant, and (ii) generally covariant, I show that one may derive the EL equations by suitably "nullifying" the variation through a judicious coordinate transformation. The net result of this is that the curve remains fixed, while all other geometrical objects in the action undergo a change, given precisely by the Lie derivatives along the variation vector field. This, then, is the most direct and transparent way to elucidate the connection between general covariance, diffeomorphism invariance, and Lie derivatives, without referring to covariant derivative.
I highlight the geometric underpinnings and generality of above ideas by applying them to simplest of field theories, keeping the discussion at a level easily accessible to advanced undergraduates. As non-trivial applications of these ideas, I (i) derive the Geodesic Deviation Equation using first order diffeomorphisms, and (ii) demonstrate how they can highlight the connection between canonical and metric stress-energy tensors in field theories.
Classical background independence is reflected in Lagrangian general relativity through covariance under the full diffeomorphism group. We show how this independence can be maintained in a Hamilton-Jacobi approach that does not accord special privilege to any geometric structure. Intrinsic spacetime curvature based coordinates grant equal status to all geometric backgrounds. They play an essential role as a starting point for inequivalent semi-classical quantizations. The scheme calls into question Wheeler's geometrodynamical approach and the associated Wheeler-DeWitt equation in which three-m…
We describe a completely general and fully non-perturbative framework for constructing dynamical reference frames in generally covariant theories, and for understanding the gauge-invariant observables that they yield. Our approach makes use of a 'universal dressing space', which contains as a subset every possible dynamical frame. We describe examples of such frames, including matter frames, a popular construction based on boundary-anchored geodesics and one using minimal surfaces -- but our formalism does not depend on the existence of a boundary. The class of observables we construct general…
We develop a quantum effective action for scalar-tensor theories of gravity which is both spacetime diffeomorphism invariant and field reparameterisation (frame) invariant beyond the classical approximation. We achieve this by extending the Vilkovisky-DeWitt formalism, treating both the scalar fields and the components of the gravitational tensor field as coordinates describing a manifold. By using tensors covariant under diffeomorphisms of this manifold, we show that scalar-tensor theories can be written in a form that is manifestly frame invariant at both classical and quantum levels. In~the…
The framework of a theory of gravity from the quantum to the classical regime is presented. The paradigm shift from full spacetime covariance to spatial diffeomorphism invariance, together with clean decomposition of the canonical structure, yield transparent physical dynamics and a resolution of the problem of time. The deep divide between quantum mechanics and conventional canonical formulations of quantum gravity is overcome with a Schrödinger equation for quantum geometrodynamics that describes evolution in intrinsic time. Unitary time development with gauge-invariant temporal ordering is …
Based on the canonical quantization of $d>2$ dimensional general relativity (GR) via the Dirac constraint formalism (also termed as `constraint quantization'), we propose the loss of covariance as a fundamental property of the theory. This breakdown occurs for the first-order Einstein Hilbert action, whereby loss of diffeomorphism invariance, besides first class constraints, second class constriants also exist leading to non-standard ghost fields which render the path integral non-covariant. We also attempt, for the first time, the canonical quantization via calculation of the path integral fo…
This article concerns the problems regarding different lattice regularization techniques for the matter fields of Hamiltonian constraints defined in the framework of loop quantum gravity. The analysis is formulated in the phase space-reduced cosmological model of the hypothetical theory of canonical quantum general relativity. This article explains why a different than links-related lattice smearing of fields leads to a local violation of general covariance. This happens by assuming, for instance, the nodes-related smearing. Therefore, this problem occurs in the case of any polymerlike scalar …
