Phase transitions in spinor quantum gravity on a lattice

We construct a well-defined lattice-regularized quantum theory formulated in terms of fundamental fermion and gauge fields, the same type of degrees of freedom as in the Standard Model. The theory is explicitly invariant under local Lorentz transformations and, in the continuum limit, under diffeomorphisms. It is suitable for describing large nonperturbative and fast-varying fluctuations of metrics. Although the quantum curved space turns out to be on the average flat and smooth owing to the non-compressibility of the fundamental fermions, the low-energy Einstein limit is not automatic: one needs to ensure that composite metrics fluctuations propagate to long distances as compared to the lattice spacing. One way to guarantee this is to stay at a phase transition. We develop a lattice mean field method and find that the theory typically has several phases in the space of the dimensionless coupling constants, separated by the second order phase transition surface. For example, there is a phase with a spontaneous breaking of chiral symmetry. The effective low-energy Lagrangian for the ensuing Goldstone field is explicitly diffeomorphism-invariant. We expect that the Einstein gravitation is achieved at the phase transition. A bonus is that the cosmological constant is probably automatically zero.Comment: 37 pages, 12 figures Discussion of dimensions and of the Berezinsky--Kosterlitz--Thouless phase adde

Cluster ensembles, quantization and the dilogarithm

Cluster ensemble is a pair of positive spaces (X, A) related by a map p: A -> X. It generalizes cluster algebras of Fomin and Zelevinsky, which are related to the A-space. We develope general properties of cluster ensembles, including its group of symmetries - the cluster modular group, and a relation with the motivic dilogarithm. We define a q-deformation of the X-space. Formulate general duality conjectures regarding canonical bases in the cluster ensemble context. We support them by constructing the canonical pairing in the finite type case. Interesting examples of cluster ensembles are provided the higher Teichmuller theory, that is by the pair of moduli spaces corresponding to a split reductive group G and a surface S defined in math.AG/0311149. We suggest that cluster ensembles provide a natural framework for higher quantum Teichmuller theory.Comment: Version 7: Final version. To appear in Ann. Sci. Ecole Normale. Sup. New material in Section 5. 58 pages, 11 picture

Bouncing Negative-Tension Branes

Braneworlds, understood here as double domain wall spacetimes, can be described in terms of a linear harmonic function, with kinks at the locations of the boundary branes. In a dynamical setting, there is therefore the risk that the boundary brane of negative tension, at whose location the value of the harmonic function is always lowest, can encounter a zero of this harmonic function, corresponding to the formation of a singularity. We show that for certain types of brane-bound matter this singularity can be avoided, and the negative-tension brane can shield the bulk spacetime from the singularity by bouncing back smoothly before reaching the singularity. In our analysis we compare the 5- and 4-dimensional descriptions of this phenomenon in order to determine the validity of the moduli space approximation.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figure, discussion extended and references added; minor mistake correcte

Duality in Integrable Systems and Gauge Theories

We discuss various dualities, relating integrable systems and show that these dualities are explained in the framework of Hamiltonian and Poisson reductions. The dualities we study shed some light on the known integrable systems as well as allow to construct new ones, double elliptic among them. We also discuss applications to the (supersymmetric) gauge theories in various dimensions.Comment: harvmac 45 pp.; v4. minor corrections, to appear in JHE

Position space versions of Magueijo-Smolin doubly special relativity proposal and the problem of total momentum

We present and discuss two different possibilities to construct position space version for Magueijo-Smolin (MS) doubly special relativity proposal. The first possibility is to start from ordinary special relativity and then to define conserved momentum in special way. It generates MS invariant as well as nonlinear MS transformations on the momentum space, leading to consistent picture for one-particle sector of the theory. The second possibility is based on the following observation. Besides the nonlinear MS transformations, the MS energy-momentum relation is invariant also under some inhomogeneous linear transformations. The latter are induced starting from linearly realized Lorentz group in five-dimensional position space. Particle dynamics and kinematics are formulated starting from the corresponding five-dimensional interval. There is no problem of total momentum in the theory. The formulation admits two observer independent scales, the speed of light, $c$, and $k$ with dimension of velocity. We speculate on different possibilities to relate $k$ with fundamental constants. In particular, expression of $k$ in terms of vacuum energy suggests emergence of (minimum) quantum of mass.Comment: Latex twice, 14 pages, revised in accordance with the version publishedin Phys. Rev.