The canonical analysis and subsequent quantization of the (2+1)-dimensional action of pure gravity plus a cosmological constant term is considered, under the assumption of the existence of one spacelike Killing vector field. The proper imposition of the quantum analogues of the two linear (momentum) constraints reduces an initial collection of state vectors, consisting of all smooth functionals of the components (and/or their derivatives) of the spatial metric, to particular scalar smooth functionals. The demand that the midi-superspace metric (inferred from the kinetic part of the quadratic (Hamiltonian) constraint) must define on the space of these states an induced metric whose components are given in terms of the same states, which is made possible through an appropriate re-normalization assumption, severely reduces the possible state vectors to three unique (up to general coordinate transformations) smooth scalar functionals. The quantum analogue of the Hamiltonian constraint produces a Wheeler-DeWitt equation based on this reduced manifold of states, which is completely integrated.
The 3+1 (canonical) decomposition of all geometries admitting two-dimensional space-like surfaces is exhibited. A proposal consisting of a specific re-normalization {\bf Assumption} and an accompanying {\bf Requirement} is put forward, which enables the canonical quantization of these geometries. The resulting Wheeler-deWitt equation is based on a re-normalized manifold parameterized by three smooth scalar functionals. The entire space of solutions to this equation is analytically given, exploiting the freedom left by the imposition of the {\bf Requirement} and contained in the third functiona…
The canonical tensor model (CTM) is a tensor model in Hamilton formalism and is studied as a model for gravity in both classical and quantum frameworks. Its dynamical variables are a canonical conjugate pair of real symmetric three-index tensors, and a question in this model was how to extract spacetime pictures from the tensors. We give such an extraction procedure by using two techniques widely known in data analysis. One is the tensor-rank (or CP, etc.) decomposition, which is a certain generalization of the singular value decomposition of a matrix and decomposes a tensor into a number of v…
We analyze different claims on the role of the coupling constant lambda in so-called lambda-R models, a minimal generalization of general relativity inspired by Horava-Lifshitz gravity. The dimensionless parameter lambda appears in the kinetic term of the Einstein-Hilbert action, leading to a one-parameter family of classical theories. Performing a canonical constraint analysis for closed spatial hypersurfaces, we obtain a result analogous to that of Bellorin and Restuccia, who showed that all non-projectable lambda-R models are equivalent to general relativity in the asymptotically flat case.…
In the context of a canonical quantization of general relativity, one can deform the loop gravity phase space on a graph by replacing the T*SU(2) phase space attached to each edge by SL(2,C) seen as a phase space. This deformation is supposed to encode the presence of a non-zero cosmological constant. Here we show how to parametrize this phase space in terms of spinor variables, thus obtaining deformed spinor networks for loop gravity, with a deformed action of the gauge group SU(2) at the vertices. These are to be formally interpreted as the generalization of loop gravity twisted geometries t…
Starting from the canonical phase space for discretised (4d) BF-theory, we implement a canonical version of the simplicity constraints and construct phase spaces for simplicial geometries. Our construction allows us to study the connection between different versions of Regge calculus and approaches using connection variables, such as loop quantum gravity. We find that on a fixed triangulation the (gauge invariant) phase space associated to loop quantum gravity is genuinely larger than the one for length and even area Regge calculus. Rather, it corresponds to the phase space of area-angle Regge…
Motivated by the Extremal Vanishing Horizon (EVH) black holes, their near horizon geometry and the EVH/CFT proposal, we construct and classify solutions with (local) SO(2,2) symmetry to four and five dimensional Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton (EMD) theory with positive, zero or negative cosmological constant Lambda, the EMD-$Λ$ theory, and also $U(1)^4$ gauged supergravity in four dimensions and $U(1)^3$ gauged supergravity in five dimensions. In four dimensions the geometries are warped product of AdS3 with an interval or a circle. In five dimensions the geometries are of the form of warped product…
Within the framework of geodetic brane gravity, the Universe is described as a 4-dimensional extended object evolving geodetically in a higher dimensional flat background. In this paper, by introducing a new pair of canonical fields {lambda, P_{lambda}}, we derive the quadratic Hamiltonian for such a brane Universe; the inclusion of matter then resembles minimal coupling. Second class constraints enter the game, invoking the Dirac bracket formalism. The algebra of the first class constraints is calculated, and the BRST generator of the brane Universe turns out to be rank-1. At the quantum leve…
We review the current status of Finsler-Lagrange geometry and generalizations. The goal is to aid non-experts on Finsler spaces, but physicists and geometers skilled in general relativity and particle theories, to understand the crucial importance of such geometric methods for applications in modern physics. We also would like to orient mathematicians working in generalized Finsler and Kahler geometry and geometric mechanics how they could perform their results in order to be accepted by the community of ''orthodox'' physicists. Although the bulk of former models of Finsler-Lagrange spaces whe…
This paper is a contribution to the development of a framework, to be used in the context of semiclassical canonical quantum gravity, in which to frame questions about the correspondence between discrete spacetime structures at "quantum scales" and continuum, classical geometries at large scales. Such a correspondence can be meaningfully established when one has a "semiclassical" state in the underlying quantum gravity theory, and the uncertainties in the correspondence arise both from quantum fluctuations in this state and from the kinematical procedure of matching a smooth geometry to a disc…
For curved projective manifolds we introduce a notion of a normal tractor frame field, based around any point. This leads to canonical systems of (redundant) coordinates that generalise the usual homogeneous coordinates on projective space. These give preferred local maps to the model projective space that encode geometric contact with the model to a level that is optimal, in a suitable sense. In terms of the trivialisations arising from the special frames, normal solutions of classes of natural linear PDE (so-called first BGG equations) are shown to be necessarily polynomial in the generalise…
We propose a natural Fedosov type quantization of generalized Lagrange models and gravity theories with metrics lifted on tangent bundle, or extended to higher dimension, following some stated geometric/ physical conditions (for instance, nonholonomic and/or conformal transforms to some physically important metrics or mapping into a gauge model). Such generalized Lagrange transforms define canonical nonlinear connection, metric and linear connection structures and model almost Kahler geometries with induced canonical symplectic structure and compatible affine connection. The constructions are …
The canonical quantization of the most general minisuperspace actions --i.e. with all six scale factor as well as the lapse function and the shift vector present-- describing the vacuum type II, VI and VII geometries, is considered. The reduction to the corresponding physical degrees of freedom is achieved through the usage of the linear constraints as well as the quantum version of the entire set of classical integrals of motion.
In this article, we review the current status of Finsler-Lagrange geometry and generalizations. The goal is to aid non-experts on Finsler spaces, but physicists and geometers skilled in general relativity and particle theories, to understand the crucial importance of such geometric methods for applications in modern physics. We also would like to orient mathematicians working in generalized Finsler and Kahler geometry and geometric mechanics how they could perform their results in order to be accepted by the community ''orthodox'' physicists. Although the bulk of former models of Finsler-Lagra…
Assuming homogeneous isotropic Lambda-CDM cosmology allows Lambda, spatial curvature and dark matter density to be inferred from large scale structure observations such as supernovae. The purpose of this paper is to extend this to allow observations to measure or constrain inhomogeneity and anisotropy. We obtain the general inhomogeneous anisotropic Lambda-CDM solution which is locally asymptotic to an expanding de Sitter solution as a late time expansion using Starobinsky's method (analogous to the `holographic renormalization' technique in AdS/CFT) together with a resummation of the series. …
We consider the quantum dynamics of both open and closed two- dimensional universes with ``wormholes'' and particles. The wave function is given as a sum of freely propagating amplitudes, emitted from a network of mapping class images of the initial state. Interference between these amplitudes gives non-trivial scattering effects, formally analogous to the optical diffraction by a multidimensional grating; the ``bright lines'' correspond to the most probable geometries.
We write down a quantum gravity equation which generalizes the Wheeler-DeWitt one in view of including a time dependence in the wave functional. The obtained equation provides a consistent canonical quantization of the 3-geometries resulting from a ``gauge-fixing'' (3 + 1)-slicing of the space-time. Our leading idea relies on a criticism to the possibility that, in a quantum space-time, the notion of a (3 + 1)-slicing formalism (underlying the Wheeler-DeWitt approach) has yet a precise physical meaning. As solution to this problem we propose of adding to the gravity-matter action the so-called…
We investigate the generalization of loop gravity's twisted geometries to a q-deformed gauge group. In the standard undeformed case, loop gravity is a formulation of general relativity as a diffeomorphism-invariant SU(2) gauge theory. Its classical states are graphs provided with algebraic data. In particular closure constraints at every node of the graph ensure their interpretation as twisted geometries. Dual to each node, one has a polyhedron embedded in flat space R^3. One then glues them allowing for both curvature and torsion. It was recently conjectured that q-deforming the gauge group S…
In a recent work we presented a reformulation of the canonical quantum gravity, based on adding the so-called kinematical term to the gravity-matter action; this revised approach leads to a self-consistent canonical quantization of the 3-geometries, referred to the external time as provided via the added term. Here, we show how the kinematical term can be interpreted in terms of a non relativistic dust fluid which plies the role of a ``real clock' for the quantum gravity theory, and, in the WKB limit of a cosmological problem, makes account for a dark matter component which, at present time, c…
Loop quantum gravity has provided us with a canonical framework especially devised for background independent and diffeomorphism invariant gauge field theories. In this quantization the fundamental excitations are called spin network states, and in the context of general relativity, they give a meaning to quantum geometry. Spin foams are a sort of path integral for spin network states, supposed to enable the computations of transition amplitudes between these states. The spin foam quantization has proved very efficient for topological field theories, like 2d Yang-Mills, 3d gravity or BF theori…
Any canonical quantum theory can be understood to arise from the compatibility of the statistical geometry of distinguishable observations with the canonical Poisson structure of Hamiltonian dynamics. This geometric perspective offers a novel, background independent non-perturbative formulation of quantum gravity. We invoke a quantum version of the equivalence principle, which requires both the statistical and symplectic geometries of canonical quantum theory to be fully dynamical quantities. Our approach sheds new light on such basic issues of quantum gravity as the nature of observables, the…
It is shown that the Chern-Simons functional, built in the spinor representation from the initial data on spacelike hypersurfaces, is invariant with respect to infinitesimal conformal rescalings if and only if the vacuum Einstein equations are satisfied. As a consequence, we show that in the phase space the Hamiltonian constraint of vacuum general relativity is the Poisson bracket of the imaginary part of this Chern-Simons functional and Misner's time (essentially the 3-volume). Hence the vacuum Hamiltonian constraint is the condition on the canonical variables that the imaginary part of the C…
We define the notion of energy, and compute its values, for gravitational systems involving terms quadratic in curvature. While our construction parallels that of ordinary Einstein gravity, there are significant differences both conceptually and concretely. In particular, for D=4, all purely quadratic models admit vacua of arbitrary constant curvature. Their energies, including that of conformal (Weyl) gravity, necessarily vanish in asymptotically flat spaces. Instead, they are proportional to that of the Abbott-Deser (AD) energy expression in constant curvature backgrounds and therefore also …
We carry out the canonical quantization of the Levi-Cività family of static and cylindrical solutions. The reduced phase space of this family of metrics is proved to coincide with that corresponding to the Kasner model, including the associated symplectic structures, except for that the respective domains of definition of one of the phase space variables are not identical. Using this result, we are able to construct a quantum model that describes spacetimes of both the Levi-Cività and the Kasner type, and in which the three-dimensional spatial topology is not uniquely fixed. Finally, we quanti…
We construct a canonical quantization of the two dimensional theory of a parametrized scalar field on noncompact spatial slices. The kinematics is built upon generalized charge-network states which are labelled by smooth embedding spacetimes, unlike the standard basis states carrying only discrete labels. The resulting quantum geometry corresponds to a nondegenerate vacuum metric, which allows a consistent realization of the asymptotic conditions on the canonical fields. Although the quantum counterpart of the classical symmetry group of conformal isometries consists only of continuous global …
A general classical theorem is presented according to which all invariant relations among the space time metric scalars, when turned into functions on the Phase Space of full Pure Gravity (using the Canonical Equations of motion), become weakly vanishing functions of the Quadratic and Linear Constraints. The implication of this result is that (formal) Dirac consistency of the Quantum Operator Constraints (annihilating the wave Function) suffices to guarantee space time covariance f the ensuing quantum theory: An ordering for each invariant relation will always exist such that the emanating ope…
We revisit the loop gravity space phase for 3D Riemannian gravity by algebraically constructing the phase space $T^*\mathrm{SU}(2)\sim\mathrm{ISO}(3)$ as the Heisenberg double of the Lie group $\mathrm{SO}(3)$ provided with the trivial cocyle. Tackling the issue of accounting for a non-vanishing cosmological constraint $Λ\ne 0$ in the canonical framework of 3D loop quantum gravity, $\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})$ viewed as the Heisenberg double of $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ provided with a non-trivial cocyle is introduced as a phase space. It is a deformation of the flat phase space $\mathrm{ISO}(3)$ and re…
