QSD IV : 2+1 Euclidean Quantum Gravity as a model to test 3+1 Lorentzian Quantum Gravity

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new canonical quantization approach for Euclidean 2+1 gravity with arbitrary genus, aiming to better emulate the constraints of 3+1 Lorentzian quantum gravity and test its properties.

Contribution

It develops a novel quantization method for Euclidean 2+1 gravity that captures features of 3+1 Lorentzian gravity, expanding the solution space and validating previous results.

Findings

The solution space is larger but includes traditional solutions.

The new method produces a finite quantum gravity theory.

Remaining spurious solutions are analyzed.

Abstract

The quantization of Lorentzian or Euclidean 2+1 gravity by canonical methods is a well-studied problem. However, the constraints of 2+1 gravity are those of a topological field theory and therefore resemble very little those of the corresponding Lorentzian 3+1 constraints. In this paper we canonically quantize Euclidean 2+1 gravity for arbitrary genus of the spacelike hypersurface with new, classically equivalent constraints that maximally probe the Lorentzian 3+1 situation. We choose the signature to be Euclidean because this implies that the gauge group is, as in the 3+1 case, SU(2) rather than SU(1,1). We employ, and carry out to full completion, the new quantization method introduced in preceding papers of this series which resulted in a finite 3+1 Lorentzian quantum field theory for gravity. The space of solutions to all constraints turns out to be much larger than the one as obtained by traditional approaches, however, it is fully included. Thus, by suitable restriction of the solution space, we can recover all former results which gives confidence in the new quantization methods. The meaning of the remaining "spurious solutions" is discussed.