Gauge Invariance and Second Class Constraints in 3-D Linearized Gravity

We study gauge and gravitational field theories in which the gauge fixing conditions are imposed as constraints on classical fields. Quantization of fluctuations can be performed in a BRST invariant manner, while the main novelty is that the classical equations of motion admit solutions that are not present in the standard approach. Although the new solutions exist for both gauge and gravitational fields, one interesting example we consider in detail is constrained gravity en...

The different forms of the Hamiltonian formulations of linearized General Relativity/spin-two theories are discussed in order to show their similarities and differences. It is demonstrated that in the linear model, non-covariant modifications to the initial covariant Lagrangian (similar to those modifications used in full gravity) are in fact unnecessary. The Hamiltonians and the constraints are different in these two formulations but the structure of the constraint algebra a...

In the present paper we have constructed a gauge invariant extension of a generic Horava Gravity (HG) model (with quadratic curvature terms) in linearized version in a systematic procedure. No additional fields are introduced. The linearized HG model is explicitly shown to be a gauge fixed version of the Einstein Gravity (EG) thus proving the Bellorin-Restuccia conjecture in a robust way. In the process we have explicitly computed the correct Hamiltonian dynamics using Dirac ...

The construction of dual theories for linearized gravity in four dimensions is considered. Our approach is based on the parent Lagrangian method previously developed for the massive spin-two case, but now considered for the zero mass case. This leads to a dual theory described in terms of a rank two symmetric tensor, analogous to the usual gravitational field, and an auxiliary antisymmetric field. This theory has an enlarged gauge symmetry, but with an adequate partial gauge ...

A new analysis of the gauge invariances and their unity with diffeomorphism invariances in second order metric gravity is presented which strictly follows Dirac's constrained Hamiltonian approach.

We consider the Hamiltonian constraint formulation of classical field theories, which treats spacetime and the space of fields symmetrically, and utilizes the concept of momentum multivector. The gauge field is introduced to compensate for non-invariance of the Hamiltonian under local transformations. It is a position-dependent linear mapping, which couples to the Hamiltonian by acting on the momentum multivector. We investigate symmetries of the ensuing gauged Hamiltonian, a...

A covariant quantization method for physical systems with reducible constraints is presented.

We present a unified analysis of the self-dual, second order, topologically massive and the recently introduced fourth order models of massive gravity in 3D. We show that there is a family of first order actions which interpolate between these different single excitation models. We show how the master actions are related by duality transformation. We construct by the same method the master action which relates the fourth order new massive model with two excitations and the us...

In its canonical formulation, general relativity is subject to gauge transformations that are equivalent to space-time coordinate changes of general covariance only when the gauge generators, given by the Hamiltonian and diffeomorphism constraints, vanish. Since the specific form taken by Poisson brackets of the constraints and of the gauge transformations and equations of motion they generate is important for general covariance to be realized, modifications of the canonical ...

Gauge symmetries lead to first-class constraints. This assertion is of course true only for non trivial gauge symmetries, i.e., gauge symmetries that act non trivially on-shell on the dynamical variables. We illustrate this well-appreciated fact for time reparametrization invariance in the context of modifications of gravity -suggested in a recent proposal by Horava-in which the Hamiltonian constraint is deformed by arbitrary spatial diffeomorphism invariant terms, where some...