Universal Corner Symmetry and the Orbit Method for Gravity

DOI10.1016/J.NUCLPHYSB.2022.116053arXiv2207.06441MaRDI QIDQ6404902FDOQ6404902

Robert G. Leigh, Luca Ciambelli

Publication date: 13 July 2022

Abstract: A universal symmetry algebra organizing the gravitational phase space has been recently found. It corresponds to the subset of diffeomorphisms that become physical at corners -- codimension-$2$ surfaces supporting Noether charges. It applies to both finite distance and asymptotic corners. In this paper, we study this algebra and its representations, via the coadjoint orbit method. We show that generic orbits of the universal algebra split into sub-orbits spanned by finite distance and asymptotic corner symmetries, such that the full universal symmetry algebra gives rise to a unified treatment of corners in a manifold. We then identify the geometric structure that captures these algebraic properties on corners, which is the Atiyah Lie algebroid associated to a principal $GL(2,mathbbR)ltimesmathbb{R}^2$-bundle. This structure is suggestive of the existence of a novel quantum gravitational theory which would unitarily glue such geometric structures, with spacetime geometries appearing as semi-classical configurations.

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Surfaces in Euclidean and related spaces (53A05) Poisson manifolds; Poisson groupoids and algebroids (53D17) Gravitational energy and conservation laws; groups of motions (83C40) Quantization of the gravitational field (83C45)

This page was built for publication: Universal Corner Symmetry and the Orbit Method for Gravity

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6404902)