New variables for 1+1 dimensional gravity

TL;DR

This paper reformulates 1+1 dimensional gravity models, including CGHS and spherical reductions, using Ashtekar variables, enabling loop quantum gravity techniques to study black hole evaporation and singularity issues.

Contribution

It introduces a canonical Ashtekar-type variable formulation for generic 1+1D gravity models, facilitating quantum gravity analysis of black hole phenomena.

Findings

Unified Ashtekar formulation for 1+1D gravity models

Potential to analyze black hole evaporation with loop techniques

Framework for addressing singularity and information loss

Abstract

We show that the canonical formulation of a generic action for 1+1-dimensional models of gravity coupled to matter admits a description in terms of Ashtekar-type variables. This includes the CGHS model and spherically symmetric reductions of 3+1 gravity as particular cases. This opens the possibility of discussing models of black hole evaporation using loop representation techniques and verifying which paradigm emerges for the possible elimination of the black hole singularity and the issue of information loss.