Minisuperspace Examples of Quantization Using Canonical Variables of the Ashtekar Type: Structure and Solutions

The Ashtekar variables have been use to find a number of exact solutions in quantum gravity and quantum cosmology. We investigate the origin of these solutions in the context of a number of canonical transformations (both complex and real) of the basic Hamiltonian variables of general relativity. We are able to present several new solutions in the minisuperspace (quantum cosmology) sector. The meaning of these solutions is then discussed.