| Summary: | The axiomatic geometric structure which lays at the basis of Covariant Classical and Quantum Gravity Theory is investigated. This refers specifically to fundamental aspects of the manifestly-covariant Hamiltonian representation of General Relativity which has recently been developed in the framework of a synchronous deDonder–Weyl variational formulation (2015–2019). In such a setting, the canonical variables defining the canonical state acquire different tensorial orders, with the momentum conjugate to the field variable <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msub> <mi>g</mi> <mrow> <mi>μ</mi> <mi>ν</mi> </mrow> </msub> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> being realized by the third-order 4-tensor <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msubsup> <mi mathvariant="normal">Π</mi> <mrow> <mi>μ</mi> <mi>ν</mi> </mrow> <mi>α</mi> </msubsup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>. It is shown that this generates a corresponding Hamilton–Jacobi theory in which the Hamilton principal function is a 4-tensor <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <msup> <mi>S</mi> <mi>α</mi> </msup> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>. However, in order to express the Hamilton equations as evolution equations and apply standard quantization methods, the canonical variables must have the same tensorial dimension. This can be achieved by projection of the canonical momentum field along prescribed tensorial directions associated with geodesic trajectories defined with respect to the background space-time for either classical test particles or raylights. It is proved that this permits to recover a Hamilton principal function in the appropriate form of 4-scalar type. The corresponding Hamilton–Jacobi wave theory is studied and implications for the manifestly-covariant quantum gravity theory are discussed. This concerns in particular the possibility of achieving at quantum level physical solutions describing massive or massless quanta of the gravitational field.
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