\(\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})\) Chern-Simons theory, flat connections, and four-dimensional quantum geometry (Q2665898)

The work mainly focuses on Chern-Simons theory and its relation to 4d dimensional quantum gravity with a cosmological constant. A correspondence is established between a class of $SL(2,C)$ flat connections on $M_3 = S^3/\Gamma^5$ and homogeneously-curved 4d simplicial geometries. Since a natural way of quantizing flat connections on $M_3$ exists and is given by the Chern-Simons theory, such a correspondence provides a natural way to quantize 4d simplicial geometry. The complex Chern-Simons theory on the $\Gamma^5$ graph complement 3-manifold $M_3$ with certain boundary conditions is studied. These precise boundary conditions can be imposed by introducing a specific Wilson graph operator supported on $\Gamma^5$ within the complex Chern Simons theory. The relationship between $SL(2,C)$ Chern-Simons theory and Loop quantum gravity on 4d is given and this correspondence is generalized from a single 4-simplex to a 4d simplicial complex. A particular class of Chern-Simons 3d block is defined and the asymptotics of this block gives the 4d Regge action on a full simplicial complex.