New variables for (1+1)-dimensional gravity

We show that the canonical formulation of a generic action for (1 + 1)-dimensional models of gravity coupled to matter admits a description in terms of Ashtekar-type variables. This opens the possibility of discussing models of black hole evaporation using loop representation techniques and verifying which paradigm emerges for the possible elimination of the black hole singularity and the issue of information loss. Although the method can be applied to any (1 + 1)-dimensional action, we implement it concretely in the case of a spherically symmetric reduction of (3 + 1) gravity and the CGHS model.