We show that the classical equations of motion for a particle on three dimensional fuzzy space and on the fuzzy sphere are underpinned by a natural Lorentz geometry. From this geometric perspective, the equations of motion generally correspond to forced geodesic motion, but for an appropriate choice of noncommutative dynamics, the force is purely noncommutative in origin and the underpinning Lorentz geometry some standard space-time with, in general, non-commutatuve corrections to the metric. For these choices of the noncommutative dynamics the commutative limit therefore corresponds to geodesic motion on this standard space-time. We identify these Lorentz geometries to be a Minkowski metric on $\mathbb{R}^4$ and $\mathbb{R} \times S ^2$ in the cases of a free particle on three dimensional fuzzy space ($\mathbb{R}^3_\star$) and the fuzzy sphere ($S^2_\star$), respectively. We also demonstrate the equivalence of the on-shell dynamics of $S^2_\star$ and a relativistic charged particle on the commutative sphere coupled to the background magnetic field of a Dirac monopole.
We describe a construction of fuzzy spaces which approximate projective toric varieties. The construction uses the canonical embedding of such varieties into a complex projective space: The algebra of fuzzy functions on a toric variety is obtained by a restriction of the fuzzy algebra of functions on the complex projective space appearing in the embedding. We give several explicit examples for this construction; in particular, we present fuzzy weighted projective spaces as well as fuzzy Hirzebruch and del Pezzo surfaces. As our construction is actually suited for arbitrary subvarieties of comp…
The geometry of D-branes can be probed by open string scattering. If the background carries a non-vanishing B-field, the world-volume becomes non-commutative. Here we explore the quantization of world-volume geometries in a curved background with non-zero Neveu-Schwarz 3-form field strength H = dB. Using exact and generally applicable methods from boundary conformal field theory, we study the example of open strings in the SU(2) Wess-Zumino-Witten model, and establish a relation with fuzzy spheres or certain (non-associative) deformations thereof. These findings could be of direct relevance fo…
We study $SO(m)$ covariant Matrix realizations of $ \sum_{i=1}^{m} X_i^2 = 1 $ for even $m$ as candidate fuzzy odd spheres following hep-th/0101001. As for the fuzzy four sphere, these Matrix algebras contain more degrees of freedom than the sphere itself and the full set of variables has a geometrical description in terms of a higher dimensional coset. The fuzzy $S^{2k-1} $ is related to a higher dimensional coset $ {SO(2k) \over U(1) \times U(k-1)}$. These cosets are bundles where base and fibre are hermitian symmetric spaces. The detailed form of the generators and relations for the Matrix …
Eighth-BPS local operators in N=4 SYM are dual to quantum states arising from the quantization of a moduli space of giant gravitons in AdS5xS5. Earlier results on the quantization of this moduli space give a Hilbert space of multiple harmonic oscillators in 3 dimensions. We use these results, along with techniques from fuzzy geometry, to develop a map between quantum states and brane geometries. In particular there is a map between the oscillator states and points in a discretization of the base space in the toric fibration of the moduli space. We obtain a geometrical decomposition of the spac…
Matrix descriptions of even dimensional fuzzy spherical branes $S^{2k} $ in Matrix Theory and other contexts in Type II superstring theory reveal, in the large $N$ limit, higher dimensional geometries $SO(2k+1)/U(k)$, which have an interesting spectrum of $SO(2k+1)$ harmonics and can be up to 20 dimensional, while the spheres are restricted to be of dimension less than 10. In the case $k=2$, the matrix description has two dual field theory formulations. One involves a field theory living on the non-commutative coset $SO(5)/U(2)$ which is a fuzzy $S^2$ fibre bundle over a fuzzy $S^4$. In the ot…
We study phase structures of quantum field theories in fuzzy geometries. Several examples of fuzzy geometries as well as QFT's on such geometries are considered. They are fuzzy spheres and beyond as well as noncommutative deformations of BTZ blackholes. Analysis is done analytically and through simulations. Several features like novel stripe phases as well as spontaneous symmetry breaking avoiding Colemen, Mermin, Wagner theorem are brought out. Also we establish that these phases are stable due to topological obstructions.
We show that fuzzy spheres are solutions of ${\it Lorentzian}$ IKKT matrix models. The fuzzy sphere solutions serve as toy models of closed noncommutative cosmologies where big bang/crunch singularities appear only after taking the commutative limit. The commutative limit of these solutions corresponds to a sphere embedded in Minkowski space. This `sphere' has several novel features. The induced metric does not agree with the standard metric on the sphere, and moreover, it does not have a fixed signature. The curvature computed from the induced metric is not constant, has singularities at fixe…
A class of real spectral triples that are similar in structure to a Riemannian manifold but have a finite-dimensional Hilbert space is defined and investigated, determining a general form for the Dirac operator. Examples include fuzzy spaces defined as real spectral triples. Fuzzy 2-spheres are investigated in detail, and it is shown that the fuzzy analogues correspond to two spinor fields on the commutative sphere. In some cases it is necessary to add a mass mixing matrix to the commutative Dirac operator to get a precise agreement for the eigenvalues.
Four-dimensional manifolds with changing signature are obtained by taking the large $N$ limit of fuzzy $CP^2$ solutions to a Lorentzian matrix model. The regions of Lorentzian signature give toy models of closed universes which exhibit cosmological singularities. These singularities are resolved at finite $N$, as the underlying $CP^2$ solutions are expressed in terms of finite matrix elements.
We develop a systematic approach to determine and measure numerically the geometry of generic quantum or "fuzzy" geometries realized by a set of finite-dimensional hermitian matrices. The method is designed to recover the semi-classical limit of quantized symplectic spaces embedded in $\mathbb{R}^d$ including the well-known examples of fuzzy spaces, but it applies much more generally. The central tool is provided by quasi-coherent states, which are defined as ground states of Laplace- or Dirac operators corresponding to localized point branes in target space. The displacement energy of these q…
We introduce a non-commutative deformation of the algebra of bipolar spherical harmonics supporting the action of the full Lorentz algebra. Our construction is close in spirit to the one of the non-commutative spherical harmonics associated to the fuzzy sphere and, as such, it leads to a maximal value of the angular momentum. We derive the action of Lorentz boost generators on such non-commutative spherical harmonics and show that it is compatible with the existence of a maximal angular momentum.
A fuzzy geometry is a certain type of spectral triple whose Dirac operator crucially turns out to be a finite matrix. This notion was introduced in [J. Barrett, J. Math. Phys. 56, 082301 (2015)] and accommodates familiar fuzzy spaces like spheres and tori. In the framework of random noncommutative geometry, we use Barrett's characterization of Dirac operators of fuzzy geometries in order to systematically compute the spectral action $S(D)= \mathrm{Tr} f(D)$ for $2n$-dimensional fuzzy geometries. In contrast to the original Chamseddine-Connes spectral action, we take a polynomial $f$ with $f(x)…
We discuss gauge theories for commutative but non-associative algebras related to the $ SO(2k+1)$ covariant finite dimensional fuzzy $2k$-sphere algebras. A consequence of non-associativity is that gauge fields and gauge parameters have to be generalized to be functions of coordinates as well as derivatives. The usual gauge fields depending on coordinates only are recovered after a partial gauge fixing.The deformation parameter for these commutative but non-associative algebras is a scalar of the rotation group. This suggests interesting string-inspired algebraic deformations of spacetime whic…
A finite non-commutative geometry consists of a fuzzy space together with a Dirac operator satisfying the axioms of a real spectral triple. This paper addreses the question of how to extract information about these geometries from the spectrum of the Dirac operator. Since the Dirac operator is a finite-dimensional matrix, the usual asymptotics of the eigenvalues makes no sense and is replaced by measurements of the spectrum at a finite energy scale. The spectral dimension of the square of the Dirac operator is improved to provide a new spectral measure of the dimension of a space called the sp…
A general framework is described which associates geometrical structures to any set of $D$ finite-dimensional hermitian matrices $X^a, \ a=1,...,D$. This framework generalizes and systematizes the well-known examples of fuzzy spaces, and allows to extract the underlying classical space without requiring the limit of large matrices or representation theory. The approach is based on the previously introduced concept of quasi-coherent states. In particular, a concept of quantum Kähler geometry arises naturally, which includes the well-known quantized coadjoint orbits such as the fuzzy sphere $S^2…
Non-commutative geometry naturally emerges in low energy physics of Landau models as a consequence of level projection. In this work, we proactively utilize the level projection as an effective tool to generate fuzzy geometry. The level projection is specifically applied to the relativistic Landau models. In the first half of the paper, a detail analysis of the relativistic Landau problems on a sphere is presented, where a concise expression of the Dirac-Landau operator eigenstates is obtained based on algebraic methods. We establish $SU(2)$ "gauge" transformation between the relativistic Land…
We give a framework to describe gauge theory on a certain class of commutative but non-associative fuzzy spaces. Our description is in terms of an Abelian gauge connection valued in the algebra of functions on the cotangent bundle of the fuzzy space. The structure of such a gauge theory has many formal similarities with that of Yang-Mills theory. The components of the gauge connection are functions on the fuzzy space which transform in higher spin representations of the Lorentz group. In component form, the gauge theory describes an interacting theory of higher spin fields, which remains non-t…
A method is presented for deducing classical point-particle Lagrange functions corresponding to a class of quartic dispersion relations. Applying this to particles violating Lorentz symmetry in the minimal Standard-Model Extension leads to a variety of novel lagrangians in flat spacetime. Morphisms in these classical systems are studied that echo invariance under field redefinitions in the quantized theory. The Lagrange functions found offer new possibilities for understanding Lorentz-breaking effects by exploring parallels with Finsler-like geometries.
One of the most celebrated works of Professor Madore is the introduction of fuzzy sphere. I briefly review how the fuzzy two-sphere and its higher dimensional cousins are realized in the (spherical) Landau models in non-Abelian monopole backgrounds. For extracting quantum geometry from the Landau models, we evaluate the matrix elements of the coordinates of spheres in the lowest and higher Landau levels. For the lowest Landau level, the matrix geometry is identified as the geometry of fuzzy sphere. Meanwhile for the higher Landau levels, the obtained quantum geometry turns out to be a nested m…
A detailed Monte Carlo calculation of the phase diagram of bosonic IKKT Yang-Mills matrix models in three and six dimensions with quartic mass deformations is given. Background emergent fuzzy geometries in two and four dimensions are observed with a fluctuation given by a noncommutative $U(1)$ gauge theory very weakly coupled to normal scalar fields. The geometry, which is determined dynamically, is given by the fuzzy spheres ${\bf S}^2_N$ and ${\bf S}^2_N\times{\bf S}^2_N$ respectively. The three and six matrix models are in the same universality class with some differences. For example, in t…
We formulate a model of noncommutative four-dimensional gravity on a covariant fuzzy space based on SO(1,4), that is the fuzzy version of the $\text{dS}_4$. The latter requires the employment of a wider symmetry group, the SO(1,5), for reasons of covariance. Addressing along the lines of formulating four-dimensional gravity as a gauge theory of the Poincaré group, spontaneously broken to the Lorentz, we attempt to construct a four-dimensional gravitational model on the fuzzy de Sitter spacetime. In turn, first we consider the SO(1,4) subgroup of the SO(1,5) algebra, in which we were led to, as…
We discuss the generalized Newton-Cartan geometries that can serve as gravitational background fields for particles and strings. In order to enable us to define affine connections that are invariant under all the symmetries of the structure group, we describe torsionful geometries with independent torsion tensors. A characteristic feature of the non-Lorentzian geometries we consider is that some of the torsion tensors are so-called `intrinsic torsion' tensors that cannot be absorbed in any of the spin connections. Setting some components of these intrinsic torsion tensors to zero leads to cons…
The role of the gravitational sector in the Lorentz- and CPT-violating Standard-Model Extension (SME) is studied. A framework is developed for addressing this topic in the context of Riemann-Cartan spacetimes, which include as limiting cases the usual Riemann and Minkowski geometries. The methodology is first illustrated in the context of the QED extension in a Riemann-Cartan background. The full SME in this background is then considered, and the leading-order terms in the SME action involving operators of mass dimension three and four are constructed. The incorporation of arbitrary Lorentz an…
The correspondence between Riemann-Finsler geometries and effective field theories with spin-independent Lorentz violation is explored. We obtain the general quadratic action for effective scalar field theories in any spacetime dimension with Lorentz-violating operators of arbitrary mass dimension. Classical relativistic point-particle lagrangians are derived that reproduce the momentum-velocity and dispersion relations of quantum wave packets. The correspondence to Finsler structures is established, and some properties of the resulting Riemann-Finsler spaces are investigated. The results prov…
This paper is devoted to an investigation of Euclidean wormholes made by fuzzy instantons. We investigate the Euclidean path integral in anti-de Sitter space. In Einstein gravity, we introduce a scalar field with a potential. Because of the analyticity, there is a contribution of complex-valued instantons, so-called fuzzy instantons. If we have a massless scalar field, then we obtain Euclidean wormholes, where the probabilities become smaller and smaller as the size of the throat becomes larger and larger. If we introduce a non-trivial potential, then in order to obtain a non-zero tunneling ra…
We study relations between different kinds of non-commutative spheres which have appeared in the context of ADS/CFT correspondences recently, emphasizing the connections between spaces that have manifest quantum group symmetry and spaces that have manifest classical symmetry. In particular we consider the quotient $SU_q(2)/U(1)$ at roots of unity, and find its relations with the fuzzy sphere with manifest classical SU(2) symmetry. Deformation maps between classical and quantum symmetry, the $U_q(SU(2))$ module structure of quantum spheres and the structure of indecomposable representations of …
Bipartite Riemann-Finsler geometries with complementary Finsler structures are constructed. Calculable examples are presented based on a bilinear-form coefficient for explicit Lorentz violation.
We investigate Euclidean wormholes in Einstein gravity with a massless scalar field in de Sitter space. Euclidean wormholes are possible due to the analytic continuation of the time as well as complexification of fields, where we need to impose the classicality after the Wick-rotation to the Lorentzian signatures. For some parameters, wormholes are preferred than Hawking-Moss instantons, and hence wormholes can be more fundamental than Hawking-Moss type instantons. Euclidean wormholes can be interpreted in three ways: (1) classical big bounce, (2) either tunneling from a small to a large unive…
We study the symplectic reduction of the phase space of two twistors to the cotangent bundle of the Lorentz group. We provide expressions for the Lorentz generators and group elements in terms of the spinors defining the twistors. We use this to define twistor networks as a graph carrying the phase space of two twistors on each edge. We also introduce simple twistor networks, which provide a classical version of the simple projected spin networks living on the boundary Hilbert space of EPRL/FK spin foam models. Finally, we give an expression for the Haar measure in terms of spinors.
We recall a construction of non-commutative algebras related to a one-parameter family of (deformed) spheres and tori, and show that in the case of tori, the *-algebras can be completed into C*-algebras isomorphic to the standard non-commutative torus. As the former was constructed in the context of matrix (or fuzzy) geometries, it provides an important link to the framework of non-commutative geometry, and opens up for a concrete way to study deformations of non-commutative tori. Furthermore, we show how the well-known fuzzy sphere and fuzzy torus can be obtained as formal scaling limits of f…
With the bare essentials of noncommutative geometry (defined by a spectral triple), we first describe how it naturally gives rise to gauge theories. Then, we quickly review the notion of twisting (in particular, minimally) noncommutative geometries and how it induces a Wick rotation, that is, a transition of the metric signature from euclidean to Lorentzian. We focus on comparatively more tractable examples of spectral triples; such as the ones corresponding to a closed Riemannian spin manifold, $U(1)$ gauge theory, and electrodynamics. By minimally twisting these examples and computing their …
We generalize the coset procedure of homogeneous spacetimes in (pseudo-)Riemannian geometry to non-Lorentzian geometries. These are manifolds endowed with nowhere vanishing invertible vielbeins that transform under local non-Lorentzian tangent space transformations. In particular, we focus on nonrelativistic symmetry algebras that give rise to (torsional) Newton-Cartan geometries, for which we demonstrate how the Newton-Cartan metric complex is determined by degenerate co- and contravariant symmetric bilinear forms on the coset. In specific cases, we also show the connection of the resulting n…
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 consider weighted parallel spinors in Lorentzian Weyl geometry in arbitrary dimensions, choosing the weight such that the integrability condition for the existence of such a spinor, implies the geometry to be Einstein-Weyl. We then use techniques developed for the classification of supersymmetric solutions to supergravity theories to characterise those Lorentzian EW geometries that allow for a weighted parallel spinor, calling the resulting geometries supersymmetric. The overall result is that they are either conformally related to ordinary geometries admitting parallel spinors (w.r.t. the …
We discuss the reconstruction of generic 3+1-dimensional space-time geometries from covariant quantum spaces as backgrounds in the IKKT matrix model. An explicit recipe to realize generic classical geometries is provided. Even though this typically entails some higher-spin contributions, these do not significantly modify the physical content of the model in the weak gravity regime. This justifies the framework for emergent gravity given by the semi-classical matrix model, supplemented by an induced Einstein-Hilbert action which arises in the presence of fuzzy extra dimensions.
We analyse the Finsler geometries of the kinematic space of spinless and spinning electrically charged particles in an external Rañada field. We consider the most general actions that are invariant under the Lorentz, electromagnetic gauge and reparametrization transformations. The Finsler geometries form a set parametrized by the gauge fields in each case. We give a simple method to calculate the fundamental objects of the Finsler geometry of the kinematic space of a particle in a generic electromagnetic field. Then we apply this method to calculate the geodesic equations of the spinless and s…
The $SO(5)$ Landau model is the mathematical platform of the 4D quantum Hall effect and provide a rare opportunity for a physical realization of the fuzzy four-sphere. We present an integrated analysis of the $SO(5)$ Landau models and the associated matrix geometries through the Landau level projection. With the $SO(5)$ monopole harmonics, we explicitly derive matrix geometry of a four-sphere in any Landau level: In the lowest Landau level the matrix coordinates are given by the generalized $SO(5)$ gamma matrices of the fuzzy four-sphere satisfying the quantum Nambu algebra, while in higher La…
These notes provide an introduction to the noncommutative matrix geometry which arises within matrix models of Yang-Mills type. Starting from basic examples of compact fuzzy spaces, a general notion of embedded noncommutative spaces (branes) is formulated, and their effective Riemannian geometry is elaborated. This class of configurations is preserved under small deformations, and is therefore appropriate for matrix models. A realization of generic 4-dimensional geometries is sketched, and the relation with spectral geometry and with noncommutative gauge theory is explained. In a second part, …
We study metric-compatible Poisson structures in the semi-classical limit of noncommutative emergent gravity. Space-time is realized as quantized symplectic submanifold embedded in R^D, whose effective metric depends on the embedding as well as on the Poisson structure. We study solutions of the equations of motion for the Poisson structure, focusing on a natural class of solutions such that the effective metric coincides with the embedding metric. This leads to i-(anti-) self-dual complexified Poisson structures in four space-time dimensions with Lorentzian signature. Solutions on manifolds w…
