162 research outputs found
Canonical quantum gravity in the Vassiliev invariants arena: II. Constraints, habitats and consistency of the constraint algebra
In a companion paper we introduced a kinematical arena for the discussion of
the constraints of canonical quantum gravity in the spin network representation
based on Vassiliev invariants. In this paper we introduce the Hamiltonian
constraint, extend the space of states to non-diffeomorphism invariant
``habitats'' and check that the off-shell quantum constraint commutator algebra
reproduces the classical Poisson algebra of constraints of general relativity
without anomalies. One can therefore consider the resulting set of constraints
and space of states as a consistent theory of canonical quantum gravity.Comment: 20 Pages, RevTex, many figures included with psfi
Lattice knot theory and quantum gravity in the loop representation
We present an implementation of the loop representation of quantum gravity on
a square lattice. Instead of starting from a classical lattice theory,
quantizing and introducing loops, we proceed backwards, setting up constraints
in the lattice loop representation and showing that they have appropriate
(singular) continuum limits and algebras. The diffeomorphism constraint
reproduces the classical algebra in the continuum and has as solutions lattice
analogues of usual knot invariants. We discuss some of the invariants stemming
from Chern--Simons theory in the lattice context, including the issue of
framing. We also present a regularization of the Hamiltonian constraint. We
show that two knot invariants from Chern--Simons theory are annihilated by the
Hamiltonian constraint through the use of their skein relations, including
intersections. We also discuss the issue of intersections with kinks. This
paper is the first step towards setting up the loop representation in a
rigorous, computable setting.Comment: 23 pages, RevTeX, 14 figures included with psfi
Is the third coefficient of the Jones knot polynomial a quantum state of gravity?
Some time ago it was conjectured that the coefficients of an expansion of the
Jones polynomial in terms of the cosmological constant could provide an
infinite string of knot invariants that are solutions of the vacuum Hamiltonian
constraint of quantum gravity in the loop representation. Here we discuss the
status of this conjecture at third order in the cosmological constant. The
calculation is performed in the extended loop representation, a generalization
of the loop representation. It is shown that the the Hamiltonian does not
annihilate the third coefficient of the Jones polynomal () for general
extended loops. For ordinary loops the result acquires an interesting
geometrical meaning and new possibilities appear for to represent a
quantum state of gravity.Comment: 22 page
Consistent canonical quantization of general relativity in the space of Vassiliev knot invariants
We present a quantization of the Hamiltonian and diffeomorphism constraint of
canonical quantum gravity in the spin network representation. The novelty
consists in considering a space of wavefunctions based on the Vassiliev knot
invariants. The constraints are finite, well defined, and reproduce at the
level of quantum commutators the Poisson algebra of constraints of the
classical theory. A similar construction can be carried out in 2+1 dimensions
leading to the correct quantum theory.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex, one figur
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