A pure Dirac's canonical analysis for four-dimensional BF theories

Abstract

We perform Dirac's canonical analysis for a four-dimensional $BF$ and for a generalized four-dimensional $BF$ theory depending on a connection valued in the Lie algebra of SO(3,1). This analysis is developed by considering the corresponding complete set of variables that define these theories as dynamical, and we find out the relevant symmetries, the constraints, the extended Hamiltonian, the extended action, gauge transformations and the counting of physical degrees of freedom. The results obtained are compared with other approaches found in the literature.