A quadratic spinor Lagrangian for general relativity (Q1842081)

A new finite action for Einstein gravity in which the Lagrangian is quadratic in the covariant derivative of a spinor field is proposed. By employing a new spinor-curvature identity, the quadratic Lagrangian is related to the usual one by a total differential form. The corresponding Hamiltonian is shown to be fully 4-covariant, and defines a quasi-local energy momentum as in positive energy theories.