On loop quantum gravity kinematics with a non-degenerate spatial background

Abstract

In a remarkable paper (Koslowski T A 2007 arXiv:0709.3465[gr-qc]), Koslowski introduced kinematical representations for loop quantum gravity in which a non-degenerate spatial background metric is present. He also considered their properties and showed that Gauß and diffeomorphism constraints can be implemented. With this paper, we streamline and extend his treatment. In particular, we show that the standard regularization of the geometric operators leads to well-defined operators in the new representations, and we work out their properties fully. We also give details on the implementation of the constraints. All of this is done in such a way as to show that the standard representation is a particular (and in some ways exceptional) case of the more general constructions. This does not mean that these new representations are as fundamental as the standard one. Rather, we believe they might be useful to find some form of effective theory of loop quantum gravity on large scales.