Euclidean self-dual gravity: Ashtekar variables without gauge fixing

Abstract

The Gotay-Nester-Hinds method is used in this paper to study the Hamiltonian formulation of the Euclidean self-dual action. This action can be used to arrive at the complex Ashtekar formulation of General Relativity or a real connection formulation for Euclidean General Relativity. The main result of the paper is a derivation of the Ashtekar formulation for Euclidean gravity without using any gauge fixing. It is interesting to compare this derivation with the one corresponding to the Holst action. In particular it is worth noting that no "tertiary" constraints appear in the case considered in the present paper.