From lattice BF gauge theory to area–angle Regge calculus

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/26/15/155020MaRDI QIDQ3393301zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Valentin Bonzom

Publication date 19 August 2009

Published in Classical and Quantum Gravity (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0903.0267

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Methods of quantum field theory in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C47) Lattice gravity, Regge calculus and other discrete methods in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C27)

Abstract: We consider Riemannian 4d BF lattice gauge theory, on a triangulation of spacetime. Introducing the simplicity constraints which turn BF theory into simplicial gravity, some geometric quantities of Regge calculus, areas, and 3d and 4d dihedral angles, are identified. The parallel transport conditions are taken care of to ensure a consistent gluing of simplices. We show that these gluing relations, together with the simplicity constraints, contain the constraints of area-angle Regge calculus in a simple way, via the group structure of the underlying BF gauge theory. This provides a precise road from constrained BF theory to area-angle Regge calculus. Doing so, a framework combining variables of lattice BF theory and Regge calculus is built. The action takes a form {it `a la Regge} and includes the contribution of the Immirzi parameter. In the absence of simplicity constraints, the standard spin foam model for BF theory is recovered. Insertions of local observables are investigated, leading to Casimir insertions for areas and 6j-symbols for 3d angles. The present formulation is argued to be suitable for deriving spin foam models from discrete path integrals.

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Cited in

(12)

• A new realization of quantum geometry
• Perturbative BF theory
• Towards effective actions for the continuum limit of spin foams
• 4-dimensional BF gravity on the lattice
• Boosting Wigner's \(nj\)-symbols
• Phase space descriptions for simplicial 4D geometries
• The degrees of freedom of area Regge calculus: dynamics, non-metricity, and broken diffeomorphisms
• Holographic description of boundary gravitons in (3+1) dimensions
• Relation between Regge calculus and BF theory on manifolds with defects
• Fermions, loop quantum gravity and geometry
• The spin-foam approach to quantum gravity
• Renormalization of a tensorial field theory on the homogeneous space \(\mathrm{SU}(2)/\mathrm{U}(1)\)

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