Generalized forms and gravitation
gr-qc
/ Authors
/ Abstract
The algebra and calculus of generalized differential forms are reviewed and employed to construct a class of generalized connections and to investigate their properties. The class includes generalized connections which are flat when Einstein's vacuum field equations are satisfied. Generalized Chern-Simons action principles are formulated and it is shown that certain of these have Einstein's vacuum field equations as Euler-Lagrange equations.