A new view of the ECSK theory with a Dirac spinor

A formulation of the ECSK (Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble) theory with a Dirac spinor is given in terms of differential forms with values in exterior vector bundles associated with a fixed principalSL(2, )-bundle over a 4-manifold. In particular, tetrad fields are represented as soldering forms. In this setting, both the scalar curvature (Einstein-Hilbert) action density and the Dirac action density are well-defined polynomial functions of the soldering form and an independentSL(2,)-connection form. Thus, these densities are defined even where the tetrad field is degenerate (e.g. when fluctuations in the gravitational field are large). A careful analysis of the initial-value problem (in terms of an evolving triad field, SU(2)-connection, second-fundamental form and spinor field) reveals a first-order hyperbolic system of 27 evolution equations (not including the 8 evolution equations for the Dirac spinor) and 16 constraints. There are 10 conservation equations (due to local Poincaré invariance) which team up with some of the evolution equations to guarantee that the 16 constraints are preserved under the evolution.     

Remarks on the “Non-canonicity Puzzle”: Lagrangian Symmetries of the Einstein-Hilbert Action

Given the non-canonical relationship between variables used in the Hamiltonian formulations of the Einstein-Hilbert action (due to Pirani, Schild, Skinner (PSS) and Dirac) and the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner (ADM) action, and the consequent difference in the gauge transformations generated by the first-class constraints of these two formulations, the assumption that the Lagrangians from which they were derived are equivalent leads to an apparent contradiction that has been called “the non-canonicity puzzle”. In this work we shall investigate the group properties of two symmetries derived for the Einstein-Hilbert action: diffeomorphism, which follows from the PSS and Dirac formulations, and the one that arises from the ADM formulation. We demonstrate that unlike the diffeomorphism transformations, the ADM transformations (as well as others, which can be constructed for the Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian using Noether’s identities) do not form a group. This makes diffeomorphism transformations unique (the term “canonical” symmetry might be suggested). If the two Lagrangians are to be called equivalent, canonical symmetry must be preserved. The interplay between general covariance and the canonicity of the variables used is discussed.     

General relativity in two dimensions: A Hamilton-Jacobi analysis

We analyzed the constraint structure of the Einstein-Hilbert first-order action in two dimensions using the Hamilton-Jacobi approach. We were able to find a set of involutive, as well as a set of non-involutive constraints. Using generalized brackets we showed how to assure integrability of the theory, to eliminate the set of non-involutive constraints and how to build the field equations.     

Effective dynamics of an electrically charged string with a current

Equations of motion for an electrically charged string with a current in an external electromagnetic field with regard to the first correction due to the self-action are derived. It is shown that the reparameterization invariance of the free action of the string imposes constraints on the possible form of the current. The effective equations of motion are obtained for an absolutely elastic charged string in the form of a ring (circle). Equations for the external electromagnetic fields that admit stationary states of such a ring are derived. Solutions to the effective equations of motion of an absolutely elastic charged ring in the absence of external fields as well as in an external uniform magnetic field are obtained. In the latter case, the frequency at which one can observe radiation emitted by the ring is evaluated. A model of an absolutely nonstretchable charged string with a current is proposed. The effective equations of motion are derived within this model, and a class of solutions to these equations is found.     

On the connection between the solutions to the Dirac and Weyl equations and the corresponding electromagnetic four-potentials

In this work we study in detail the connection between the solutions to the Dirac and Weyl equations and the associated electromagnetic four-potentials.First,it is proven that all solutions to the Weyl equation are degenerate,in the sense that they correspond to an infinite number of electromagnetic four-potentials.As far as the solutions to the Dirac equation are concerned,it is shown that they can be classified into two classes.The elements of the first class correspond to one and only one four-potential,and are called non-degenerate Dirac solutions.On the other hand,the elements of the second class correspond to an infinite number of four-potentials,and are called degenerate Dirac solutions.Further,it is proven that at least two of these fourpotentials are gauge-inequivalent,corresponding to different electromagnetic fields.In order to illustrate this particularly important result we have studied the degenerate solutions to the forcefree Dirac equation and shown that they correspond to massless particles.We have also provided explicit examples regarding solutions to the force-free Weyl equation and the Weyl equation for a constant magnetic field.In all cases we have calculated the infinite number of different electromagnetic fields corresponding to these solutions.Finally,we have discussed potential applications of our results in cosmology,materials science and nanoelectronics.     

Symmetries and conservation laws for generalized hamiltonian systems

A class of dynamical systems which locally correspond to a general first-order system of Euler-Lagrange equations is studied on a contact manifold. These systems, called self-adjoint, can be regarded as generalizations of (time-dependent) Hamiltonian systems. It is shown that each one-parameter family of symmetries of the underlying contact form defines a parameter-dependent constant of the motion and vice versa. Next, an extension of the classical concept of canonical transformations is introduced. One-parameter families of canonical transformations are studied and shown to be generated as solutions of a self-adjoint system. Some of the results are illustrated on the Emden equation.     

Grading of spinor bundles and gravitating matter in noncommutative geometry

The gravitating matter is studied within the framework of noncommutative geometry. The noncommutative Einstein-Hilbert action on the product of a four-dimensional manifold with discrete space gives models of matter fields coupled to the standard Einstein gravity. The matter multiplet is encoded in the Dirac operator which yields a representation of the algebra of universal forms. The general form of the Dirac operator depends on a choice of the grading of the corresponding spinor bundle. A choice is given, which leads to the nonlinear vectorσ-model coupled to the Einstein gravity.     

An action principle for the Neveu-Schwarz-Ramond string and other systems using supernumerary variables

An action principle which gives rise to the equations of motion and boundary conditions for the free relativistic string with fermionic degrees of freedom is presented. With the aid of extra variables, some of which are Grassmann functions, all the gauge generators are obtained as secondary constraints. The consistency of the system is demonstrated using a generalised Poisson bracket operation. The theory is quantised with Dirac brackets and the fermionic fields become elements of a Clifford algebra. The methods are also used to formulate the theory of the Klein-Gordon and Dirac point particles and the relativistic string and membrane without intrinsic spin. Under certain circumstances we show that the supernumerary variables may be removed entirely from the original Lagrangian.     

The dirac operator and gravitation

We give a brute-force proof of the fact, announced by Alain Connes, that the Wodzicki residue of the inverse square of the Dirac operator is proportional to the Einstein-Hilbert action of general relativity. We show that this also holds for twisted (e. g. by electrodynamics) Dirac operators, and more generally, for Dirac operators pertaining to Clifford connections of general Clifford bundles.     

Hidden symmetry in the presence of fluxes

We derive the most general first-order symmetry operator for the Dirac equation coupled to arbitrary fluxes. Such an operator is given in terms of an inhomogeneous form ω   which is a solution to a coupled system of first-order partial differential equations which we call the generalized conformal Killing–Yano system. Except trivial fluxes, solutions of this system are subject to additional constraints. We discuss various special cases of physical interest. In particular, we demonstrate that in the case of a Dirac operator coupled to the skew symmetric torsion and U(1)$U(1)$ field, the system of generalized conformal Killing–Yano equations decouples into the homogeneous conformal Killing–Yano equations with torsion introduced in D. Kubiznak et al. (2009) [8] and the symmetry operator is essentially the one derived in T. Houri et al. (2010) [9]. We also discuss the Dirac field coupled to a scalar potential and in the presence of 5-form and 7-form fluxes.     

Phenomenological description of relativistic-quark interaction on the basis of the Dirac equation with the Cornell potential

Relativistic-quark interaction is described phenomenologically on the basis of the Dirac equation with the Cornell potential. A general form of the initial equation involving the vector and scalar components of the Cornell potential is used for the case of an arbitrary relation between them. The Hamiltonian in the Foldy–Wouthuysen representation is derived in a general form with allowance for electromagnetic interaction. In contrast to earlier investigations, it is relativistic and exact for the zeroth- and first-order terms in the Planck constant and also for those second-order terms that describe contact interactions. General quantum-mechanical equations of motion for the momentum and spin are derived, and the classical limit of the Hamiltonian and for the equations of motion is found for the first time. A relation between the angular velocity of quark spin precession and the force acting on the quark is obtained. The energy of spin–orbit interaction is rather high (on the order of 100 MeV). Terms that describe spin–orbit and contact interactions have opposite signs for the vector and scalar components of the Cornell potential. The evolution of the quark helicity and the spin–spin interaction of the quarks are also calculated.     

有限空间中经典场的正则量子化

从离散的角度研究带边界的1+1维经典标量场和Dirac场的正则量子化问题. 与以往不同的是, 这里将时间和空间两个变量同时进行变步长的离散, 应用变步长离散的变分原理, 得到离散形式的运动方程、边界条件和能量守恒的表达式. 然后, 根据Dirac理论, 将边界条件当作初级约束, 将边界条件和内在约束统一处理. 研究表明, 采用此方法, 不仅在每个离散的时空格点上能够建立起Dirac括号, 从而可以完成该模型的正则量子化;而且, 该方法还保持了离散情况下的能量守恒.     

Chiral Asymmetry and the Spectral Action

We consider orthogonal connections with arbitrary torsion on compact Riemannian manifolds. For the induced Dirac operators, twisted Dirac operators and Dirac operators of Chamseddine-Connes type we compute the spectral action. In addition to the Einstein-Hilbert action and the bosonic part of the Standard Model Lagrangian we find the Holst term from Loop Quantum Gravity, a coupling of the Holst term to the scalar curvature and a prediction for the value of the Barbero-Immirzi parameter.     

The reduced phase space of an open string in the background B-field

The problem of an open string in background B-field is discussed. Using the discretized model in details we show that the system is influenced by an infinite number of second class constraints. We interpret the allowed Fourier modes as the coordinates of the reduced phase space. This enables us to compute the Dirac brackets more easily. We prove that the coordinates of the string are non-commutative at the boundaries. We argue that in order to find the Dirac bracket or commutator algebra of the physical variables, one should not expand the fields in terms of the solutions of the equations of motion. Instead, one should impose a set of constraints in suitable coordinates. PACS 11.10.Ef, 04.60.Ds     

Reduced Order Podolsky Model

We perform the canonical and path integral quantizations of a lower-order derivatives model describing Podolsky’s generalized electrodynamics. The physical content of the model shows an auxiliary massive vector field coupled to the usual electromagnetic field. The equivalence with Podolsky’s original model is studied at classical and quantum levels. Concerning the dynamical time evolution, we obtain a theory with two first-class and two second-class constraints in phase space. We calculate explicitly the corresponding Dirac brackets involving both vector fields. We use the Senjanovic procedure to implement the second-class constraints and the Batalin-Fradkin-Vilkovisky path integral quantization scheme to deal with the symmetries generated by the first-class constraints. The physical interpretation of the results turns out to be simpler due to the reduced derivatives order permeating the equations of motion, Dirac brackets and effective action.     

Review: Dirac's Observables for the Rest-Frame Instant Form of Tetrad Gravity in a Completely Fixed 3-Orthogonal Gauge

We define the rest-frame instant form of tetrad gravity restricted to Christodoulou-Klainermann spacetimes. After a study of the Hamiltonian group of gauge transformations generated by the 14 first class constraints of the theory, we define and solve the multitemporal equations associated with the rotation and space diffeomorphism constraints, finding how the cotriads and their momenta depend on the corresponding gauge variables. This allows to find a quasi-Shanmugadhasan canonical transformation to the class of 3-orthogonal gauges and to find the Dirac observables for superspace in these gauges. The construction of the explicit form of the transformation and of the solution of the rotation and supermomentum constraints is reduced to solve a system of elliptic linear and quasi-linear partial differential equations. We then show that the superhamiltonian constraint becomes the Lichnerowicz equation for the conformal factor of the 3-metric and that the last gauge variable is the momentum conjugated to the conformal factor. The gauge transformations generated by the superhamiltonian constraint perform the transitions among the allowed foliations of spacetime, so that the theory is independent from its 3+1 splittings. In the special 3-orthogonal gauge defined by the vanishing of the conformal factor momentum we determine the final Dirac observables for the gravitational field even if we are not able to solve the Lichnerowicz equation. The final Hamiltonian is the weak ADM energy restricted to this completely fixed gauge.     

Fierz bilinear formulation of the Maxwell–Dirac equations and symmetry reductions

We study the Maxwell–Dirac equations in a manifestly gauge invariant presentation using only the spinor bilinear scalar and pseudoscalar densities, and the vector and pseudovector currents, together with their quadratic Fierz relations. The internally produced vector potential is expressed via algebraic manipulation of the Dirac equation, as a rational function of the Fierz bilinears and first derivatives (valid on the support of the scalar density), which allows a gauge invariant vector potential to be defined. This leads to a Fierz bilinear formulation of the Maxwell tensor and of the Maxwell–Dirac equations, without any reference to gauge dependent quantities. We show how demanding invariance of tensor fields under the action of a fixed (but arbitrary) Lie subgroup of the Poincaré group leads to symmetry reduced equations. The procedure is illustrated, and the reduced equations worked out explicitly for standard spherical and cylindrical cases, which are coupled third order nonlinear PDEs. Spherical symmetry necessitates the existence of magnetic monopoles, which do not affect the coupled Maxwell–Dirac system due to magnetic terms cancelling. In this paper we do not take up numerical computations. As a demonstration of the power of our approach, we also work out the symmetry reduced equations for two distinct classes of dimension 4 one-parameter families of Poincaré subgroups, one splitting and one non-splitting. The splitting class yields no solutions, whereas for the non-splitting class we find a family of formal exact solutions in closed form.     

Gravity, non-commutative geometry and the Wodzicki residue

We derive an action for gravity in the framework of non-commutative geometry by using the Wodzicki residue. We prove that for a Dirac operator D on an n dimensional compact Riemannian manifold with n ≥ 4, n even, the Wodzicki residue Res(D⁻ⁿ⁺²) is the integral of the second coefficient of the heat kernel expansion of D². We use this result to derive a gravity action for commutative geometry which is the usual Einstein-Hilbert action and we also apply our results to a non-commutative extension which is given by the tensor product of the algebra of smooth functions on a manifold and a finite dimensional matrix algebra. In this case we obtain gravity with a cosmological constant.     

Field Equations due to a Constant Modification in General Relativity

In this article, by adding a constant to Einstein-Hilbert action, we derive field equations for a non-vacuum space. Also we derive a general solution for these field equations, considering a de Sitter like initial geometric constraint. It is shown that how this additional constant can affect usual gravitational field equations, which are derived from general relativity.     

A gauge theory of CPT transformations to first order

The CPT symmetry is made local for the Dirac field and an analogous local symmetry is proposed for curved spacetime. A nontrivial, infinitesimal variation of the Dirac action is thus induced. It is shown that the metric spin connection of general relativity cannot accommodate this symmetry. A new gauge field is therefore introduced, which turns out to be a real pseudovector field, and its equations of motion are derived.