Barrett-Crane Spin Foam Model Research Articles

Bubble divergences and gauge symmetries in spin foams

The divergence structure of spin foam models and its relation to diffeomorphism symmetry has attracted renewed interest. We will discuss in detail the (nonoccurrence of) divergencies in the Barrett-Crane spin foam model, which with our choice of weights can be understood as an integral of delta functions only. We will present furthermore a simple method to estimate the occurrence of so-called bubble divergencies for general spin foam models. We expect divergencies in spin foams related to the existence of (diffeomorphism) gauge symmetries. Thus we have to conclude that such gauge symmetries are not (fully) present in the model we consider. But we will identify a class of gauge symmetries that occur at special solutions of equations imposed by the delta function weights. This situation is surprisingly similar to the case of broken diffeomorphism symmetries in discrete gravity, which are present around flat solutions. We introduce a method to derive (Ward identity-like) equations for the vertex amplitudes of the model in the case of broken gauge symmetries.

Lagrangian approach to the Barrett-Crane spin foam model

We provide the Barrett-Crane spin foam model for quantum gravity with a discrete action principle, consisting in the usual BF term with discretized simplicity constraints which in the continuum turn topological BF theory into gravity. The setting is the same as usually considered in the literature: space-time is cut into 4-simplices, the connection describes how to glue these 4-simplices together and the action is a sum of terms depending on the holonomies around each triangle. We impose the discretized simplicity constraints on disjoint tetrahedra and we show how the Lagrange multipliers distort the parallel transport and the correlations between neighboring simplices. We then construct the discretized BF action using a noncommutative $\ensuremath{\star}$ product between SU(2) plane waves. We show how this naturally leads to the Barrett-Crane model. This clears up the geometrical meaning of the model. We discuss the natural generalization of this action principle and the spin foam models it leads to. We show how the recently introduced spin foam fusion coefficients emerge with a nontrivial measure. In particular, we recover the Engle-Pereira-Rovelli spin foam model by weakening the discretized simplicity constraints. Finally, we identify the two sectors of Plebanski's theory and we give the analog of the Barrett-Crane model in the nongeometric sector.

Spin foam model from canonical quantization

We suggest a modification of the Barrett-Crane spin foam model of four-dimensional Lorentzian general relativity motivated by the canonical quantization. The starting point is Lorentz covariant loop quantum gravity. Its kinematical Hilbert space is found as a space of the so-called projected spin networks. These spin networks are identified with the boundary states of a spin foam model and provide a generalization of the unique Barrett-Crane intertwiner. We propose a way to modify the Barrett-Crane quantization procedure to arrive at this generalization: the $B$ field (bivectors) should be promoted not to generators of the gauge algebra, but to their certain projection. The modification is also justified by the canonical analysis of the Plebanski formulation. Finally, we compare our construction with other proposals to modify the Barrett-Crane model.

Quantizing speeds with the cosmological constant

Considering the Barrett-Crane spin foam model for quantum gravity with (positive) cosmological constant, we show that speeds must be quantized and we investigate the physical implications of this effect such as the emergence of an effective deformed Poincare symmetry.

Causal Barrett-Crane model: Measure, coupling constant, Wick rotation, symmetries, and observables

We discuss various features and details of two versions of the Barrett-Crane spin foam model of quantum gravity: first of the Spin(4)-symmetric Riemannian model and second of the $SL(2,C)$-symmetric Lorentzian version in which all tetrahedra are spacelike. Recently, Livine and Oriti proposed to introduce a causal structure into the Lorentzian Barrett-Crane model from which one can construct a path integral that corresponds to the causal (Feynman) propagator. We show how to obtain convergent integrals for the $10j$ symbols and how a dimensionless constant can be introduced into the model. We propose a ``Wick rotation'' which turns the rapidly oscillating complex amplitudes of the Feynman path integral into positive real and bounded weights. This construction does not yet have the status of a theorem, but it can be used as an alternative definition of the propagator and makes the causal model accessible by standard numerical simulation algorithms. In addition, we identify the local symmetries of the models and show how their four-simplex amplitudes can be reexpressed in terms of the ordinary relativistic $10j$ symbols. Finally, motivated by possible numerical simulations, we express the matrix elements that are defined by the model, in terms of the continuous connection variables and determine the most general observable in the connection picture. Everything is done on a fixed two complex.

Renormalization of discrete models without background

Conventional renormalization methods in statistical physics and lattice quantum field theory assume a flat metric background. We outline here a generalization of such methods to models on discretized spaces without metric background. Cellular decompositions play the role of discretizations. The group of scale transformations is replaced by the groupoid of changes of cellular decompositions. We introduce cellular moves which generate this groupoid and allow to define a renormalization groupoid flow. We proceed to test our approach on several models. Quantum BF theory is the simplest example as it is almost topological and the renormalization almost trivial. More interesting is generalized lattice gauge theory for which a qualitative picture of the renormalization groupoid flow can be given. This is confirmed by the exact renormalization in dimension two. A main motivation for our approach are discrete models of quantum gravity. We investigate both the Reisenberger and the Barrett–Crane spin foam model in view of their amenability to a renormalization treatment. In the second case a lack of tunable local parameters prompts us to introduce a new model. For the Reisenberger and the new model we discuss qualitative aspects of the renormalization groupoid flow. In both cases quantum BF theory is the UV fixed point.

Boundary terms in the Barrett–Crane spin foam model and consistent gluing

We extend the lattice gauge theory-type derivation of the Barrett-Crane spin foam model for quantum gravity to other choices of boundary conditions, resulting in different boundary terms, and re-analyze the gluing of 4-simplices in this context. This provides a consistency check of the previous derivation. Moreover we study and discuss some possible alternatives and variations that can be made to it and the resulting models.

Barrett-Crane spin foam model from generalizedBF-type action for gravity

We study a generalized action for gravity as a constrained BF theory, and its relationship with the Plebanski action. We analyse the discretization of the constraints and the spin foam quantization of the theory, showing that it leads naturally to the Barrett-Crane spin foam model for quantum gravity. Our analysis holds true in both the Euclidean and Lorentzian formulation.

Gluing 4-simplices: A derivation of the Barrett-Crane spin foam model for Euclidean quantum gravity

We derive the Barrett-Crane spin foam model for Euclidean 4-dimensional quantum gravity from a discretized $\mathrm{BF}$ theory, imposing the constraints that reduce it to gravity at the quantum level. We obtain in this way a precise prescription of the form of the Barrett-Crane state sum, in the general case of an arbitrary manifold with boundary. In particular we derive the amplitude for the edges of the spin foam from a natural procedure of gluing different 4-simplices along a common tetrahedron. The generalization of our results to higher dimensions is also shown.