arXiv subjects

Iñaki Garay

Publications and source records attributed to Iñaki Garay.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Global variables and dynamics of emergent cosmology in loop gravity

Deriving emergent cosmology from the discrete geometry of Loop Quantum Gravity remains an open challenge. We solve the two-vertex model exactly, including general non-symmetric configurations, by introducing macroscopic global variables that form a closed Poisson subalgebra. This yields an intrinsic minimal area gap from the Casimir invariants of the subalgebra. In the semiclassical limit, a generalized Friedmann equation emerges incorporating graph anisotropies and quantum geometry corrections, which lead to a Big Bounce. This global formulation opens a coarse-graining route toward statistical descriptions of quantum spacetime.

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arXiv2026

Area bounds and gauge fixing: alternative canonical variables for loop gravity

We use a canonical parametrization of twisted geometries describing the classical phase space of loop quantum gravity on a fixed graph, and establish its explicit correspondence with the associated frame bases and spinorial descriptions. Applied to the two-vertex model, this framework yields analytical bounds on the evolution of the total area, proving the existence of a non-vanishing lower bound at finite times. These findings, previously observed only numerically, suggest a bounce-like behavior and highlight the usefulness of these variables for the study of more general configurations. As a second result, the canonical variables are shown to simplify the gauge-fixing procedure, generalizing previous results restricted to two-vertex models with four links.

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arXiv2025

Homothetic expansion of polyhedra in the two-vertex model: emergence of FLRW

The cosmological behavior associated to a U(N)-symmetry reduced sector of the loop-quantum-gravity truncation known as the two-vertex model is further explored in this work. We construct convenient frame bases that encode the whole classical phase space of the twisted geometry associated to the graph. We show that the polyhedra of the twisted geometry suffer under evolution an homothetic expansion, which strengthens the correspondence to the Robertson-Walker geometry.

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arXiv2025

The two-vertex model of loop quantum gravity: anisotropic reduced sectors

The so-called two-vertex model of loop quantum gravity has been analytically studied in the past within a U($N$) symmetry-reduced sector leading to a cosmological interpretation. In this work we study the simplest non-trivial two-vertex model (with four edges, i.e., $N=4$), using the spinorial formalism and twisted geometries to isolate the degrees of freedom and derive a canonical parametrization. We identify eight geometric parameters describing the polyhedral configurations and four twist angles characterizing the system's dynamics. Going beyond the U($N$) symmetry-reduced sector which can be interpreted as homogeneous and isotropic, we find three additional stable symmetry-reduced sectors: the privileged-direction sector, the bi-twist sector, and the inhomogeneous bi-twist sector. Each sector introduces degrees of anisotropy or inhomogeneity and expand the potential cosmological interpretations of the two-vertex model.

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arXiv2025

Geometric Formula for 2d Ising Zeros: Examples & Numerics

A geometric formula for the zeros of the partition function of the inhomogeneous 2d Ising model was recently proposed in terms of the angles of 2d triangulations embedded in the flat 3d space. Here we proceed to an analytical check of this formula on the cubic graph, dual to a double pyramid, and provide a thorough numerical check by generating random 2d planar triangulations. Our method is to generate Delaunay triangulations of the 2-sphere then performing random local rescalings. For every 2d triangulations, we compute the corresponding Ising couplings from the triangle angles and the dihedral angles, and check directly that the Ising partition function vanishes for these couplings (and grows in modulus in their neighborhood). In particular, we lift an ambiguity of the original formula on the sign of the dihedral angles and establish a convention in terms of convexity/concavity. Finally, we extend our numerical analysis to 2d toroidal triangulations and show that the geometric formula does not work and will need to be generalized, as originally expected, in order to accommodate for non-trivial topologies.

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arXiv2024

From loop quantum gravity to cosmology: the two-vertex model

We study the notion of volume and its dynamics in the loop-quantum-gravity truncation known as the two-vertex model. We also show that its U(N)-symmetry reduction provides the old effective dynamics of loop quantum cosmology with an arbitrary perfect barotropic fluid content. A suitable modification of the Poisson bracket structure of the U(N)-symmetric model leads to the loop quantum gravity improved dynamics.

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arXiv2023

On the tensorial structure of general covariant quantum systems

The definition of a quantum system requires a Hilbert space, a way to define the dynamics, and an algebra of observables. The structure of the observable algebra is related to a tensor product decomposition of the Hilbert space and represents the composition of the system by subsystems. It has been remarked that the Hamiltonian may determine this tensor product structure. Here we observe that this fact may lead to questionable consequences in some cases, and does extend to the more general background-independent case, where the Hamiltonian is replaced by a Hamiltonian constraint. These observations reinforces the idea that specifying the observables and the way they interplay with the dynamics, is essential to define a quantum theory. We also reflect on the general role that system decomposition has in the quantum theory.

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arXiv2022

Classical dynamics for Loop Gravity: The 2-vertex model

The study of toy models in loop quantum gravity (LQG), defined as truncations of the full theory, is relevant to both the development of the LQG phenomenology, in cosmology and astrophysics, and the progress towards the resolution of the open issues of the theory, in particular the implementation of the dynamics. Here, we study the dynamics of spin network states of quantum geometry defined on the family of graphs consisting in 2 vertices linked by an arbitrary number of edges, or 2-vertex model in short. A symmetry reduced sector of this model -- to isotropic and homogeneous geometries -- was successfully studied in the past, where interesting cosmological insights were found. We now study the evolution of the classical trajectories for this system in the general case, for arbitrary number of edges with random initial configurations. We use the spinorial formalism and its clear interpretation of spin networks in terms of discrete twisted geometries, with the quantum 3d space made of superpositions of polyhedra glued together by faces of equal area. Remarkably, oscillatory and divergent regimes are found with a universal dependence on the coupling constants of the Hamiltonian and independent of the initial spinors or the number of edges. Furthermore, we explore the evolution of the associated polyhedra as well as their volumes and areas.

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arXiv2019

Classical geodesics from the canonical quantisation of spacetime coordinates

A canonical quantisation of the coordinates of the spacetime within the general relativity theory is proposed. This quantisation will depend on the observer but it provides an interesting perspective on the problem of relating the non-relativistic and classical limits of a possible quantum gravity theory. In this sense, within this formalism, it is possible to recover from the quantum equation satisfied by a test field the classical geodesics of the corresponding spacetime. On the other hand, the Schrödinger equation is recovered in the Newtonian limit. A key ingredient for this procedure is a generalization of the Maupertuis principle, that is, the possibility of describing the geodesics of a given metric as the non-affine geodesics of other conformal metric under the action of a potential.

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arXiv2018

Hamiltonian formalism and constraint analysis of three-form matter models coupled with general relativity

A Hamiltonian analysis of models given by a three-form field with a generic potential coupled to general relativity in four dimensions is performed. This kind of fields are naturally present in string theory and cosmological scenarios. In particular, the action that will be considered has been extensively used during the last years to propose inflationary and dark energy models. Nevertheless, in order to keep the discussion as generic as possible, neither symmetries nor a specific form of the potential for the three-form field will be imposed. Interesting and relevant results about the number of dynamical degrees of freedom of these models are obtained. In addition, the analogy with a weakly-coupled scalar field is discussed. Finally, as a particular example of this generic framework, the homogeneous and isotropic cosmological case will be presented.

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arXiv2018

Quantum behavior of the "Little Sibling" of the Big Rip induced by a three-form field

A canonical quantization à la Wheeler-DeWitt is performed for a model of three-form fields in a homogeneous and isotropic universe. We start by carrying out the Hamiltonian formalism of this cosmological model. We then apply this formalism to a Little Sibling of the Big Rip (LSBR), an abrupt event milder than a Big Rip and that is known to be generic to several minimally coupled three-form fields for a variety of potentials. We obtain a set of analytical solutions of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation using different analytical approximations and explore the physical consequences of them. It turns out that there are quantum states where the wave function of the universe vanishes, i.e. the DeWitt condition is fulfilled for them. Given that this happens only for some subset of solutions of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation, this points out that the matter inducing the LSBR is equally important in the process as, it has been previously shown, a minimally coupled phantom scalar field feeding classically a LSBR is smoothed at the quantum level, i.e. all the quantum states lead to a vanishing wave function.

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arXiv2014

Semiclassical states in quantum gravity: Curvature associated to a Voronoi graph

The building blocks of a quantum theory of general relativity are expected to be discrete structures. Loop quantum gravity is formulated using a basis of spin networks (wave functions over oriented graphs with coloured edges), thus realizing the aforementioned expectation. Semiclassical states should, however, reproduce the classical smooth geometry in the appropriate limits. The question of how to recover a continuous geometry from these discrete structures is, therefore, relevant in this context. Following previous works by Bombelli et al. we explore this problem from a rather general mathematical perspective using, in particular, properties of Voronoi graphs to search for their compatible continuous geometries. We test the previously proposed methods for computing the curvature associated to such graphs and analyse the framework in detail, in the light of the results obtained.

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arXiv2013

Effects of a scalar field on the thermodynamics of interuniversal entanglement

We consider a multiverse scenario made up of classically disconnected regions of the space-time that are, nevertheless, in a quantum entangled state. The addition of a scalar field enriches the model and allows us to treat both the inflationary and the `oscillatory stage' of the universe on the same basis. Imposing suitable boundary conditions on the state of the multiverse, two different representations are constructed related by a Bogoliubov transformation. We compute the thermodynamic magnitudes of the entanglement, such as entropy and energy, explore the effects introduced by the presence of the scalar field and compare with previous results in the absence of scalar field.

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arXiv2012

Learning about Quantum Gravity with a Couple of Nodes

Loop Quantum Gravity provides a natural truncation of the infinite degrees of freedom of gravity, obtained by studying the theory on a given finite graph. We review this procedure and we present the construction of the canonical theory on a simple graph, formed by only two nodes. We review the U(N) framework, which provides a powerful tool for the canonical study of this model, and a formulation of the system based on spinors. We consider also the covariant theory, which permits to derive the model from a more complex formulation, paying special attention to the cosmological interpretation of the theory.

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arXiv2012

New tools for Loop Quantum Gravity with applications to a simple model

Loop Quantum Gravity is now a well established approach to quantum gravity. One of the main challenges still faced by the theory is constructing a consistent dynamics which would lead back to the standard dynamics of the gravitational field at large scales. Here we will review the recent U(N) framework for Loop Quantum Gravity and the new spinor representation (that provides a classical setting for the U(N) framework). Then, we will apply these techniques to a simple model in order to propose a dynamics for a symmetry reduced sector of the theory. Furthermore, we will explore certain analogies of this model with Loop Quantum Cosmology.

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arXiv2012

Revisiting the quantum scalar field in spherically symmetric quantum gravity

We extend previous results in spherically symmetric gravitational systems coupled with a massless scalar field within the loop quantum gravity framework. As starting point, we take the Schwarzschild spacetime. The results presented here rely on the uniform discretization method. We are able to minimize the associated discrete master constraint using a variational method. The trial state for the vacuum consists of a direct product of a Fock vacuum for the matter part and a Gaussian centered around the classical Schwarzschild solution. This paper follows the line of research presented by Gambini, Pullin and Rastgoo and a comparison between their result and the one given in this work is made.

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arXiv2011

Dynamics for a simple graph using the U(N) framework for loop quantum gravity

The implementation of the dynamics in loop quantum gravity (LQG) is still an open problem. Here, we discuss a tentative dynamics for the simplest class of graphs in LQG: Two vertices linked with an arbitrary number of edges. We find an interesting global U(N) symmetry in this model that selects the homogeneous/isotropic sector. Then, we propose a quantum Hamiltonian operator for this reduced sector. Finally, we introduce the spinor representation for LQG in order to propose a classical effective dynamics for this model.

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arXiv2011

U(N) and holomorphic methods for LQG and Spin Foams

The U(N) framework and the spinor representation for loop quantum gravity are two new points of view that can help us deal with the most fundamental problems of the theory. Here, we review the detailed construction of the U(N) framework explaining how one can endow the Hilbert space of N-leg intertwiners with a Fock structure. We then give a description of the classical phase space corresponding to this system in terms of the spinors, and we will study its quantization using holomorphic techniques. We take special care in constructing the usual holonomy operators of LQG in terms of spinors, and in the description of the Hilbert space of LQG with the different polarization given by these spinors.

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