Quantum Gravity

One fruitful strategy of tackling quantum gravity is to adapt quantum field theory to the situation where spacetime geometry is dynamical, and to implement diffeomorphism symmetry in a way that is compatible with regularization and renormalization. It has taken a while to address the underlying technical and conceptual challenges and to chart a quantum field-theoretic path toward a theory of quantum gravity that is unitary, essentially unique and can produce "numbers" beyond perturbation theory. In this context, the formulation of Causal Dynamical Triangulations (CDT) is a quantum-gravitational analogue of what lattice QCD is to nonabelian gauge theory. Its nonperturbative toolbox builds on the mathematical principles of “random geometry” and allows us to shift emphasis from formal considerations to extracting quantitative results on the spectra of invariant quantum observables at or near the Planck scale. A breakthrough result of CDT quantum gravity in four dimensions is the emergence, from first principles, of a nonperturbative vacuum state with properties of a de Sitter universe. I will summarize these findings, highlight the nonlocal character of observables in quantum gravity and describe the interesting physics questions that are being tackled using the new notion of quantum Ricci curvature.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/92791576774?pwd=VEg3MEdKOWsxOEhXOHVIQUhPcUt0UT09

In this talk, I will show that supergravity on asymptotically flat spaces possesses a (nonlinear) asymptotic symmetry algebra, containing an infinite number of fermionic generators. Starting from the Hamiltonian action for supergravity with suitable boundary conditions on the graviton and gravitino fields, I will derive a graded extension of the BMS_4 algebra at spatial infinity, denoted by SBMS_4. These boundary conditions are not only invariant under the SBMS_4 algebra, but lead to a fully consistent canonical description of the supersymmetries, which have well-defined Hamiltonian generators. One finds, in particular, that the graded brackets between the fermionic generators yield BMS supertranslations, of which they provide therefore “square roots”.  I will comment on some key aspects of extending the asymptotic analysis at spatial infinity to fermions and on the structure of the SBMS_4 algebra in terms of Lorentz representations.

Zoom link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/95951230095?pwd=eHIwUXB5SUkvd0IvZnVUN3JJMFE1QT09

In this talk  will develop Rafael D. Sorkin's heuristic that a partially ordered process of the birth of spacetime atoms in causal set quantum gravity can provide an objective physical correlate of our perception of time passing. I will argue that one cannot have an external, fully objective picture of the birth process because the order in which the spacetime atoms are born is a partial order. I propose that live experience in causal set theory is an internal ``view'' of the objective birth process in which events that are neural correlates of consciousness occur. In causal set theory, what ``breathes fire'' into a neural correlate of consciousness is that which breathes fire into the whole universe: the unceasing, partially ordered process of the birth of spacetime atoms.

Zoom link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/95170823205?pwd=QW9YM3QrZU12Ti9HTUQ4TDlVNmN5Zz09

Though often not spelled out explicitly, dynamical reference frames appear ubiquitously in gauge theory and gravity. They appear, for example, when constructing dressed/relational observables, describing physics relative to the frame in a gauge-invariant way. In this talk, I will sketch a general framework for constructing such frames and associated relational observables. It unifies previous approaches and encompasses the transformations relating different frame choices. In gravitational theories, this gives rise to an arguably more physical reformulation of general covariance in terms of dynamical rather than fixed frames. I will then discuss an ensuing relational form of locality, including bulk microcausality and local subsystems associated with subregions, both of which can be defined gauge-invariantly relative to a dynamical frame. In the latter case, the frame incarnates as an edge mode field, linking with recent work on finite subregions. In particular, the corresponding boundary charges and symmetries can be understood in terms of reorientations of the frame. Notably, the resulting notion of a subsystem is frame-dependent, as are therefore correlations, thermal properties and specifically entropies. I will conclude with an outlook on the quantum realm and connections with recent developments on quantum reference frames. [Based on 2206.01193, 2205.00913, JHEP 172 (2022), PRL 128 170401.] 

Zoom link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/97735460640?pwd=NThybFc3M3Z3cHhVRmRvczdrclhvZz09

There exists a solid framework to study gravitational waves in full, non-linear general relativity when the spacetime is asymptotically flat. An essential aspect of this framework is asymptotic symmetries. These symmetries are the BMS symmetries. The situation for cosmological spacetimes is different, however. Expanding spacetimes, whose expansion is decelerating such as matter- or radiation-dominated universes, share some similarities with the asymptotically flat case nonetheless. Not surprisingly, their asymptotic symmetries also share similarities with the BMS symmetries, but are not the same.

Zoom Link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/98168915236?pwd=ejFtaVpVZXAxT2NIdDhtMUNSbmRvQT09

In this talk I will present the recent results of my work with Edoardo d'Angelo, Nicolo Drago and Nicola Pinamonti. Using the methods of perturbative algebraic quantum field theory, we have formulated new flow equations on Lorentzian spacetimes that work for arbitrary states (not only the vacuum) and in Minkowski vaccum reduce to Wetterich equations. This has potential applications to the asymptotic safety approach to quantum gravity.

Zoom link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/98616857260?pwd=ajZoS1lZc0cySlVmTVdVUnA5Ull6Zz09

We discuss how 3+1-dimensional physics including gravity can arise in the IKKT or IIB matrix model.  The model is related to string theory, but it also provides a direct and accessible definition of  3+1-dimensional physics on suitable backgrounds. This leads to a higher-spin extension of gravity on covariant quantum space-time with manifest volume-preserving diffeos, which is UV finite at one loop. 

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/94588999721?pwd=VTdxQSt3MGhSMkt3UThCVjNRcXJBQT09

Inspired by the corpuscular model of gravity, I will discuss a simplified quantum description of neutral and electrically charged spherically symmetric black holes given by coherent states of toy gravitons. From such states I will derive effective geometries devoid of curvature singularities (replaced by integrable ones) and Cauchy horizons. Lastly, I will present a similar analysis for the Schwarzschild-de Sitter geometry, used as a model for the late Universe, showing that the “reaction” of the de Sitter background to the presence of localised matter sources induces a modified Newtonian dynamics at galactic scales and different values measured for the present Hubble parameter.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93087108672?pwd=ekQrLysrcjRwVWFSZ2J5bndteXBtdz09

Considering the scale dependent effective spacetimes implied by the functional renormalization group in d-dimensional Quantum Einstein Gravity, we discuss the representation of entire evolution histories by means of a single, (d+1)-dimensional manifold furnished with a fixed (pseudo-) Riemannian structure.

We propose a universal form of the higher dimensional metric and discuss its properties. We show that, under precise conditions, this metric is always Ricci flat; if the evolving spacetimes are maximally symmetric, their (d+1)-dimensional representative has a vanishing Riemann tensor even. The non-degeneracy of the higher dimensional metric is linked to a monotonicity requirement for the running of the cosmological constant, which we test in the case of Asymptotic Safety.

Furthermore, we allow the higher dimensional manifold to be an arbitrary Einstein space, admitting the possibility that the spacetimes to be embedded have a Lorentzian signature, a prime example being a stack of de Sitter spaces. We “derive” the (A)dS/CFT correspondence by applying the gravitational Effective Average Action approach, by solving the corresponding functional RG and the effective Einstein equations, and finally embedding the 4D metrics into the one single 5-dimensional one. It is an intriguing possibility that in this way one might find a specific solution to the general equations which coincides with the 5D kinematic setting which forms the basis of the conjectured (A)dS/CFT correspondence.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/92268060878?pwd=M2E1S1RxcHBFbzBiblhpSUJCMWIzUT09

States of Low Energy (SLEs) have been constructed in cosmological spacetimes as the ones that minimize the mode contribution to the regularized energy density. These have been shown to be an adequate choice of vacuum state for primordial perturbations in models that include a period of kinetic domination prior to inflation. This is precisely the case in Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC). In this talk we will review the construction and properties of SLEs for a general FLRW model and explore their application to LQC.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/98112698584?pwd=NkFhMWVNM3gvc1lYQ3cvVDFGL0laUT09

In this seminar, I will explore the effect of quantum gravity on matter couplings within a (Functional) Renormalization Group framework. I will mainly focus on gravitational contribution to the flow of gauge couplings. In particular, I will focus on results obtained from a class of interpolating regulators that allow us to extract certain universal pieces from non-universal quantities. I will argue that gravity might induce the UV completion of an Abelian-gauge sector, despite an apparent vanishing contribution to its flow when we consider only universal pieces. This result might offer a new perspective on the differences between perturbative studies and Functional Renormalization Group studies.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/97277305442?pwd=d240TXhrNnZ0TlErbGQ0bCtGU1NCZz09