Foliations and 2+1 causal dynamical triangulation models

The original models of causal dynamical triangulations construct space-time by arranging a set of simplices in layers separated by a fixed timelike distance. The importance of the foliation structure in the 2+1 dimensional model is studied by considering variations in which this property is relaxed. It turns out that the fixed-lapse condition can be equivalently replaced by a set of global constraints that have geometrical interpretation. On the other hand, the introduction of new types of simplices that puncture the foliating sheets in general leads to different low-energy behavior compared to the original model.