NON-PERTURBATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR LATTICE QUANTUM GRAVITY

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new discretized model for 3+1-dimensional quantum gravity using $SL(2, ext{C})$ connections on a lattice, providing a rigorous non-perturbative framework with explicit solutions to the quantum constraints.

Contribution

It presents the first rigorous, regularized non-perturbative lattice model for quantum gravity based on $SL(2, ext{C})$ connections, with explicit solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation.

Findings

Existence of solutions labeled by Polyakov loops

Solutions have finite norm in the constructed Hilbert space

Framework is gauge- and diffeomorphism-invariant

Abstract

We propose a new, discretized model for the study of 3+1-dimensional canonical quantum gravity, based on the classical $SL(2,\C)$-connection formulation. The discretization takes place on a topological $N^3$- lattice with periodic boundary conditions. All operators and wave functions are constructed from one-dimensional link variables, which are regarded as the fundamental building blocks of the theory. The kinematical Hilbert space is spanned by polynomials of certain Wilson loops on the lattice and is manifestly gauge- and diffeomorphism- invariant. The discretized quantum Hamiltonian $\hat H$ maps this space into itself. We find a large sector of solutions to the discretized Wheeler-DeWitt equation $\hat H\psi=0$, which are labelled by single and multiple Polyakov loops. These states have a finite norm with respect to a natural scalar product on the space of holomorphic $SL(2,\C)$-Wilson loops. We also investigate the existence of further solutions for the case of the $1^3$-lattice. - Our results provide for the first time a rigorous, regularized framework for studying non-perturbative quantum gravity.