Phase transition in quantum gravity

TL;DR

This paper proposes a non-perturbative quantum field theory approach to quantum gravity, revealing a phase transition characterized by metric-based order parameters that change mass properties across a critical energy scale.

Contribution

It introduces a novel non-perturbative calculation indicating a phase transition in quantum gravity with symmetry breaking, based on classical general relativity.

Findings

Identification of a phase transition in quantum gravity.

Order parameters derived from spacetime metrics change mass properties.

Evidence of symmetry breaking at a critical energy scale.

Abstract

A fundamental problem with attempting to quantize general relativity is its perturbative non-renormalizability. However, this fact does not rule out the possibility that non-perturbative effects can be computed, at least in some approximation. We outline a quantum field theory calculation, based on general relativity as the classical theory, which implies a phase transition in quantum gravity. The order parameters are composite fields derived from spacetime metric functions. These are massless below a critical energy scale and become massive above it. There is a corresponding breaking of classical symmetry.