THE CONFORMAL FACTOR AND THE COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT

1990 ◽  
Vol 05 (19) ◽  
pp. 3811-3829 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEVEN B. GIDDINGS
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Gravity ◽  
Cosmological Constant ◽  
Path Integral ◽  
Conformal Factor ◽  
Positive Cosmological Constant ◽  
Lorentzian Signature ◽  
Wrong Sign ◽  
Euclidean Signature

The issue of the conformal factor in quantum gravity is examined for Lorentzian signature spacetimes. In Euclidean signature, the “wrong” sign of the conformal action makes the path integral undefined, but in Lorentzian signature this sign is tied to the instability of gravity and once this is accounted for the path integral should be well-defined. In this approach it is not obvious that the Baum-Hawking-Coleman mechanism for suppression of the cosmological constant functions. It is conceivable that since the multiuniverse system exhibits an instability for positive cosmological constant, the dynamics should force the system to zero cosmological constant.

scholarly journals The two-sphere partition function in two-dimensional quantum gravity

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dionysios Anninos ◽  
Teresa Bautista ◽  
Beatrix Mühlmann
Keyword(s):  
Partition Function ◽  
Quantum Gravity ◽  
Cosmological Constant ◽  
Path Integral ◽  
Central Charge ◽  
Liouville Theory ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Positive Cosmological Constant ◽  
Gauge Fixing ◽  
Semiclassical Expansion

Abstract We study the Euclidean path integral of two-dimensional quantum gravity with positive cosmological constant coupled to conformal matter with large and positive central charge. The problem is considered in a semiclassical expansion about a round two-sphere saddle. We work in the Weyl gauge whereby the computation reduces to that for a (timelike) Liouville theory. We present results up to two-loops, including a discussion of contributions stemming from the gauge fixing procedure. We exhibit cancelations of ultraviolet divergences and provide a path integral computation of the central charge for timelike Liouville theory. Combining our analysis with insights from the DOZZ formula we are led to a proposal for an all orders result for the two-dimensional gravitational partition function on the two-sphere.

scholarly journals Perturbatively renormalizable quantum gravity

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (14) ◽  
pp. 1847003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim R. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Hilbert Space ◽  
Quantum Gravity ◽  
Conformal Factor ◽  
Field Amplitude ◽  
Large Field ◽  
Kinetic Term ◽  
Diffeomorphism Invariance ◽  
Renormalizable Theory ◽  
Wrong Sign ◽  
Euclidean Signature

The Wilsonian renormalization group (RG) requires Euclidean signature. The conformal factor of the metric then has a wrong-sign kinetic term, which has a profound effect on its RG properties. In particular, around the Gaussian fixed point, it supports a Hilbert space of renormalizable interactions involving arbitrarily high powers of the gravitational fluctuations. These interactions are characterized by being exponentially suppressed for large field amplitude, perturbative in Newton’s constant but nonperturbative in Planck’s constant. By taking a limit to the boundary of the Hilbert space, diffeomorphism invariance is recovered whilst retaining renormalizability. Thus the so-called conformal factor instability points the way to constructing a perturbatively renormalizable theory of quantum gravity.

scholarly journals CONFORMAL FACTOR DYNAMICS IN THE 1/N EXPANSION

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (09) ◽  
pp. 733-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. ELIZALDE ◽  
S. D. ODINTSOV
Keyword(s):  
Renormalization Group ◽  
Quantum Gravity ◽  
Cosmological Constant ◽  
Effective Potential ◽  
Bound States ◽  
Conformal Factor ◽  
Effective Theory ◽  
Cosmological Constant Problem ◽  
New Model

We suggest to consider conformal factor dynamics as applying to composite bound states, in the framework of the 1/N expansion. In this way, a new model of effective theory for quantum gravity is obtained. The renormalization group (RG) analysis of this model provides a framework to solve the cosmological constant problem, since the value of this constant turns out to be suppressed, as a result of the RG contributions. The effective potential for the conformal factor is also found.

scholarly journals Quantum D = 3 Euclidean and Poincaré symmetries from contraction limits

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerzy Kowalski-Glikman ◽  
Jerzy Lukierski ◽  
Tomasz Trześniewski
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Gravity ◽  
Cosmological Constant ◽  
Complete Classification ◽  
Complete List ◽  
Drinfeld Double ◽  
Lorentzian Signature ◽  
Quantum Deformations ◽  
Chern Simons

Abstract Following the recently obtained complete classification of quantum-deformed $$ \mathfrak{o} $$ o (4), $$ \mathfrak{o} $$ o (1, 3) and $$ \mathfrak{o} $$ o (2) algebras, characterized by classical r-matrices, we study their inhomogeneous D = 3 quantum IW contractions (i.e. the limit of vanishing cosmological constant), with Euclidean or Lorentzian signature. Subsequently, we compare our results with the complete list of D = 3 inhomogeneous Euclidean and D = 3 Poincaré quantum deformations obtained by P. Stachura. It turns out that the IW contractions allow us to recover all Stachura deformations. We further discuss the applicability of our results in the models of 3D quantum gravity in the Chern-Simons formulation (both with and with- out the cosmological constant), where it is known that the relevant quantum deformations should satisfy the Fock-Rosly conditions. The latter deformations in part of the cases are associated with the Drinfeld double structures, which also have been recently investigated in detail.

scholarly journals No smooth beginning for spacetime

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (02) ◽  
pp. 1930005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Lehners
Keyword(s):  
Cosmological Constant ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Path Integral ◽  
Quantum Cosmology ◽  
Path Integrals ◽  
Mathematical Tool ◽  
Positive Cosmological Constant ◽  
Quantum Amplitude ◽  
The Universe

In this paper, I will review an obstruction for theories of the beginning of the universe which can be formulated as semiclassical path integrals. Hartle and Hawking’s no boundary proposal and Vilenkin’s tunneling proposal are examples of such theories. Each may be formulated as the quantum amplitude for obtaining a final 3-geometry by integrating over 4-geometries. The result is obtained using a new mathematical tool — Picard–Lefschetz theory — for defining the semiclassical path integral for gravity. The Lorentzian path integral for quantum cosmology with a positive cosmological constant is mathematically meaningful in this approach, but the Euclidean version is not. Framed in this way, the resulting framework and predictions are unique. Unfortunately, the outcome is that primordial gravitational wave fluctuations are unsuppressed.

scholarly journals Neutral signature gauged supergravity solutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Gutowski ◽  
W. A. Sabra
Keyword(s):  
Cosmological Constant ◽  
Geometric Structure ◽  
Base Space ◽  
Killing Spinor ◽  
Positive Cosmological Constant ◽  
3 Dimensional

Abstract We classify all supersymmetric solutions of minimal D = 4 gauged supergravity with (2) signature and a positive cosmological constant which admit exactly one Killing spinor. This classification produces a geometric structure which is more general than that found for previous classifications of N = 2 supersymmetric solutions of this theory. We illustrate how the N = 2 solutions which consist of a fibration over a 3-dimensional Lorentzian Gauduchon-Tod base space can be written in terms of this more generic geometric structure.

scholarly journals MEASUREMENTS AND INFORMATION IN SPIN FOAM MODELS

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (28) ◽  
pp. 1250164
Author(s):  
J. MANUEL GARCÍA-ISLAS
Keyword(s):  
Information Theory ◽  
Quantum Gravity ◽  
Cosmological Constant ◽  
Shannon Entropy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Spin Network ◽  
Spin Foam Models ◽  
Foam Model ◽  
Spin Foam Model ◽  
Spin Foam

In the three-dimensional spin foam model of quantum gravity with a cosmological constant, there exists a set of observables associated with spin network graphs. A set of probabilities is calculated from these observables, and hence the associated Shannon entropy can be defined. We present the Shannon entropy associated with these observables and find some interesting bounded inequalities. The problem relates measurements, entropy and information theory in a simple way which we explain.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document