Classical axisymmetric gravity in real Ashtekar variables

Abstract

We formulate axisymmetric general relativity in terms of real Ashtekar--Barbero variables. We study the constraints and equations of motion and show how the Kerr, Schwarzschild and Minkowski solutions arise. We also discuss boundary conditions. This opens the possibility of a midisuperspace quantization using loop quantum gravity techniques for spacetimes with axial symmetry and time dependence.