All Physics Faculty Publications

Hamiltonian analysis of linearised gravity on a null plane

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Classical and Quantum Gravity

Volume

4

Issue

6

Publication Date

1987

First Page

1503

Abstract

The Hamiltonian dynamics of N-dimensional linearised gravity is analysed using Dirac's constraint formalism and a null hyperplane as an initial data surface. In addition to the usual 2N first class constraints, there are N(N-3)/2 second class constraints which are a general feature of null plane dynamics. The number of canonical degrees of freedom is therefore N(N-3)/2, precisely half the number found using a spacelike initial value surface.

Comments

Originally published by Institute of Physics in Classical and Quantum Gravity. Publisher’s PDF available through remote link. May require subscription if user is not on the USU Network.

https://doi.org/10.1088/0264-9381/4/6/009

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