Action and Hamiltonians in higher-dimensional general relativity: First-order framework

We consider d > 4-dimensional spacetimes which are asymptotically flat at spatial infinity and show that, in the first-order framework, the action principle is well defined without the need of infinite counter-terms. It naturally leads to a covariant phase space in which the Hamiltonians generating asymptotic symmetries provide the total energy-momentum and angular momentum of the isolated system. This work runs parallel to our previous analysis in four dimensions Ashtekar et al (2008 Class. Quantum Grav. 25 095020 (arXiv:0802.2527)). The higher-dimensional analysis is in fact simpler because of the absence of logarithmic and super translation ambiguities.