Curvature and Gravity Actions for Matrix Models

We show how gravitational actions, in particular the Einstein-Hilbert action, can be obtained from additional terms in Yang-Mills matrix models. This is consistent with recent results on induced gravitational actions in these matrix models, realizing space-time as 4-dimensional brane solutions. It opens up the possibility for a controlled non-perturbative description of gravity through simple matrix models, with interesting perspectives for the problem of vacuum energy. The relation with UV/IR mixing and non-commutative gauge theory is discussed.Comment: 17 pages; v2+v3: minor correction

Matrix Models, Emergent Gravity, and Gauge Theory

Matrix models of Yang-Mills type induce an effective gravity theory on 4-dimensional branes, which are considered as models for dynamical space-time. We review recent progress in the understanding of this emergent gravity. The metric is not fundamental but arises effectively in the semi-classical limit, along with nonabelian gauge fields. This leads to a mechanism for protecting certain geometries from corrections due to the vacuum energy.Comment: 8 pages. Based on invited talks given at the Conferences "Quantum Spacetime and Noncommutative Geometry", Rome, 2008 and at "Workshop on quantum gravity and nocommutative geometry", Lisbon, 2008 and at "Emergent Gravity", Boston, 2008 and at DICE2008, Italy, 2008 and at "QG2 2008 Quantum Geometry and Quantum Gravity", Nottingham, 200

Fermions and noncommutative emergent gravity II: Curved branes in extra dimensions

We study fermions coupled to Yang-Mills matrix models from the point of view of emergent gravity. The matrix model Dirac operator provides an appropriate coupling for fermions to the effective gravitational metric for general branes with nontrivial embedding, albeit with a non-standard spin connection. This generalizes previous results for 4-dimensional matrix models. Integrating out the fermions in a nontrivial geometrical background induces indeed the Einstein-Hilbert action of the effective metric, as well as additional terms which couple the Poisson tensor to the Riemann tensor, and a dilaton-like term.Comment: 34 pages; minor change

Schwarzschild Geometry Emerging from Matrix Models

We demonstrate how various geometries can emerge from Yang-Mills type matrix models with branes, and consider the examples of Schwarzschild and Reissner-Nordstroem geometry. We provide an explicit embedding of these branes in R^{2,5} and R^{4,6}, as well as an appropriate Poisson resp. symplectic structure which determines the non-commutativity of space-time. The embedding is asymptotically flat with asymptotically constant \theta^{\mu\nu} for large r, and therefore suitable for a generalization to many-body configurations. This is an illustration of our previous work arXiv:1003.4132, where we have shown how the Einstein-Hilbert action can be realized within such matrix models.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figur

Quantum Field Theory on the q-deformed Fuzzy Sphere

We discuss the second quantization of scalar field theory on the q-deformed fuzzy sphere S^2_{q,N} for q \in \R, using a path-integral approach. We find quantum field theories which are manifestly covariant under U_q(su(2)), have a smooth limit q -> 1, and satisfy positivity and twisted bosonic symmetry properties. Using a Drinfeld twist, they are equivalent to ordinary but slightly "nonlocal" QFT's on the undeformed fuzzy sphere, which are covariant under SU(2).Comment: 8 pages, lecture given at the XXXVII Karpacz Winter School "New Developments in Fundamental Interactions Theories" (February 6-15, 2000, Karpacz, Poland). To be published in Proceeding

Fermions on spontaneously generated spherical extra dimensions

We include fermions to the model proposed in hep-th/0606021, and obtain a renormalizable 4-dimensional SU(N) gauge theory which spontaneously generates fuzzy extra dimensions and behaves like Yang-Mills theory on M^4 \times S^2. We find a truncated tower of fermionic Kaluza-Klein states transforming under the low-energy gauge group, which is found to be either SU(n), or SU(n_1) x SU(n_2) x U(1). The latter case implies a nontrivial U(1) flux on S^2, leading to would-be zero modes for the bifundamental fermions. In the non-chiral case they may pair up to acquire a mass, and the emerging picture is that of mirror fermions. We discuss the possible implementation of a chirality constraint in 6 dimensions, which is nontrivial at the quantum level due to the fuzzy nature of the extra dimensions.Comment: 34 pages. V2: references added, minor corrections V3: discussion added, final versio

Gravity and compactified branes in matrix models

A mechanism for emergent gravity on brane solutions in Yang-Mills matrix models is exhibited. Newtonian gravity and a partial relation between the Einstein tensor and the energy-momentum tensor can arise from the basic matrix model action, without invoking an Einstein-Hilbert-type term. The key requirements are compactified extra dimensions with extrinsic curvature M^4 x K \subset R^D and split noncommutativity, with a Poisson tensor \theta^{ab} linking the compact with the noncompact directions. The moduli of the compactification provide the dominant degrees of freedom for gravity, which are transmitted to the 4 noncompact directions via the Poisson tensor. The effective Newton constant is determined by the scale of noncommutativity and the compactification. This gravity theory is well suited for quantization, and argued to be perturbatively finite for the IKKT model. Since no compactification of the target space is needed, it might provide a way to avoid the landscape problem in string theory.Comment: 35 pages. V2: substantially revised and improved, conclusion weakened. V3: some clarifications, published version. V4: minor correctio

A nontrivial solvable noncommutative \phi^3 model in 4 dimensions

We study the quantization of the noncommutative selfdual \phi^3 model in 4 dimensions, by mapping it to a Kontsevich model. The model is shown to be renormalizable, provided one additional counterterm is included compared to the 2-dimensional case which can be interpreted as divergent shift of the field \phi. The known results for the Kontsevich model allow to obtain the genus expansion of the free energy and of any n-point function, which is finite for each genus after renormalization. No coupling constant or wavefunction renormalization is required. A critical coupling is determined, beyond which the model is unstable. This provides a nontrivial interacting NC field theory in 4 dimensions.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures. V2: typos fixe