SU(2) gauge symmetry in gravity phase space

Abstract

The Hamiltonian formulation of the Holst action in vacuum and in the presence of matter fields is analyzed in a generic local Lorentz frame. It is elucidated how the SU(2) gauge symmetry is inferred by reducing the set of constraints to a first-class one. The consequences of the proposed approach for Loop Quantum Gravity and Spin Foam models are discussed.