We expect a theory of Quantum Gravity to be both probabilistic and have indefinite causal structure. Indefinite causal structure poses particular problems for theory formulation since many of the core ideas used in the usual approaches to theory construction depend on having definite causal structure. For example, the notion of a state across space evolving in time requires that we have some definite causal structure so we can define a state on a space-like hypersurface. We will see that many of these problems are mitigated if we are able to formulate the theory in a "formalism local" (or F-local) fashion. A formulation of a physical theory is said to be F-local if, in making predictions for any given arbitrary space-time region, we need only refer to mathematical objects pertaining to that region. This is a desirable property both on the grounds of efficiency and since, if we have indefinite causal structure, it is not clear how to select some other space-time region on which our calculations may depend. The usual ways of formulating physical theories (the time evolving state picture, the histories approach, and the local equations approach) are not F-local.
We set up a framework for probabilistic theories with indefinite causal structure. This, the causaloid framework, is F-local. We describe how Quantum Theory can be formulated in the causaloid framework (in an F-local fashion). This provides yet another formulation of Quantum Theory. This formulation, however, may be particularly relevant to the problem of finding a theory of Quantum Gravity.
This proceeding is based on a talk prepared for the XIII Marcell Grossmann meeting. We summarise some results of work in progress in collaboration with Giovanni Amelino-Camelia about momentum dependent (Rainbow) metrics in a Relative Locality framework and we show that this formalism is equivalent to the Hamiltonian formalization of Relative Locality obtained in arXiv:1102.4637.
We show that the formation/evaporation of Black Holes (BH) unitarizes quantum gravity at all the orders of the perturbation theory. Non-perturbative quantum effects save the scattering amplitudes from any polynomial divergences. Such a phenomena is intimately related to the dynamical emergence of an effective non-locality as well as emergent modifications of the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. The BH production de-localizes quantum gravity vertices and propagators as a consequence of its holographically stored entropy. In this sense, quantum gravity is a superrenormalizable theory, althoug…
The nonrelativistic limit of nonlocal modifications to the Klein Gordon operator is studied, and the experimental possibilities of casting stringent constraints on the nonlocality scale via planned and/or current optomechanical experiments are discussed. Details of the perturbative analysis and semianalitical simulations leading to the dynamical evolution of a quantum harmonic oscillator in the presence of non locality reported in [1], together with a comprehensive account of the experimental methodology with particular regard to sensitivity limitations related to thermal decoherence time and …
Several quantum gravity scenarios lead to physics below the Planck scale characterised by nonlocal, Lorentz invariant equations of motion. We show that such non-local effective field theories lead to a modified Schrödinger evolution in the nonrelativistic limit. In particular, the nonlocal evolution of opto-mechanical quantum oscillators is characterised by a spontaneous periodic squeezing that cannot be generated by environmental effects. We discuss constraints on the nonlocality obtained by past experiments, and show how future experiments (already under construction) will either see such ef…
In a full theory of quantum gravity, local physics is expected to be approximate rather than innate. It is therefore important to understand how approximate locality emerges in the semiclassical limit. Here we show that any notion of locality emergent from a holographic theory of quantum gravity is "all or nothing": local data is not obtained gradually from subregions of the boundary, but is rather obtained all at once when enough of the boundary is accessed. Our assumptions are mild and thus this feature is quite general; in the special case of AdS/CFT, a slightly different manifestation foll…
Over the last decade there were significant advances in the understanding of quantum gravity coupled to point particles in 3D (2+1-dimensional) spacetime. Most notably it is emerging that the theory can be effectively described as a theory of free particles on a momentum space with anti-deSitter geometry and with noncommutative spacetime coordinates of the type $[x^μ,x^ν]=i \hbar \ell \varepsilon^{μν}_{\phantom{μν}ρ} x^ρ$. We here show that the recently proposed relative-locality curved-momentum-space framework is ideally suited for accommodating these structures characteristic of 3D quantum g…
The physical concept of locality is first analyzed in the special relativistic quantum regime, and compared with that of microcausality and the local commutativity of quantum fields. Its extrapolation to quantum general relativity on quantum bundles over curved spacetime is then described. It is shown that the resulting formulation of quantum-geometric locality based on the concept of local quantum frame incorporating a fundamental length embodies the key geometric and topological aspects of this concept. Taken in conjunction with the strong equivalence principle and the path-integral formulat…
We show that loop quantum gravity suffers from a potential problem with non-locality, coming from a mismatch between micro-locality, as defined by the combinatorial structures of their microscopic states, and macro-locality, defined by the metric which emerges from the low energy limit. As a result, the low energy limit may suffer from a disordered locality characterized by identifications of far away points. We argue that if such defects in locality are rare enough they will be difficult to detect.
Breakdown of local physics in string theory at distances longer than the string scale is investigated. Such nonlocality would be expected to be visible in ultrahigh-energy scattering. The results of various approaches to such scattering are collected and examined. No evidence is found for non-locality from strings whose length grows linearly with the energy. However, local quantum field theory does apparently fail at scales determined by gravitational physics, particularly strong gravitational dynamics. This amplifies locality bound arguments that such failure of locality is a fundamental aspe…
Motivated by the development of on-going optomechanical experiments aimed at constraining non-local effects inspired by some quantum gravity scenarios, the Hamiltonian formulation of a non-local harmonic oscillator, and its coupling to a cavity field mode(s), is investigated. In particular, we consider the previously studied model of non-local oscillators obtained as the non-relativistic limit of a class of non-local Klein-Gordon operators, $f(\Box)$, with $f$ an analytical function. The results of previous works, in which the interaction was not included, are recovered and extended by way of …
Spacetime---the union of space and time---is both the actor and the stage during physical processes in our fascinating Universe. In Lorentz invariant local theories, the existence of a maximum signalling speed (the "speed of light") determines a notion of causality in spacetime, distinguishing the past from the future, and the cause from the effect. This thesis is dedicated to the study of \emph{deviations} from locality. Focussing on a particular class of \emph{non-local} theories that is both Lorentz invariant and free of ghosts, we aim to understand the effects of such non-local physics in …
Weak gravity in the brane world scenario with a scalar field in the bulk between two end-of-the-world branes is investigated by using the doubly gauge invariant formalism. We review the result that Einstein gravity is restored in the low energy limit and that high-energy corrections to Einstein gravity can be mimicked by higher derivative terms. After that, it is argued that non-locality is one of essential features of brane worlds.
We describe a completely general and fully non-perturbative framework for constructing dynamical reference frames in generally covariant theories, and for understanding the gauge-invariant observables that they yield. Our approach makes use of a 'universal dressing space', which contains as a subset every possible dynamical frame. We describe examples of such frames, including matter frames, a popular construction based on boundary-anchored geodesics and one using minimal surfaces -- but our formalism does not depend on the existence of a boundary. The class of observables we construct general…
This paper points out the importance of the assumption of locality of physical interactions, and the concomitant necessity of propagation of an entity (in this case, off-shell quanta - virtual gravitons) between two non-relativistic test masses in unveiling the quantum nature of linearized gravity through a laboratory experiment. At the outset, we will argue that observing the quantum nature of a system is not limited to evidencing $O\left(\hbar\right)$ corrections to a classical theory: it instead hinges upon verifying tasks that a classical system cannot accomplish. We explain the background…
A local phenomenological model that reduces to a non-local gravitational theory giving dark energy is proposed. The non-local gravity action is known to fit the data as well as $Λ$-CDM thereby demanding a more fundamental local treatment. It is seen that the scale-invariant higher-derivative scalar-tensor theory of gravity, which is known to be ultraviolet perturbative renormalizable to all loops and where ghosts become innocuous, generates non-locality at low energies. The local action comprises of two real scalar fields coupled non-minimally with the higher-derivative gravity action. When on…
This work refines arguments forbidding non-linear dynamical gravity from appearing in the low energy effective description of field theories with local kinematics, even for those with instantaneous long-range interactions. Specifically, we note that gravitational theories with universal coupling to energy -- an intrinsically non-linear phenomenon -- are characterized by Hamiltonians that are pure boundary terms on shell. In order for this to be the low energy effective description of a field theory with local kinematics, all bulk dynamics must be frozen and thus irrelevant to the construction.…
Apparent similarities between non-local theories of gravity and the so-called C-theories are pointed out. It is shown that some simple C-theories can be mapped exactly into a previously considered type of ghost-free nonlocal gravity. This may introduce a useful tool to tackle some infinite-order derivative theories and raises the possibility of describing renormalisable gravity in a new context of D-theories.
The standard approaches of phenomenology of Quantum Gravity have usually explicitly violated Lorentz invariance, either in the dispersion relation or in the addition rule for momenta. We investigate whether it is possible in 3+1 dimensions to have a non local deformation that preserves fully Lorentz invariance, as it is the case in 2+1D Quantum Gravity. We answer positively to this question and show for the first time how to construct a homogeneously curved momentum space preserving the full action of the Lorentz group in dimension 4 and higher, despite relaxing locality. We study the property…
Semi-classical gravity attempts to define a hybrid theory in which a classical gravitational field is coupled to a unitarily evolving quantum state. Although semi-classical gravity is inconsistent with observation, a viable theory of this type might be appealing, since it potentially might preserve the basic features of our two most successful theories while unifying them. It might also offer a natural solution to the quantum measurement problem. I explore the scope for such "semi-quantum" hybrid theories, and note some interesting, though daunting, constraints. Consistency with observation ge…
In this letter I stress the role of causal reversibility (time-symmetry), together with causality and locality, in the justification of the quantum formalism. Firstly, in the algebraic quantum formalism, I show that the assumption of reversibility implies that the observables of a quantum theory form an abstract real C*-algebra, and can be represented as an algebra of operators on a real Hilbert space. Secondly, in the quantum logic formalism, I emphasize which axioms for the lattice of propositions (existence of an orthocomplementation and the covering property) derive from reversibility. A n…
Thirty years of a deepening information paradox suggest the need to revise our basic physical framework. Multiple indicators point toward reassessment of the principle of locality: lack of a precise definition in quantum gravity, behavior of high-energy scattering, hints from strings and AdS/CFT, conundrums of quantum cosmology, and finally lack of good alternative resolutions of the paradox. A plausible conjecture states that the non-perturbative dynamics of gravity is unitary but nonlocal. String theory may directly address these issues but so far important aspects remain elusive. If this vi…
A classical origin for the Bohmian quantum potential, as that potential term arises in the quantum mechanical treatment of black holes and Einstein-Rosen (ER) bridges, can be based on 4th-order extensions of Einstein's equations. The required 4th-order extension of general relativity is given by adding quadratic curvature terms with coefficients that maintain a fixed ratio, as their magnitudes approach zero, with classical general relativity as a singular limit. If entangled particles are connected by a Planck-width ER bridge, as conjectured by Maldacena and Susskind, then a connection by a tr…
Quantum field theory - our basic framework for describing all non-gravitational physics - conflicts with general relativity: the latter precludes the standard definition of the former's essential principle of locality, in terms of commuting local observables. We examine this conflict more carefully, by investigating implications of gauge (diffeomorphism) invariance for observables in gravity. We prove a dressing theorem, showing that any operator with nonzero Poincare charges, and in particular any compactly-supported operator, in flat-spacetime quantum field theory must be gravitationally dre…
We consider extensions of General Relativity based on the non-local function $f(R, \Box^{-1} R)$, where $R$ is the Ricci curvature scalar and the non-locality is due to the term $\Box^{-1} R$. We focus on cosmological minisuperspaces and select viable models by the Noether Symmetry Approach. Then we find viable exact solutions pointing out the role of non-locality in cosmology.
Inspired by a Chern-Simons description of 2+1D gravity coupled to point particles we propose a new Lagrangian of a multiparticle system living in $κ$-Minkowski/$κ$-Poincaré spacetime. We derive the dynamics of interacting particles with $κ$-momentum space, alternative to the one proposed in the "principle of relative locality" literature. The model that we obtain takes into account of the nonlocal topological interactions between the particles, so that the effective multi-particle action is not a sum of their free actions. In this construction the locality of particle processes is naturally im…
In brane world scenarios with a bulk scalar field between two branes it is known that 4-dimensional Einstein gravity is restored at low energies on either brane. By using a gauge-invariant gravitational and scalar perturbation formalism we extend the theory of weak gravity in the brane world scenarios to higher energies, or shorter distances. We argue that weak gravity on either brane is indistinguishable from 4-dimensional higher derivative gravity, provided that the inter-brane distance (radion) is stabilized, that the background bulk scalar field is changing near the branes and that the bac…
We investigate the ultraviolet behaviour of quantum gravity within a functional renormalisation group approach. The present setup includes the full ghost and graviton propagators and, for the first time, the dynamical graviton three-point function. The latter gives access to the coupling of dynamical gravitons and makes the system minimally self-consistent. The resulting phase diagram confirms the asymptotic safety scenario in quantum gravity with a non-trivial UV fixed point. A well-defined Wilsonian block spinning requires locality of the flow in momentum space. This property is discussed in…
Affine gravity and the Palatini formalism contribute both to produce a simple and unique formula for calculating charges at spatial and null infinity for Lovelock type Lagrangians whose variational derivatives do not depend on second-order derivatives of the field components. The method is based on the covariant generalization due to Julia and Silva of the Regge-Teitelboim procedure that was used to define properly the mass in the classical formulation of Einstein's theory of gravity. Numerous applications reproduce standard results obtained by other secure but mostly specialized methods. As a…
In this paper we will show all the linearized curvature tensors in the infinite derivative ghost and singularity free theory of gravity in the static limit. We have found that in the region of non-locality, in the ultraviolet regime (at short distance from the source), the Ricci tensor and the Ricci scalar are not vanishing, meaning that we do not have a vacuum solution anymore due to the smearing of the source induced by the presence of non-local gravitational interactions. It also follows that, unlike in Einstein's gravity, the Riemann tensor is not traceless and it does not coincide with th…
Hilbert spaces of states can be constructed in standard quantum field theory only for infinitely extended spacelike hypersurfaces, precluding a more local notion of state. In fact, the Reeh-Schlieder Theorem prohibits the localization of states on pieces of hypersurfaces in the standard formalism. From the point of view of geometric quantization the problem lies in the non-locality of the complex structures associated to hypersurfaces in standard quantization. We show that using a weakened version of the positive formalism puts this problem into a new perspective. This is a local TQFT type for…
Quantum mechanics introduces the concept of probability at the fundamental level, yielding the measurement problem. On the other hand, recent progress in cosmology has led to the "multiverse" picture, in which our observed universe is only one of the many, bringing an apparent arbitrariness in defining probabilities, called the measure problem. In this paper, we discuss how these two problems are intimately related with each other, developing a complete picture for quantum measurement and cosmological histories in the quantum mechanical universe. On one hand, quantum mechanics eliminates the a…
This Editorial introduces the Special Issue "Progress in Group Field Theory and Related Quantum Gravity Formalisms" which includes a number of research and review articles covering results in the group field theory (GFT) formalism for quantum gravity and in various neighbouring areas of quantum gravity research. We give a brief overview of the basic ideas of the GFT formalism, list some of its connections to other fields, and then summarise all contributions to the Special Issue.
In this short note we study unimodular gravity in Weyl-De Donder formalism. We find corresponding Hamiltonian and study consequence of the unimodular constraint on the conjugate covariant momenta. We also find covariant Hamiltonian for Henneaux-Teitelboim unimodular action and study corresponding equations of motion.
Quantum gravity is likely the deepest problem facing current physics. While traditionally associated with short distance nonrenormalizability, it is evident that the long distance problem of unitarity, arising at high energies with black hole formation, is more profound. This reveals a conflict between foundational principles of quantum field theory: those of quantum mechanics, relativity, and locality. Difficulties modifying quantum mechanics suggest a "quantum-first" approach, with other principles as mathematical properties of a quantum space of states. A challenge is how to describe locali…
Theories with a curved momentum space, which became recently of interest in the quantum-gravity literature, can in general violate many apparently robust aspects of our current description of the laws of physics, including relativistic invariance, locality, causality and global momentum conservation. We here explore some aspects of the particularly severe pathologies arising in generic theories with curved momentum space for what concerns causality and momentum conservation. However, we also report results suggesting that when momentum space is maximally symmetric, and the theory is formulated…
In this work we study the theory of linearized gravity via the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism. We make a brief review of this theory and its Lagrangian description, as well as a review of the Hamilton-Jacobi approach for singular systems. Then we apply this formalism to analyze the constraint structure of the linearized gravity in instant and front-form dynamics.
We reassess the conclusion by Klusoň (J. High Energy Phys. 1007 (2010) 038) that the Hamiltonian formulation of the healthy extended Hořava-Lifshitz gravity does not present any problem.
We develop a nonperturbative quantum field formalism to describe scalar gauge-invariant metric flucturations in the early universe from a 5D apparent (Ricci flat) vacuum.
In this paper the novel features of Yokoyama gaugeon formalism are stressed out for the theory of perturbative quantum gravity in Einstein curved spacetime. The quantum gauge transformations for the theory of perturbative gravity are demonstrated in the framework of gaugeon formalism. These quantum gauge transformations lead to renormalized gauge parameter. Further, we analyse the BRST symmetric gaugeon formalism which embeds more acceptable Kugo-Ojima subsidiary condition. Further, the BRST symmetry is made finite and field-dependent. Remarkably, the Jacobian of path integral under finite and…
We discuss a novel explanation of the dark energy as a manifestation of macroscopic non-locality coming from quantum gravity, as proposed by Markopoulou. It has been previously suggested that in a transition from an early quantum geometric phase of the universe to a low temperature phase characterized by an emergent spacetime metric, locality might have been "disordered". This means that there is a mismatch of micro-locality, as determined by the microscopic quantum dynamics and macro-locality as determined by the classical metric that governs the emergent low energy physics. In this paper we …
In this paper we investigate the Yokoyama gaugeon formalism for perturbative quantum gravity in a general curved spacetime. Within the gaugeon formalism, we extend the configuration space by introducing vector gaugeon fields describing a quantum gauge degree of freedom. Such an extended theory of perturbative gravity admits quantum gauge transformations leading to a natural shift in the gauge parameter. Further we impose the Gupta-Bleuler type subsidiary condition to remove the unphysical gaugeon modes. To replace the Gupta-Bleuler type condition by more acceptable Kugo-Ojima type subsidiary c…
In this note we try to prove the absence of the ghosts in case of the general non-linear massive gravity action in Stuckelberg formalism. We argue that in order to find the explicit form of the Hamiltonian it is natural to start with the general non-linear massive gravity action found in arXiv:1106.3344 [hep-th]. We perform the complete Hamiltonian analysis of the Stuckelberg form of the minimal the non-linear gravity action in this formulation and show that the constraint structure is so rich that it is possible to eliminate non-physical modes. Then we extend this analysis to the case of the …
We review our recent work on quantum foundations of quantum mechanics, quantum field theory and quantum gravity (formulated as metastring theory) and various implications for the problems of dark matter and dark energy. The first point concerns the new understanding of quantum theory via the concept of quantum (modular) spacetime endowed with manifest non-locality that is consistent with causality. This view implies the consistency of the fundamental length and Lorentz symmetry, based on the principle of relative (observer dependent) locality. The geometry of such quantum spacetime is encoded …
We propose a generalization of Chern-Simons (CS) modified gravity in first-order formalism. CS modified gravity action has a term that comes from the chiral anomaly which is Pontryagin invariant. First-order CS modified gravity is a torsional theory and in a space-time with torsion the chiral anomaly includes a torsional topological term called Nieh-Yan invariant. We generalize the CS modified gravity by adding the Nieh-Yan term to the action and find the effective theory. We compare the generalized theory with the first-order CS modified gravity and comment on the similarities and differences…
Emergence of $R^2$ inflation which is the best fit framework for CMB observations till date comes from the attempts to attack the problem of quantization of gravity which in turn have resulted in the trace anomaly discovery. Further developments in trace anomaly and different frameworks aiming to construct quantum gravity indicate an inevitability of non-locality in fundamental physics at small time and length scales. A natural question would be to employ the $R^2$ inflation as a probe for signatures of non-locality in the early Universe physics. Recent advances of embedding $R^2$ inflation in…
In this paper we continue the study of the Hamiltonian formalism of the healthy extended Horava-Lifshitz gravity. We find the constraint structure of given theory and argue that this is the theory with the second class constraints. Then we discuss physical consequence of this result. We also apply the Batalin-Tyutin formalism of the conversion of the system with the second class constraints to the system with the first class constraints to the case of the healthy extended Horava-Lifshitz theory. As a result we find new theory of gravity with structure that is different from the standard formul…
We discuss some main aspects of theories of gravity containing non-local terms in view of cosmological applications. In particular, we consider various extensions of General Relativity based on geometrical invariants as $f(R, \Box^{-1} R)$, $f({\cal G}, \Box^{-1} {\cal G})$ and $f(T, \Box^{-1} T)$ gravity where $R$ is the Ricci curvature scalar, $\cal G$ is the Gauss-Bonnet topological invariant, $T$ the torsion scalar and the operator $\Box^{-1}$ gives rise to non-locality. After selecting their functional form by using Noether Symmetries, we find out exact solutions in a cosmological backgro…
We discuss the possible appearance of several rather exotic phenomena in quantum gravity, including UV/IR mixing, novel modifications of infrared phenomenology that extend effective field theory approaches, and the relaxation of the usual notions of locality. We discuss the relevance of such concepts in quantum gravity for quantum information science, cosmology and general quantum gravity phenomenology.
This short note is devoted to the Hamiltonian analysis of the normalized general relativity and recently proposed model of vacuum energy sequestering. The common property of these models is the presence of the global variables. We discuss the meaning of these global variables in the context of the canonical formalism and argue that their presence lead to the non-local form of the Hamiltonian constraint.
We investigate a cosmological scenario by finding solutions using first-order formalism in the Horndeski gravity that constrains the superpotential and implies that no free choice of scalar potential is allowed. Despite this we show that a de Sitter phase at late-time cosmology can be realized, where the dark energy sector can be identified. The scalar field equation of state tends to the cosmological scenario at present time and allows us to conclude that it can simulate the dark energy in the Horndeski gravity.
There is a vast literature showing the connection between a deformed relativistic kinematics and a curved momentum space, and, in particular, how the former can be obtained from the geometrical properties of the latter. However, there is not any mention about the geometry of a multi-particle system making manifest a possible modification in the metric of one particle due to the presence of others. In this work we explore how a curved momentum metric depending on the particles involved in an interaction arises when considering a process. We also show that the principle of relative locality obta…
We perform the Hamiltonian analysis of the specific model of the non-linear massive gravity in Stuckelberg formalism where the square root structure is replaced by introducing auxiliary fields. We show that the constraint structure of given theory varies over the phase space and discuss possible consequences of this fact for the counting of the physical degrees of freedom.
The 4D Regge action is invariant under 5--1 and 4--2 Pachner moves, which define a subset of (local) changes of the triangulation. Given this fact one might hope to find a local path integral measure that makes the quantum theory invariant under these moves and hence makes the theory partially triangulation invariant. We show that such a local invariant path integral measure does not exist for the 4D linearized Regge theory. To this end we uncover an interesting geometric interpretation for the Hessian of the 4D Regge action. This geometric interpretation will allow us to prove that the determ…
Several approaches to the investigation of the quantum-gravity problem have provided "theoretical evidence" of a role for the Planck scale in characterizing the geometry of momentum space. One of the main obstructions for a full exploitation of this scenario is the understanding of the role of the Planck-scale-curved geometry of momentum space in the correlations between emission and detection times, the "travel times" for a particle to go from a given emitter to a given detector. These travel times appear to receive Planck-scale corrections for which no standard interpretation is applicable, …
This work discuss the construction of braneworld solutions in modified gravity with Lagrange multipliers. We examine the general aspects of the model and present a first order formalism that help us to find analytic solutions of the equations of motion. We also investigate some explicit models, analyse linear stability of the metric and comment on how to relate models investigated in other works to the ones examined in the present study.
