We show that the phase space of three-dimensional gravity contains two layers of dualities: between diffeomorphisms and a notion of "dual diffeomorphisms" on the one hand, and between first order curvature and torsion on the other hand. This is most elegantly revealed and understood when studying the most general Lorentz-invariant first order theory in connection and triad variables, described by the so-called Mielke-Baekler Lagrangian. By analyzing the quasi-local symmetries of this theory in the covariant phase space formalism, we show that in each sector of the torsion/curvature duality there exists a well-defined notion of dual diffeomorphism, which furthermore follows uniquely from the Sugawara construction. Together with the usual diffeomorphisms, these duals form at finite distance, without any boundary conditions, and for any sign of the cosmological constant, a centreless double Virasoro algebra which in the flat case reduces to the BMS$_3$ algebra. These algebras can then be centrally-extended via the twisted Sugawara construction. This shows that the celebrated results about asymptotic symmetry algebras are actually generic features of three-dimensional gravity at any finite distance. They are however only revealed when working in first order connection and triad variables, and a priori inaccessible from Chern-Simons theory. As a bonus, we study the second order equations of motion of the Mielke-Baekler model, as well as the on-shell Lagrangian. This reveals the duality between Riemannian metric and teleparallel gravity, and a new candidate theory for three-dimensional massive gravity which we call teleparallel topologically massive gravity.
In this paper, using the combined Lorentz-diffeomorphism symmetry, we find a general formula for quasi-local conserved charge of the covariant gravity theories in first order formalism of gravity. We simplify the general formula for Lovelock theory of gravity. Afterwards, we apply the obtained formula on BHT gravity to obtain energy and angular momentum of the rotating OTT black hole solution in the context of this theory.
Canonical quantization of gravity requires knowledge about the representation theory of its constraint algebra, which is physically equivalent to the algebra of arbitrary 4-diffeomorphisms. All interesting lowest-energy representations are projective, making the relevant algebra into a four-dimensional generalization of the Virasoro algebra. Such diffeomorphism anomalies are invisible in field theory, because the relevant cocycles are functionals of the observer's trajectory in spacetime. The multi-dimensional Virasoro algebra acts naturally in the phase space of arbitrary histories, with dyna…
The use of a diffeomorphism covariant star product enables us to construct diffeomorphism invariant gravities on noncommutative symplectic manifolds without twisting the symmetries. As an example, we construct noncommutative deformations of all two-dimensional dilaton gravity models thus overcoming some difficulties of earlier approaches. One of such models appears to be integrable. We find all classical solutions of this model and discuss their properties.
The recently introduced manifestly covariant canonical quantization scheme is applied to gravity. New diffeomorphism anomalies generating a multi-dimensional generalization of the Virasoro algebra arise. This does not contradict theorems about the non-existence of gravitational anomalies in four dimensions, because the relevant cocycles depend on the observer's spacetime trajectory, which is ignored in conventional field theory. Rather than being inconsistent, these anomalies are necessary to obtain a {\em local} theory of quantum gravity.
Relying on known results of the Noether theory of symmetries extended to constrained systems, it is shown that there exists an obstruction that prevents certain tangent-space diffeomorphisms to be projectable to phase-space, for generally covariant theories. This main result throws new light on the old fact that the algebra of gauge generators in the phase space of General Relativity, or other generally covariant theories, only closes as a soft algebra and not a a Lie algebra. The deep relationship between these two issues is clarified. In particular, we see that the second one may be understo…
A Lorentz covariant quantization of membrane dynamics is defined, which also leaves unbroken the full three dimensional diffeomorphism invariance of the membrane. Among the applications studied are the reduction to string theory, which may be understood in terms of the phase space and constraints, and the interpretation of physical,zero-energy states. A matrix regularization is defined as in the light cone gauged fixed theory but there are difficulties implementing all the gauge symmetries. The problem involves the non-area-preserving diffeomorphisms which are realized non-linearly in the clas…
We study the finite distance boundary symmetry current algebra of the most general first order theory of 3d gravity. We show that the space of quadratic generators contains diffeomorphisms but also a notion of dual diffeomorphisms, which together form either a double Witt or centreless BMS$_3$ algebra. The relationship with the usual asymptotic symmetry algebra relies on a duality between the null and angular directions, which is possible thanks to the existence of the dual diffeomorphisms.
In the first order formalism of gravity theories, there are some theories which are not Lorentz-diffeomorphism covariant. In the framework of such theories we cannot apply the method of conserved charge calculation used in Lorentz-diffeomorphism covariant theories. In this paper we firstly introduce the total variation of a quantity due to an infinitesimal Lorentz-diffeomorphism transformation. Secondly, in order to obtain the conserved charges of Lorentz-diffeomorphism non-covariant theories, we extend the Tachikawa method \cite{3}. This extension includes not only Lorentz gauge transformatio…
Unimodular gravity (UG) is an interesting theory that may explain why the cosmological constant is extremely small, in contrast to general relativity (GR). The theory has only the transverse diffeomorphism invariance and this causes lots of debate as to the equivalence of UG to GR in the covariant quantization. We study the covariant BRST quantization of UG by gauge fixing only the transverse diffeomorphism and show that the remaining physical degrees of freedom are two, the same number as GR. This is achieved by using antisymmetric tensor ghost fields which automatically satisfy the transvers…
We perform the Hamiltonian constraint analysis for a wide class of gravity theories that are invariant under spatial diffeomorphism. With very general setup, we show that different from the general relativity, the primary and secondary constraints associated with the lapse function $N$ become second class, as long as the lapse function $N$ enters the Hamiltonian nonlinearly. This fact implies that there are three degrees of freedom are propagating, of which two correspond to the usual tensor type transverse and traceless gravitons, and one is the scalar type graviton. By restoring the full spa…
We show that the symplectic current obtained from the boundary term, which arises in the first variation of a local diffeomorphism invariant action, is covariantly conserved for any gravity theory described by that action. Therefore, a Poincare invariant 2-form can be constructed on the phase space, which is shown to be closed without reference to a specific theory. Finally, we show that one can obtain a charge expression for gravity theories in various dimensions, which plays the role of the Abbott-Deser-Tekin (ADT) charge for spacetimes with non-constant curvature backgrounds, by using the d…
A Moebius covariant net of von Neumann algebras on S^1 is diffeomorphism covariant if its Moebius symmetry extends to diffeomorphism symmetry. We prove that in case the net is either a Virasoro net or any at least 4-regular net such an extension is unique: the local algebras together with the Moebius symmetry (equivalently: the local algebras together with the vacuum vector) completely determine it. We draw the two following conclusions for such theories. (1) The value of the central charge c is an invariant and hence the Virasoro nets for different values of c are not isomorphic as Moebius co…
We discuss conservation laws for gravity theories invariant under general coordinate and local Lorentz transformations. We demonstrate the possibility to formulate these conservation laws in many covariant and noncovariant(ly looking) ways. An interesting mathematical fact underlies such a diversity: there is a certain ambiguity in a definition of the (Lorentz-) covariant generalization of the usual Lie derivative. Using this freedom, we develop a general approach to construction of invariant conserved currents generated by an arbitrary vector field on the spacetime. This is done in any dimens…
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 Shift [1]. A quantum dynamics for Euclidean Loop Quantum Gravity which ascribes a central role to the Electric Shift operator is derived in [2]. $Here\; we\; show\; that\; this \;quantum\; dynamics\; is\; nontrivially\; anomaly$ $free$. Specifically, we show that on a suitable space of off shell states (a) the (non-vanishing) commutator between a pair of Hamilt…
We carry out a parallel study of the covariant phase space and the conservation laws of local symmetries in two-dimensional dilaton gravity. Our analysis is based on the fact that the Lagrangian can be brought to a form that vanishes on-shell giving rise to a well-defined covariant potential for the symplectic current. We explicitly compute the symplectic structure and its potential and show that the requirement to be finite and independent of the Cauchy surface restricts the asymptotic symmetries.
The partial Hamiltonian analysis of the actions presented in the paper by M. Chaichian, M. Oksanen, A. Tureanu (Eur. Phys. J. C 71, 1657 (2011)) is incorrect; the true algebra of constraints differs from what they claim for their choice of momentum constraint. Our blind acceptance of the correctness of their constraint algebra led us to conclude, wrongly, that a few of the models presented by the authors (sharing the same constraint algebra) are not invariant under spatial diffeomorphism. We "proved" this by using Noether's second theorem (see first version of the paper), but we then found a m…
The canonical quantization of diffeomorphism invariant theories of connections in terms of loop variables is revisited. Such theories include general relativity described in terms of Ashtekar-Barbero variables and extension to Yang-Mills fields (with or without fermions) coupled to gravity. It is argued that the operators induced by classical diffeomorphism invariant or covariant functions are respectably invariant or covariant under a suitable completion of the diffeomorphism group. The canonical quantization in terms of loop variables described here, yields a representation of the algebra of…
Recently, Ciambelli, Leigh, and Pai (CLP) [arXiv:2111.13181] have shown that nonzero charges integrating Hamilton's equation can be defined for all diffeomorphisms acting near the boundary of a subregion in a gravitational theory. This is done by extending the phase space to include a set of embedding fields that parameterize the location of the boundary. Because their construction differs from previous works on extended phase spaces by a covariant phase space ambiguity, the question arises as to whether the resulting charges are unambiguously defined. Here, we demonstrate that ambiguity-free …
We describe the multisymplectic analysis of the constraints of first-order embedded submanifolds inherited from diffeomorphisms of the ambient manifold. The ambient diffeomorphism deformations of first-order embedded submanifolds are examined. We find that the covariant Noether currents, corresponding to the inherited ambient diffeomorphism symmetry, satisfy a non-Abelian deformation algebra, the structure functions being the Cartan structure functions on the ambient manifold. We define the covariant kinematical phase space of pseudoholomorphic embeddings (the symplectic 2-submanifolds of a sy…
I examine the relationship between $(d+1)$-dimensional Poincaré metrics and $d$-dimensional conformal manifolds, from both mathematical and physical perspectives. The results have a bearing on several conceptual issues relating to asymptotic symmetries, in general relativity and in gauge-gravity duality, as follows: (1: Ambient Construction) I draw from the remarkable work by Fefferman and Graham (1985, 2012) on conformal geometry, in order to prove two propositions and a theorem that characterise the classes of diffeomorphisms that qualify as gravity-invisible. I define natural notions of gra…
We give an SU(2) covariant representation of the constraints of Euclidean general relativity in the Ashtekar variables. The guiding principle is the use of triads to transform all free spatial indices into SU(2) indices. A central role is played by a special covariant derivative. The Gauss, diffeomorphism and Hamiltonian constraints become purely algebraic restrictions on the curvature and the torsion associated with this connection. We introduce coordinates on the jet space of the dynamical fields which cleanly separate the constraint and gauge directions from the true physical directions. Th…
Covariant loop gravity comes out of the canonical analysis of the Palatini action and the use of the Dirac brackets arising from dealing with the second class constraints (``simplicity'' constraints). Within this framework, we underline a quantization ambiguity due to the existence of a family of possible Lorentz connections. We show the existence of a Lorentz connection generalizing the Ashtekar-Barbero connection and we loop-quantize the theory showing that it leads to the usual SU(2) Loop Quantum Gravity and to the area spectrum given by the SU(2) Casimir. This covariant point of view allow…
A manifestly Lorentz and diffeomorphism invariant form for the abelian gauge field action with local duality symmetry of Schwarz and Sen is given. Some of the underlying symmetries of the covariant action are further considered. The Noether conserved charge under continuous local duality rotations is found. The covariant couplings with gravity and the axidilaton field are discussed.
The G-->0 limit of Euclidean gravity introduced by Smolin is described by a generally covariant U(1)xU(1)xU(1) gauge theory. In an earlier paper, Tomlin and Varadarajan constructed the quantum Hamiltonian constraint of density weight 4/3 for this U(1)xU(1)xU(1) theory so as to produce a non-trivial anomaly free LQG-type representation of the Poisson bracket between a pair of Hamiltonian constraints. These constructions involved a choice of regulating coordinate patches. The use of these coordinate patches is in apparent conflict with spatial diffeomorphism covariance. In this work we show how …
Parametrized field theories, which are generally covariant versions of ordinary field theories, are studied from the point of view of the covariant phase space: the space of solutions of the field equations equipped with a canonical (pre)symplectic structure. Motivated by issues arising in general relativity, we focus on: phase space representations of the spacetime diffeomorphism group, construction of observables, and the relationship between the canonical and covariant phase spaces.
Area preserving diffeomorphisms of a 2-d compact Riemannian manifold with or without boundary are studied. We find two classes of decompositions of a Riemannian metric, namely, h- and g-decomposition, that help to formulate a gravitational theory which is area preserving diffeomorphism (SDiff$M$-) invariant but not necessarily diffeomorphism invariant. The general covariance of equations of motion of such a theory can be achieved by incorporating proper Weyl rescaling. The h-decomposition makes the conformal factor of a metric SDiff$M$-invariant and the rest of the metric invariant under confo…
The diffeomorphism action lifted on truncated (chiral) Taylor expansion of a complex scalar field over a Riemann surface is presented in the paper under the name of large diffeomorphisms. After an heuristic approach, we show how a linear truncation in the Taylor expansion can generate an algebra of symmetry characterized by some structure functions. Such a linear truncation is explicitly realized by introducing the notion of Forsyth frame over the Riemann surface with the help of a conformally covariant algebraic differential equation. The large chiral diffeomorphism action is then implemented…
In [1] we initiated an approach towards quantizing the Hamiltonian constraint in Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) by requiring that it generates an anomaly-free representation of constraint algebra off-shell. We investigated this issue in the case of a toy model of a 2+1-dimensional $U(1)^{3}$ gauge theory, which can be thought of as a weak coupling limit of Euclidean three dimensional gravity. However in [1] we only focused on the most non-trivial part of the constraint algebra that involves commutator of two Hamiltonian constraints. In this paper we continue with our analysis and obtain a represen…
Self-dual gravity may be reformulated as the two dimensional principal chiral model with the group of area preserving diffeomorphisms as its gauge group. Using this formulation, it is shown that self-dual gravity contains an infinite dimensional hidden symmetry whose generators form the Affine (Kac-Moody) algebra associated with the Lie algebra of area preserving diffeomorphisms. This result provides an observable algebra and a solution generating technique for self-dual gravity.
In this paper we use the covariant Peierls bracket to compute the algebra of a sizable number of diffeomorphism-invariant observables in classical Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity coupled to fairly arbitrary matter. We then show that many recent results, including the construction of traversable wormholes, the existence of a family of $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ algebras acting on the matter fields, and the calculation of the scrambling time, can be recast as simple consequences of this algebra. We also use it to clarify the question of when the creation of an excitation deep in the bulk increases or decrease…
We present the details of the recently constructed $E_{6(6)}$ covariant extension of 11-dimensional supergravity. This theory requires a 5+27 dimensional spacetime in which the `internal' coordinates transform in the $\bar{\bf 27}$ of $E_{6(6)}$. All fields are $E_{6(6)}$ tensors and transform under (gauged) internal generalized diffeomorphisms. The `Kaluza-Klein' vector field acts as a gauge field for the $E_{6(6)}$ covariant `E-bracket' rather than a Lie bracket, requiring the presence of two-forms akin to the tensor hierarchy of gauged supergravity. We construct the complete and unique acti…
We study the construction of covariant nonlinear duality-symmetric actions in dual formulation. Essentially, the construction is the PST-covariantisation and nonlinearisation of Zwanziger action. The covariantisation made use of three auxiliary scalar fields. Apart from these, the construction proceed in a similar way to that of the standard formulation. For example, the theories can be extended to include interactions with external fields, and that the theories possess two local PST symmetries. We then explicitly demonstrate the construction of covariant nonlinear duality-symmetric actions in…
We give a gauge and manifestly SO(2,2) covariant formulation of the field theory of the self-dual string. The string fields are gauge connections that turn the super-Virasoro generators into covariant derivatives.
This note is to bring to the reader's attention the fact that general relativity and quantum mechanics differ from each other in one main aspect. General relativity is based on the diffeomorphism covariant formulation of the laws of physics while quantum mechanics is constructed such that its fundamental laws remain invariant to a change of topology. It is the goal of this paper to show that in order to obtain a complete description of quantum gravity one has to extend the principle of diffeomorphism invariance from general relativity in the sense of quantum mechanics i.e. the laws of physics …
We show that the scalar field of mimetic gravity could be used to construct diffeomorphism invariant models that reduce to Horava gravity in the synchronous gauge. The gradient of the mimetic field provides a timelike unit vector field that allows to define a projection operator of four-dimensional tensors to three-dimensional spatial tensors. Conversely, it also enables us to write quantities invariant under space diffeomorphisms in fully covariant form without the need to introduce new propagating degrees of freedom.
It is proved that the projections of the deformation vector field, normal and tangential to the worldsheet manifold swept out by Dirac-Nambu-Goto bosonic extendons propagating in a curved background, play the role of {\it global} symplectic potentials on the corresponding Witten covariant phase space. It is also proved that the {\it presymplectic} structure obtained from such potentials by direct exterior derivation, has not components tangent to the action of the relevant diffeomorphisms group of the theory.
We show that the diffeomorphism anomaly together with the trace anomaly reveal a chiral Virasoro algebra near the event horizon of a black hole. This algebra is the same irrespective of whether the anomaly is covariant or consistent, thereby manifesting its universal character and the fact that only the outgoing modes are relevant near the horizon. Our analysis therefore clarifies the role of the trace anomaly in the diffeomorphism anomaly approach \cite{wilczek, isowilczek, shailesh, shailesh2, sunandan, sunandan10, rabin10} to the Hawking radiation.
Einstein-Maxwell theory is not only covariant under diffeomorphisms but also is under $U(1)$ gauge transformations. We introduce a combined transformation constructed out of diffeomorphism and $U(1)$ gauge transformation. We show that symplectic potential, which is defined in covariant phase space method, is not invariant under combined transformations. In order to deal with that problem, following Donnelly and Freidel proposal \cite{1}, we introduce new fields. In this way, phase space and consequently symplectic potential will be extended. We show that new fields produce edge modes. We consi…
It is known that non-holomorphic corrections are necessary in order to get duality invariant free energy and entropy function. However the present methods of incorporating non-holomorphic corrections are in conflict with special geometry properties of moduli space. The moduli fields do not transform in duality covariant way and their duality transformation also involves the graviphoton field strength. In the present note we construct duality covariant moduli fields for STU-model perturbatively in powers of the graviphoton field strength and demonstrated their existence upto second order.
Consistent and covariant Lorentz and diffeomorphism anomalies are investigated in terms of the geometry of the universal bundle for gravity. This bundle is explicitly constructed and its geometrical structure will be studied. By means of the local index theorem for families of Bismut and Freed the consistent gravitational anomalies are calculated. Covariant gravitational anomalies are shown to be related with secondary characteristic classes of the universal bundle and a new set of descent equations which also contains the covariant Schwinger terms is derived. The relation between consistent a…
We review the covariant canonical formalism initiated by D'Adda, Nelson and Regge in 1985, and extend it to include a definition of form-Poisson brackets (FPB) for geometric theories coupled to $p$-forms, gauging free differential algebras. The form-Legendre transformation and the form-Hamilton equations are derived from a $d$-form Lagrangian with $p$-form dynamical fields $ϕ$. Momenta are defined as derivatives of the Lagrangian with respect to the "velocities" $dϕ$ and no preferred time direction is used. Action invariance under infinitesimal form-canonical transformations can be studied in …
We give the supersymmetric extension of exceptional field theory for E$_{7(7)}$, which is based on a $(4+56)$-dimensional generalized spacetime subject to a covariant constraint. The fermions are tensors under the local Lorentz group ${\rm SO}(1,3)\times {\rm SU}(8)$ and transform as scalar densities under the E$_{7(7)}$ (internal) generalized diffeomorphisms. The supersymmetry transformations are manifestly covariant under these symmetries and close, in particular, into the generalized diffeomorphisms of the 56-dimensional space. We give the fermionic field equations and prove supersymmetric …
We present the general formulation of non-covariant Lagrangian of self-dual gauge theory. After specifying the parameters therein the previous Lagrangian in the decomposition of spacetime into $6=D_1+D_2$ and $6=D_1+D_2+D_3$ can be obtained. The self-dual property of the general Lagrangian is proved in detail. We furthermore show that the new non-covariant actions give field equations with 6d Lorentz invariance. The method can be straightforward extended to any dimension and we also give a short discussion about the 10D self-dual gauge theory.
We review (and elaborate on) the `dual graviton problem' in the context of duality covariant formulations of M-theory (exceptional field theories). These theories require fields that are interpreted as components of the dual graviton in order to build complete multiplets under the exceptional groups E$_{d(d)}$, $d=2,\ldots, 9$. Circumventing no-go arguments, consistent theories for such fields have been constructed by incorporating additional covariant compensator fields. The latter fields are needed for gauge invariance but also for on-shell equivalence with $D=11$ and type IIB supergravity. …
We construct a manifestly diffeomorphic M5-brane action in dual formulation coupled to an eleven-dimensional supergravity target space. The covariantisation is carried out by using (generalised) PST technique with 5 auxiliary scalar fields, which are obtained by using a geometrical consideration as a reduction of an auxiliary 4-form of Maznytsia-Preitschopf-Sorokin. As is typical in PST-covariantised theory, our construction possesses as usual the two local PST symmetries. By using one of the local PST symmetries, the action can be reduced to the non-manifestly covariant M5-brane action in dua…
We consider the diffeomorphism invariant gravity coupled with the ideal fluid in the non-standard way. The Lorentz-invariance of the graviton propagator in such a theory considered as perturbation over flat background turns out to be broken due to non-standard coupling with the ideal fluid. As a result the behavior of the propagator in the ultraviolet/infrared region indicates that some versions of such theory are (super-)renormalizable ones (with appearance of only physical transverse modes). The FRW cosmology in same cases may be different from the one in General Relativity with the possible…
We introduce exceptional field theory for the group E_{7(7)}, based on a (4+56)-dimensional spacetime subject to a covariant section condition. The `internal' generalized diffeomorphisms of the coordinates in the fundamental representation of E_{7(7)} are governed by a covariant `E-bracket', which is gauged by 56 vector fields. We construct the complete and unique set of field equations that is gauge invariant under generalized diffeomorphisms in the internal and external coordinates. Among them feature the non-abelian twisted self-duality equations for the 56 gauge vectors. We discuss the exp…
We develop exceptional field theory for E$_{8(8)}$, defined on a (3+248)-dimensional generalized spacetime with extended coordinates in the adjoint representation of E$_{8(8)}$. The fields transform under E$_{8(8)}$ generalized diffeomorphisms and are subject to covariant section constraints. The bosonic fields include an `internal' dreibein and an E$_{8(8)}$-valued `zweihundertachtundvierzigbein' (248-bein). Crucially, the theory also features gauge vectors for the E$_{8(8)}$ E-bracket governing the generalized diffeomorphism algebra and covariantly constrained gauge vectors for a separate bu…
Using an infinite number of fields, we construct actions for D=4 self-dual Yang-Mills with manifest Lorentz invariance and for D=10 super-Yang-Mills with manifest super-Poincaré invariance. These actions are generalizations of the covariant action for the D=2 chiral boson which was first studied by McClain, Wu, Yu and Wotzasek.
A twisted covariant formulation of noncommutative self-dual gravity is presented. The formulation for constructing twisted noncommutative Yang-Mills theories is used. It is shown that the noncommutative torsion is solved at any order of the $θ$-expansion in terms of the tetrad and some extra fields of the theory. In the process the first order expansion in $θ$ for the Plebański action is explicitly obtained.
We extend the method of PST formulation to find a systematic way to covariantize several non-covariant Lagrangians of self-dual gauge fields. We derive in detail the necessary basic formulas which are used to prove the existence of extra local symmetry that allows us to gauge fix the auxiliary fields therein and non-covariant formulations are restored. We see that, the extra local symmetry in the PST and PSST formulations, which describe the covariant Lagrangians in the 6D decomposition of $6=1+5$ and $6=3+3$ respectively, can be expressed as a simple linear form in the field strength. However…
Diffeomorphism covariant theories with dynamical background metric, like gravity coupled to matter fields in the way expressed by Einstein-Hilbert's action or relativistic strings described by Polyakov's action, have `on-shell' vanishing energy-momentum tensor $t_{μν}$ because $t_{μν}$ is, essentially, the Eulerian derivative associated with the dynamical background metric and thus $t_{μν}$ vanishes `on-shell.' Therefore, the equations of motion for the dynamical background metric play a double role: as equations of motion themselves and as a reflection of the fact that $t_{μν}=0$. Alternative…