The volume operator for singly polarized gravity waves with planar or cylindrical symmetry

Abstract

A previous paper constructed a kinematic basis for spin networks with planar or cylindrical symmetry and arbitrary polarization. This paper imposes a constraint which limits the gravitational wave to a single polarization. The spectrum of the constraint contains a physically reasonable number of zero eigenvalues, and the zero eigenvectors can be constructed explicitly. Commutation of the constraint with the Hamiltonian is expected to lead to a further constraint. This new constraint is not investigated in this paper, but I argue it will be non-local, relating states at two or more neighboring vertices.

Expanded discussion of outlook for future research, in last three paragraphs. Corrected the typo in eq. (3). 12 pages