Real and complex connections for canonical gravity

Both real and complex connections have been used for canonical gravity: the complex connection has SL(2,C) as gauge group, while the real connection has SU(2) as gauge group. We show that there is an arbitrary parameter $\beta$ which enters in the definition of the real connection, in the Poisson brackets, and therefore in the scale of the discrete spectra one finds for areas and volumes in the corresponding quantum theory. A value for $\beta$ could be could be singled out in the quantum theory by the Hamiltonian constraint, or by the rotation to the complex Ashtekar connection.Comment: 8 pages, RevTeX, no figure

Fuzzy Nambu-Goldstone Physics

In spacetime dimensions larger than 2, whenever a global symmetry G is spontaneously broken to a subgroup H, and G and H are Lie groups, there are Nambu-Goldstone modes described by fields with values in G/H. In two-dimensional spacetimes as well, models where fields take values in G/H are of considerable interest even though in that case there is no spontaneous breaking of continuous symmetries. We consider such models when the world sheet is a two-sphere and describe their fuzzy analogues for G=SU(N+1), H=S(U(N-1)xU(1)) ~ U(N) and G/H=CP^N. More generally our methods give fuzzy versions of continuum models on S^2 when the target spaces are Grassmannians and flag manifolds described by (N+1)x(N+1) projectors of rank =< (N+1)/2. These fuzzy models are finite-dimensional matrix models which nevertheless retain all the essential continuum topological features like solitonic sectors. They seem well-suited for numerical work.Comment: Latex, 18 pages; references added, typos correcte

Duality in Fuzzy Sigma Models

Nonlinear `sigma' models in two dimensions have BPS solitons which are solutions of self- and anti-self-duality constraints. In this paper, we find their analogues for fuzzy sigma models on fuzzy spheres which were treated in detail by us in earlier work. We show that fuzzy BPS solitons are quantized versions of `Bott projectors', and construct them explicitly. Their supersymmetric versions follow from the work of S. Kurkcuoglu.Comment: Latex, 9 pages; misprints correcte

Quantum Computation toward Quantum Gravity

The aim of this paper is to enlight the emerging relevance of Quantum Information Theory in the field of Quantum Gravity. As it was suggested by J. A. Wheeler, information theory must play a relevant role in understanding the foundations of Quantum Mechanics (the "It from bit" proposal). Here we suggest that quantum information must play a relevant role in Quantum Gravity (the "It from qubit" proposal). The conjecture is that Quantum Gravity, the theory which will reconcile Quantum Mechanics with General Relativity, can be formulated in terms of quantum bits of information (qubits) stored in space at the Planck scale. This conjecture is based on the following arguments: a) The holographic principle, b) The loop quantum gravity approach and spin networks, c) Quantum geometry and black hole entropy. Here we present the quantum version of the holographic principle by considering each pixel of area of an event horizon as a qubit. This is possible if the horizon is pierced by spin networks' edges of spin 1\2, in the superposed state of spin "up" and spin "down".Comment: 11 pages. Contributed to XIII International Congress on Mathematical Physics (ICMP 2000), London, England, 17-22 Jul 2000. Typos corrected. Accepted for publication in General Relativity and Gravitatio

Reality conditions for Ashtekar gravity from Lorentz-covariant formulation

We show the equivalence of the Lorentz-covariant canonical formulation considered for the Immirzi parameter $\beta=i$ to the selfdual Ashtekar gravity. We also propose to deal with the reality conditions in terms of Dirac brackets derived from the covariant formulation and defined on an extended phase space which involves, besides the selfdual variables, also their anti-selfdual counterparts.Comment: 14 page

Regge calculus and Ashtekar variables

Spacetime discretized in simplexes, as proposed in the pioneer work of Regge, is described in terms of selfdual variables. In particular, we elucidate the "kinematic" structure of the initial value problem, in which 3--space is divided into flat tetrahedra, paying particular attention to the role played by the reality condition for the Ashtekar variables. An attempt is made to write down the vector and scalar constraints of the theory in a simple and potentially useful way.Comment: 10 pages, uses harvmac. DFUPG 83/9

Quasinormal Modes, the Area Spectrum, and Black Hole Entropy

The results of canonical quantum gravity concerning geometric operators and black hole entropy are beset by an ambiguity labelled by the Immirzi parameter. We use a result from classical gravity concerning the quasinormal mode spectrum of a black hole to fix this parameter in a new way. As a result we arrive at the Bekenstein - Hawking expression of $A/4 l_P^2$ for the entropy of a black hole and in addition see an indication that the appropriate gauge group of quantum gravity is SO(3) and not its covering group SU(2).Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Topological Lattice Gravity Using Self-Dual Variables

Topological gravity is the reduction of general relativity to flat space-times. A lattice model describing topological gravity is developed starting from a Hamiltonian lattice version of B\w F theory. The extra symmetries not present in gravity that kill the local degrees of freedom in $B\wedge F$ theory are removed. The remaining symmetries preserve the geometrical character of the lattice. Using self-dual variables, the conditions that guarantee the geometricity of the lattice become reality conditions. The local part of the remaining symmetry generators, that respect the geometricity-reality conditions, has the form of Ashtekar's constraints for GR. Only after constraining the initial data to flat lattices and considering the non-local (plus local) part of the constraints does the algebra of the symmetry generators close. A strategy to extend the model for non-flat connections and quantization are discussed.Comment: 22 pages, revtex, no figure

Dirac Operators on Coset Spaces

The Dirac operator for a manifold Q, and its chirality operator when Q is even dimensional, have a central role in noncommutative geometry. We systematically develop the theory of this operator when Q=G/H, where G and H are compact connected Lie groups and G is simple. An elementary discussion of the differential geometric and bundle theoretic aspects of G/H, including its projective modules and complex, Kaehler and Riemannian structures, is presented for this purpose. An attractive feature of our approach is that it transparently shows obstructions to spin- and spin_c-structures. When a manifold is spin_c and not spin, U(1) gauge fields have to be introduced in a particular way to define spinors. Likewise, for manifolds like SU(3)/SO(3), which are not even spin_c, we show that SU(2) and higher rank gauge fields have to be introduced to define spinors. This result has potential consequences for string theories if such manifolds occur as D-branes. The spectra and eigenstates of the Dirac operator on spheres S^n=SO(n+1)/SO(n), invariant under SO(n+1), are explicitly found. Aspects of our work overlap with the earlier research of Cahen et al..Comment: section on Riemannian structure improved, references adde