Gravity and Yang-Mills theory

TL;DR

This paper explores the surprising perturbative connections between quantum Yang-Mills theories and classical gravity described by Einstein-Hilbert, shedding light on potential paths toward a quantum theory of gravity.

Contribution

It analyzes the origins and implications of the perturbative ties between Yang-Mills theory and Einstein-Hilbert gravity, challenging previous assumptions about their incompatibility.

Findings

Yang-Mills and Einstein-Hilbert theories share close perturbative ties.

These ties have significant implications for quantum gravity research.

The article discusses the origins of these connections.

Abstract

Three of the four forces of Nature are described by quantum Yang-Mills theories with remarkable precision. The fourth force, gravity, is described classically by the Einstein-Hilbert theory. There appears to be an inherent incompatibility between quantum mechanics and the Einstein-Hilbert theory which prevents us from developing a consistent quantum theory of gravity. The Einstein-Hilbert theory is therefore believed to differ greatly from Yang-Mills theory (which does have a sensible quantum mechanical description). It is therefore very surprising that these two theories actually share close perturbative ties. This article focuses on these ties between Yang-Mills theory and the Einstein-Hilbert theory. We discuss the origin of these ties and their implications for a quantum theory of gravity.