Primary constraints in general teleparallel quadratic gravity

Abstract: The primary constraints for general teleparallel quadratic gravity are presented. They provide a basic classification of teleparallel theories from the perspective of the full nonlinear theory and represent the first step towards a full-fledged Hamiltonian analysis. The results are consistent with the limit of metric and symmetric teleparallel quadratic gravity. In the latter case we also present novel results, since symmetric teleparallel theories have only been partially studied so far. Apart from the general results, we also present the special cases of teleparallel theories classically equivalent to general relativity, which differ by a boundary term from the formulation of Einstein and Hilbert. This affects the constraint algebra as the primary constraints involve a mix of torsion and non-metricity, implying that the symmetries of general relativity are realized in a more intricate way compared to the teleparallel case. In this context, a more detailed understanding will provide insights for energy and entropy in gravity, quantum gravity and numerical relativity of this alternative formulation of general relativity. The primary constraints are presented both in the standard formulation and in irreducible parts of torsion and non-metricity. The special role of axial torsion and its connection to the one-parameter of viable new general relativity is confirmed. Furthermore, we find that one of the irreducible parts of non-metricity affects the primary constraint for shift but not lapse.