Abstract
The Hamiltonian dynamics of spherically symmetric massive thin shells in general relativity is studied. Two different constraint dynamical systems representing this dynamics have been described recently; the relation between these two systems is investigated. The symmetry groups of both systems are found. New variables are used, which among other things simplify the complicated system a great deal. The systems are reduced to presymplectic manifolds Γ1 and Γ2, lest nonphysical aspects such as gauge fixing or embedding in extended phase spaces complicate the line of reasoning. The following facts are shown. Γ1 is three and Γ2 is five dimensional; the description of the shell dynamics by Γ1 is incomplete so that some measurable properties of the shell cannot be predicted. Γ1 is locally equivalent to a subsystem of Γ2 and the corresponding local morphisms are not unique, due to the large symmetry group of Γ2. Some consequences for the recent extensions of quantum shell dynamics through the singularity are discussed.