We prove the equivalence in the covariant phase space of the metric and connection formulations for Palatini gravity, with nonmetricity and torsion, on a spacetime manifold with boundary. To this end, we will rely on the cohomological approach provided by the relative bicomplex framework. Finally, we discuss some of the physical implications derived from this equivalence in the context of singularity identification through curvature invariants.

We use covariant phase space methods to study the metric and tetrad formulations of general relativity in a manifold with boundary and compare the results obtained in both approaches. Proving their equivalence has been a long-lasting problem that we solve here by using the cohomological approach provided by the relative bicomplex framework. This setting provides a clean and ambiguity-free way to describe the solution spaces and associated symplectic structures. We also compute several relevant charges in both schemes and show that they are equivalent, as expected.

We study a generalization of the Holst action where we admit nonmetricity and torsion in manifolds with timelike boundaries (both in the metric and tetrad formalism). We prove that its space of solutions is equal to the one of the Palatini action. Therefore, we conclude that the metric sector is in fact identical to general relativity (GR), which is defined by the Einstein-Hilbert action. We further prove that, despite defining the same space of solutions, the Palatini and (the generalized) Holst Lagrangians are not cohomologically equal. Thus, the presymplectic structure and charges provided by the covariant phase space method might differ. However, using the relative bicomplex framework, we show the covariant phase spaces of both theories are equivalent (and in fact equivalent to GR), as well as their charges, clarifying some open problems regarding dual charges and their equivalence in different formulations.