arXiv subjects

Merced Montesinos

Publications and source records attributed to Merced Montesinos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Combining Symmetries and Helmholtz's Conditions to Construct Lagrangians

We present new relations derived from Noether's identity that reveal the compatibility between the components of the Hessian matrix of the Lagrangian, the infinitesimal symmetry transformation of the configuration variables and time, and a constant of motion. Using these relations, we develop two new methods to incorporate symmetry requirements directly into the inverse problem of mechanics, thereby restricting the set of acceptable Lagrangians. We accomplish this by combining these relations with Helmholtz's conditions, which allow us to construct Lagrangians whose actions exhibit specific symmetries from the outset. The theory is illustrated with one- and two-dimensional examples.

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arXiv2025

Classical and quantum trace-free Einstein cosmology

Trace-free Einstein gravity, in the absence of matter fields and using the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) metric, is solvable both classically and quantum mechanically. This is achieved by using the conformal time as the time variable and the negative or positive of the inverse of the scale factor as configuration variable to write the classical equation of motion, which turns out to be the one of a free particle ($k=0$), a harmonic oscillator ($k=1$), and a repulsive oscillator ($k=-1$) in the real half-line. In all cases, the observable identified as the cosmological constant is six times the Hamiltonian. In particular, for a closed Universe ($k=1$), spacetime exhibits a cyclic evolution along which the scalar curvature is constant and finite, thereby avoiding singularities. The quantum theory is reached by using canonical quantization. We calculate the spectrum of the observable corresponding to the cosmological constant. Remarkably, for the closed Universe ($k=1$), the spectrum is discrete and positive while for flat ($k=0$) and open ($k=-1$) universes, the spectra are continuous. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle imposes limitations on the simultaneous measurement of the Hubble expansion (momentum variable) and the configuration variable. We also report the observable identified as the cosmological constant for inflaton, phantom and perfect fluids coupled to trace-free Einstein gravity in the FRW metric.

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arXiv2025

Trace-free Einstein gravity as two interacting constrained $BF$ theories

A theory of gravity alternative to general relativity is trace-free Einstein gravity, which has the remarkable property that the cosmological constant emerges as an integration constant. In this paper, we report two fully diffeomorphism-invariant actions for trace-free Einstein gravity. They describe the theory as two $BF$ theories supplemented with some constraints. The first action comprises two copies of the constrained $BF$ theory for the Husain-Kucha\v{r} model plus an interaction term involving the fields that impose the constraints on the $B$ fields. The second action employs two copies of the chiral Plebanski action for general relativity plus an additional constraint. Both actions use complex variables, and naturally include one of the reality conditions imposed in the Plebanski formulation of general relativity. The new actions have the advantage of not involving any nondynamical fields or unimodular condition, and their only gravitational sector is trace-free Einstein gravity.

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arXiv2023

Diffeomorphism-invariant action principles for trace-free Einstein gravity

Trace-free Einstein gravity is a theory of gravity that is an alternative to general relativity, wherein the cosmological constant arises as an integration constant. However, there are no fully diffeomorphism-invariant action principles available that lead to the equations of motion of this theory. Unimodular gravity comes close to this idea, but it relies on action principles that are invariant only under volume-preserving diffeomorphisms. We present a real $BF$-type action principle for trace-free Einstein gravity that is fully diffeomorphism-invariant and does not require any unimodular condition or nondynamical fields. We generalize this action principle by giving another one involving a free parameter.

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arXiv2023

Linking the ADM formulation to other Hamiltonian formulations of general relativity

We obtain the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formulation of general relativity in $n$ dimensions ($n \geq 3$) from its either $SO(n-1,1)$ [$SO(n)$] or $SO(n-1)$ Palatini Hamiltonian formulations and vice versa [we recall that $SO(n-1,1)$ [$SO(n)$] requires no gauge fixing whereas $SO(n-1)$ involves the time gauge]. Similarly, the Hamiltonian formulation of general relativity in terms of Ashtekar-Barbero variables can also be directly obtained from the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner Hamiltonian formulation and vice versa, which is an alternative approach to the way followed by Barbero. We give the relevant maps among the phase-space variables and relate the corresponding symplectic structures and the first-class constraints.

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arXiv2022

Fermions coupled to the Palatini action in $n$ dimensions

We study minimal and nonminimal couplings of fermions to the Palatini action in $n$ dimensions ($n\geq 3$) from the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian viewpoints. The Lagrangian action considered is not, in general, equivalent to the Einstein-Dirac action principle. However, by choosing properly the coupling parameters, it is possible to give a first-order action fully equivalent to the Einstein-Dirac theory in a spacetime of dimension four. By using a suitable parametrization of the vielbein and the connection, the Hamiltonian analysis of the general Lagrangian is given, which involves manifestly Lorentz-covariant phase-space variables, a real noncanonical symplectic structure, and only first-class constraints. Additional Hamiltonian formulations are obtained via symplectomorphisms, one of them involving half-densitized fermions. To confront our results with previous approaches, the time gauge is imposed.

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arXiv2021

Generalizations of the Nieh-Yan topological invariant

We report new topological invariants in four dimensions that are generalizations of the Nieh-Yan topological invariant. The new topological invariants are obtained through a systematic method along the lines of the one used to get the Nieh-Yan form, but involving an $SO(4,1)$ [$SO(5)$] connection constructed out from an $SO(3,1)$ [$SO(4)$] connection and three $SO(3,1)$ [$SO(4)$] tensor $1$-forms. We give explicit expressions of the new 4-forms that give rise to the new topological invariants for particular choices of these 1-forms and show that the Nieh-Yan form arises as a particular case.

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arXiv2021

Hamiltonian analysis of fermions coupled to the Holst action

We report three manifestly Lorentz-invariant Hamiltonian formulations of minimally and nonminimally coupled fermion fields to the Holst action. These formulations are achieved by making a suitable parametrization of both the tetrad and the Lorentz connection, which allows us to integrate out some auxiliary fields without spoiling the local Lorentz symmetry. They have the peculiarity that their noncanonical symplectic structures as well as the phase-space variables for the gravitational sector are real. Moreover, two of these Hamiltonian formulations involve half-densitized fermion fields. We also impose the time gauge on these formulations, which leads to real connections for the gravitational configuration variables. Finally, we perform a symplectomorphism in one of the manifestly Lorentz-invariant Hamiltonian formulations and analyze the resulting formulation, which becomes the Hamiltonian formulation of fermion fields minimally coupled to the Palatini action for particular values of the coupling parameters.

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arXiv2021

Straightforward Hamiltonian analysis of $BF$ gravity in $n$ dimensions

We perform, in a manifestly $SO(n-1,1)$ [$SO(n)$] covariant fashion, the Hamiltonian analysis of general relativity in $n$ dimensions written as a constrained $BF$ theory. We solve the constraint on the $B$ field in a way naturally adapted to the foliation of the spacetime that avoids explicitly the introduction of the vielbein. This leads to a form of the action involving a presymplectic structure, which is reduced by doing a suitable parametrization of the connection and then, after integrating out some auxiliary fields, the Hamiltonian form involving only first-class constraints is obtained.

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arXiv2021

Off-shell Noether currents and potentials for first-order general relativity

We report off-shell Noether currents obtained from off-shell Noether potentials for first-order general relativity described by $n$-dimensional Palatini and Holst Lagrangians including the cosmological constant. These off-shell currents and potentials are achieved by using the corresponding Lagrangian and the off-shell Noether identities satisfied by diffeomorphisms generated by arbitrary vector fields, local $SO(n)$ or $SO(n-1,1)$ transformations, `improved diffeomorphisms', and the `generalization of local translations' of the orthonormal frame and the connection. A remarkable aspect of our approach is that we do {\it not} use Noether's theorem in its direct form. By construction, the currents are off-shell conserved and lead naturally to the definition of off-shell Noether charges. We also study what we call the `half off-shell' case for both Palatini and Holst Lagrangians. In particular, we find that the resulting diffeomorphism and local $SO(3,1)$ or $SO(4)$ off-shell Noether currents and potentials for the Holst Lagrangian generically depend on the Immirzi parameter, which holds even in the `half off-shell' and on-shell cases. We also study Killing vector fields in the `half off-shell' and on-shell cases. The current theoretical framework is illustrated for the `half off-shell' case in static spherically symmetric and Friedmann--Lemaitre--Robertson--Walker spacetimes in four dimensions.

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arXiv2020

Canonical analysis of $BF$ gravity in $n$ dimensions

In this paper we perform in a manifestly $SO(n-1,1)$ [or, alternatively $SO(n)$] covariant fashion, the canonical analysis of general relativity in $n$ dimensions written as a constrained $BF$ theory. Since the Lagrangian action of the theory can be written in two classically equivalent ways, we analyze each case separately. We show that for either action the canonical analysis can be accomplished without introducing second-class constraints during the whole process. Furthermore, in each case the resulting Hamiltonian formulation is the same as the canonical formulation with only first-class constraints recently obtained in M. Montesinos, R. Escobedo, J. Romero, and M. Celada, Phys. Rev. D 101, 024042 (2020) from the $n$-dimensional Palatini action.

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arXiv2020

Canonical analysis with no second-class constraints of $BF$ gravity with Immirzi parameter

In this paper we revisit the canonical analysis of $BF$ gravity with the Immirzi parameter and a cosmological constant. By examining the constraint on the $B$ field, we realize that the analysis can be performed in a Lorentz-covariant fashion while utterly avoiding the introduction of second-class constraints during the whole process. Finally, we make contact with the description of the phase space of first-order general relativity in terms of canonical variables with manifest Lorentz covariance subject to first-class constraints only recently introduced.

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arXiv2020

Canonical analysis of Holst action without second-class constraints

We perform the canonical analysis of the Holst action for general relativity with a cosmological constant without introducing second-class constraints. Our approach consists in identifying the dynamical and nondynamical parts of the involved variables from the very outset. After integrating out the nondynamical variables associated with the connection, we obtain the description of phase space in terms of manifestly $SO(3,1)$ [or $SO(4)$, depending on the signature] covariant canonical variables and first-class constraints only. We impose the time gauge on them and show that the Ashtekar-Barbero formulation of general relativity emerges. Later, we discuss a family of canonical transformations that allows us to construct new $SO(3,1)$ [or $SO(4)$] covariant canonical variables for the phase space of the theory and compare them with the ones already reported in the literature, pointing out the presence of a set of canonical variables not considered before. Finally, we resort to the time gauge again and find that the theory, when written in terms of the new canonical variables, either collapses to the $SO(3)$ ADM formalism or to the Ashtekar-Barbero formalism with a rescaled Immirzi parameter.

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arXiv2020

The gauge symmetries of f(R) gravity with torsion in the Cartan formalism

First-order general relativity in $n$ dimensions ($n \geq 3$) has an internal gauge symmetry that is the higher-dimensional generalization of three-dimensional local translations. We report the extension of this symmetry for $n$-dimensional f(R) gravity with torsion in the Cartan formalism. The new symmetry arises from the direct application of the converse of Noether's second theorem to the action principle of f(R) gravity with torsion. We show that infinitesimal diffeomorphisms can be written as a linear combination of the new internal gauge symmetry, local Lorentz transformations, and terms proportional to the variational derivatives of the f(R) action. It means that the new internal symmetry together with local Lorentz transformations can be used to describe the full gauge symmetry of f(R) gravity with torsion, and thus diffeomorphisms become a derived symmetry in this setting.

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arXiv2020

Canonical analysis of $n$-dimensional Palatini action without second-class constraints

We carry out the canonical analysis of the $n$-dimensional Palatini action with or without a cosmological constant $(n\geq3)$ introducing neither second-class constraints nor resorting to any gauge fixing. This is accomplished by providing an expression for the spatial components of the connection that allows us to isolate the nondynamical variables present among them, which can later be eliminated from the action by using their own equation of motion. As a result, we obtain the description of the phase space of general relativity in terms of manifestly $SO(n-1,1)$ [or $SO(n)$] covariant variables subject to first-class constraints only, with no second-class constraints arising during the process. Afterwards, we perform, at the covariant level, a canonical transformation to a set of variables in terms of which the above constraints take a simpler form. Finally, we impose the time gauge and make contact with the $SO(n-1)$ ADM formalism.

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arXiv2019

Revisiting the solution of the second-class constraints of the Holst action

In this paper we revisit the nonmanifestly Lorentz-covariant canonical analysis of the Holst action with a cosmological constant. We take a viewpoint close to that of F. Cianfrani and G. Montani [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 091301 (2009)] and realize that the solution of the second-class constraints that the authors provide is incomplete, thus not accounting for the correct local dynamics of general relativity. We then mend their approach by adding the missing degrees of freedom to the solution and give a complete description of the resulting theory, which preserves Lorentz invariance but turns out to be endowed with a noncanonical symplectic structure. Later on and without resorting to any gauge condition, we perform a Darboux transformation to bring this theory into a canonical form. Finally, we show that in the time gauge both formulations, namely the noncanonical and the canonical ones, lead to the Ashtekar-Barbero variables.

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arXiv2018

$SU(1,1)$ Barbero-like variables derived from Holst action

We work on a spacetime manifold foliated by timelike leaves. In this setting, we explore the solution of the second-class constraints arising during the canonical analysis of the Holst action with a cosmological constant. The solution is given in a manifestly Lorentz-covariant fashion, and the resulting canonical formulation is expressed using several sets of real variables that are related to one another by canonical transformations. By applying a gauge fixing to this formulation, we obtain a description of gravity as an $SU(1,1)$ gauge theory that resembles the Ashtekar-Barbero formulation.

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arXiv2018

Symmetries of first-order Lovelock gravity

We apply the converse of Noether's second theorem to the first-order $n$-dimensional Lovelock action, considering the frame rotation group as both $SO\left(1,n-1\right)$ or as $SO(n)$. As a result, we get the well-known invariance under local Lorentz transformations or $SO(n)$ transformations and diffeomorphisms, for odd- and even-dimensional manifolds. We also obtain the so-called `local translations' with nonvanishing constant $Λ$ for odd-dimensional manifolds when a certain relation among the coefficients of the various terms of the first-order Lovelock Lagrangian is satisfied. When this relation is fulfilled, we report the existence of a new gauge symmetry emerging from a Noether identity. In this case the fundamental set of gauge symmetries of the Lovelock action is composed by the new symmetry, local translations with $Λ\neq 0$ and local Lorentz transformations or $SO(n)$ transformations. The commutator algebra of this set closes with structure functions. We also get the invariance under local translations with $Λ=0$ of the highest term of the Lovelock action in odd-dimensional manifolds. Furthermore, we report a new gauge symmetry for the highest term of the first-order Lovelock action for odd-dimensional manifolds. In this last case, the fundamental set of gauge symmetries can be considered as Poincaré or Euclidean transformations together with the new symmetry. The commutator algebra of this set also closes with structure functions.

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