A Generalized Wick Transform for Gravity

Using a key observation due to Thiemann, a generalized Wick transform is introduced to map the constraint functionals of Riemannian general relativity to those of the Lorentzian theory, including matter sources. This opens up a new avenue within ``connection-dynamics’’ where one can work, throughout, only with real variables. The resulting quantum theory would then be free of complicated reality conditions. Ramifications of this development to the canonical quantization program are discussed.