Phase space structure of Chern-Simons theory with a non-standard puncture (Q877399)

We explicitly determine the symplectic structure on the phase space of Chern-Simons theory with gauge group \(G\times \mathfrak g^*\) on a three-manifold of topology \(\mathbb R\ltimes S_{gn}^\infty\) where \(S_{gn}^\infty\) is a surface of genus \(g\) with \(n+1\) punctures. At each puncture additional variables are introduced and coupled minimally to the Chern-Simons gauge field. The first n punctures are treated in the usual way and the additional variables lie on coadjoint orbits of \(G\ltimes \mathfrak g^*\). The \((n+1)\)st puncture plays a distinguished role and the associated variables lie in the cotangent bundle of \(G\ltimes \mathfrak g^*\). This allows us to impose a curvature singularity for the Chern-Simons gauge field at the distinguished puncture with an arbitrary Lie algebra valued coefficient. The treatment of the distinguished puncture is motivated by the desire to construct a simple model for an open universe in the Chern-Simons formulation of \((2+1)\)-dimensional gravity.