Topology in colored tensor models via crystallization theory (Q1748222)

The problem of gravity quantization is a well-known and deeply investigated issue in the community of theoretical and mathematical physicists. This article provides a review of the links between random tensor models, seen as quantum gravity theories, and the PL-manifolds representation by means of edge-colored graphs (crystallization theory). The Gurau-degree (or \(G\)-degree) is a non-negative integer associated with edge-colored graphs via ``regular embeddings'' of the graph into surfaces. The main goal of this article is to lay the necessary foundations in order to understand the geometrical properties of the \(G\)-degree, in relation to the motivations coming from physics. Indeed, a deep grasp in the properties of the \(G\)-degree allows establishing connections between tensor models and others (continuum) theories of quantum gravity. In fact, the \(G\)-degree appears naturally in higher dimensional tensor models as the quantity driving their \(\frac{1}{N}\) expansion, exactly as it happens for the genus of surfaces in the two-dimensional matrix model setting. In particular, in this article, the authors show that the \(G\)-degree of a closed 3-manifold is nothing but its gem-complexity and hence this allows to obtain many classification results for 3-manifolds with respect to the \(G\)-degree. In dimension four they prove that, due to the existence of infinitely many PL structures on the same topological manifold, the \(G\)-degree is not additive with respect to the connected sum of manifolds. Furthermore, they show that in the 4-dimensional case, the \(G\)-degree splits into two summands, one being a topological invariant, the second being a PL invariant. From a physical standpoint, this leads to wondering whether or not the PL part comes from the local degree of freedom present in the gravity theory in dimension four. As in dimension three, the relationship between \(G\)-degree and gem-complexity allows to obtain a lot of classification results for 4-manifolds with respect to \(G\)-degree. All these properties have specific relevance in the tensor models framework, showing a direct fruitful interaction between tensor models and discrete geometry, via crystallization theory. Further, a connection with Group Field Theory has also been discussed.