Crochets de Poisson, theories de jauge et quantification
We present a study of constrained mechanical systems and of their quantisation, emphasising the importance of the role played by Poisson brackets in the study of gauge theories.
math-ph↗
arXiv subjects
Winston J. Fairbairn
Publications and source records attributed to Winston J. Fairbairn.
Quantum deformation of two four-dimensional spin foam models
We construct the q-deformed version of two four-dimensional spin foam models, the Euclidean and Lorentzian versions of the EPRL model. The q-deformed models are based on the representation theory of two copies of U_q(su(2)) at a root of unity and on the quantum Lorentz group with a real deformation parameter. For both models we give a definition of the quantum EPRL intertwiners, study their convergence and braiding properties and construct an amplitude for the four-simplexes. We find that both of the resulting models are convergent.
gr-qc↗
q-Deformation of Lorentzian spin foam models
We construct and analyse a quantum deformation of the Lorentzian EPRL model. The model is based on the representation theory of the quantum Lorentz group with real deformation parameter. We give a definition of the quantum EPRL intertwiner, study its convergence and braiding properties and construct an amplitude for the four-simplexes. We find that the resulting model is finite.
gr-qc↗
Equivalence of the self-dual and Nambu-Goto strings
We establish explicitely the relation between the algebraic and Nambu-Goto strings when the target space is a four dimensional flat space. We find that the two theories are exactly equivalent only when the algebraic string is restricted to the self-dual or anti self-dual sectors. In its Hamiltonian formulation, the algebraic string defines a constrained system with first and second class constraints. In the self-dual case, we exhibit the appropriate set of second class constraints such that the resulting physical phase space is formulated in the same way as it is in the standard Nambu-Goto string. We conclude with a discussion on alternative quantisation schemes.
hep-th↗
Lorentzian spin foam amplitudes: graphical calculus and asymptotics
The amplitude for the 4-simplex in a spin foam model for quantum gravity is defined using a graphical calculus for the unitary representations of the Lorentz group. The asymptotics of this amplitude are studied in the limit when the representation parameters are large, for various cases of boundary data. It is shown that for boundary data corresponding to a Lorentzian simplex, the asymptotic formula has two terms, with phase plus or minus the Lorentzian signature Regge action for the 4-simplex geometry, multiplied by an Immirzi parameter. Other cases of boundary data are also considered, including a surprising contribution from Euclidean signature metrics.
gr-qc↗
Asymptotics of 4d spin foam models
We study the asymptotic properties of four-simplex amplitudes for various four-dimensional spin foam models. We investigate the semi-classical limit of the Ooguri, Euclidean and Lorentzian EPRL models using coherent states for the boundary data. For some classes of geometrical boundary data, the asymptotic formulae are given, in all three cases, by simple functions of the Regge action for the four-simplex geometry.
gr-qc↗
Observables in 3d spinfoam quantum gravity with fermions
We study expectation values of observables in three-dimensional spinfoam quantum gravity coupled to Dirac fermions. We revisit the model introduced by one of the authors and extend it to the case of massless fermionic fields. We introduce observables, analyse their symmetries and the corresponding proper gauge fixing. The Berezin integral over the fermionic fields is performed and the fermionic observables are expanded in open paths and closed loops associated to pure quantum gravity observables. We obtain the vertex amplitudes for gauge-invariant observables, while the expectation values of gauge-variant observables, such as the fermion propagator, are given by the evaluation of particular spin networks.
gr-qc↗
Quantum gravity asymptotics from the SU(2) 15j symbol
The asymptotics of the SU(2) 15j symbol are obtained using coherent states for the boundary data. The geometry of all non-suppressed boundary data is given. For some boundary data, the resulting formula is interpreted in terms of the Regge action of the geometry of a 4-simplex in 4-dimensional Euclidean space. This asymptotic formula can be used to derive and extend the asymptotics of the spin foam amplitudes for quantum gravity models. The relation of the SU(2) Ooguri model to these quantum gravity models and their continuum Lagrangians is discussed.
gr-qc↗
Canonical Analysis of Algebraic String Actions
We investigate the canonical aspects of the algebraic first order formulation of strings introduced two decades ago by Balachandran and collaborators. We slightly enlarge the Lagrangian framework and show the existence of a self-dual formulation and of an Immirzi-type parameter reminiscent of four-dimensional first order gravity. We perform a full Hamiltonian analysis of the self-dual case: we extract the first class constraints and construct the Dirac bracket associated to the second class constraints. The first class constraints contain the diffeomorphisms algebra on the world-sheet, and the coordinates are shown to be non-commutative with respect to the Dirac bracket. The Hamilton equations in a particular gauge are shown to reproduce the wave equation for the string coordinates. In the general, non-self-dual case, we also explicit the first class constraints of the system and show that, unlike the self-dual formulation, the theory admits an extra propagating degree of freedom than the two degrees of freedom of conventional string theory. This prevents the general algebraic string from being strictly equivalent to the Nambu-Goto string.
hep-th↗
A Summary of the asymptotic analysis for the EPRL amplitude
We review the basic steps in building the asymptotic analysis of the Euclidean sector of new spin foam models using coherent states, for Immirzi parameter less than one. We focus on conceptual issues and by so doing omit peripheral proofs and the original discussion on spin structures.
gr-qc↗
Asymptotic analysis of the EPRL four-simplex amplitude
The semiclassical limit of a 4-simplex amplitude for a spin foam quantum gravity model with an Immirzi parameter is studied. If the boundary state represents a non-degenerate 4-simplex geometry, the asymptotic formula contains the Regge action for general relativity. A canonical choice of phase for the boundary state is introduced and is shown to be necessary to obtain the results.
gr-qc↗
On gravitational defects, particles and strings
We study the inclusion of point and string matter in the deSitter gauge theory, or MacDowell-Mansouri formulation of four dimensional gravity. We proceed by locally breaking the gauge symmetries of general relativity along worldlines and worldsheets embedded in the spacetime manifold. Restoring full gauge invariance introduces new dynamical fields which describe the dynamics of spinning matter coupled to gravity. We discuss the physical interpretation of the obtained formalism by studying the flat limit and the spinless case on arbitrary backgrounds. It turns out that the worldline action describes a massive spinning particle, while the worldsheet action contains the Nambu-Goto string augmented with spinning contributions. Finally, we study the gravity/matter variational problem and conclude by discussing potential applications of the formalism to the inclusion of the Nambu-Goto string in spinfoam models of four dimensional quantum gravity.
gr-qc↗
Extended matter coupled to BF theory
Recently, a topological field theory of membrane-matter coupled to BF theory in arbitrary spacetime dimensions was proposed [1]. In this paper, we discuss various aspects of the four-dimensional theory. Firstly, we study classical solutions leading to an interpretation of the theory in terms of strings propagating on a flat spacetime. We also show that the general classical solutions of the theory are in one-to-one correspondence with solutions of Einstein's equations in the presence of distributional matter (cosmic strings). Secondly, we quantize the theory and present, in particular, a prescription to regularize the physical inner product of the canonical theory. We show how the resulting transition amplitudes are dual to evaluations of Feynman diagrams coupled to three-dimensional quantum gravity. Finally, we remove the regulator by proving the topological invariance of the transition amplitudes.
gr-qc↗