Observables for General Relativity related to geometry

Abstract

We present a new scheme of defining invariant observables for general relativistic systems. The scheme is based on the introduction of an observer which endowes the construction with a straightforward physical interpretation. The observables are invariant with respect to spatial diffeomorphisms which preserve the observer. The limited residual spatial gauge freedom is studied and fully understood. A full canonical analysis of the observables is presented: we analyze their variations, Poisson algebra and discuss their dynamics. Lastly, the observables are used to solve the vector constraint, which triggers a possible considerable reduction of the degrees of freedom of general relativistic theories.