Regge gravity on general triangulations

We investigate quantum gravity in four dimensions using the Regge approach on triangulations of the four-torus with general, non-regular incidence matrices. We find that the simplicial lattice tends to develop spikes for vertices with low coordination numbers even for vanishing gravitational coupling. Different to the regular, hypercubic lattices almost exclusively used in previous studies, we find now that the observables depend on the measure. Computations with nonvanishing gravitational coupling still reveal the existence of a region with well-defined expectation values. However, the phase structure depends on the triangulation. Even with additional higher- order terms in the action the critical behavior of the system changes with varying (local) coordination numbers.Comment: uuencoded postscript file, 16 page

Two-Point Functions of Four-Dimensional Simplicial Quantum Gravity

We investigate the interaction mechanism of pure quantum gravity in Regge discretization. We compute volume-volume and link-link correlation functions. In a preliminary analysis the forces turn out to be of Yukawa type, at least on our finite lattice being away from the continuum limit.Comment: 3 pages, uuencoded postscript file; Proceedings of the XI International Symposion on Lattice Field Theory, Dallas, Oct. 199

SU(2) potentials in quantum gravity

We present investigations of the potential between static charges from a simulation of quantum gravity coupled to an SU(2) gauge field on $6^{3}\times 4$ and $8^{3}\times 4$ simplicial lattices. In the well-defined phase of the gravity sector where geometrical expectation values are stable, we study the correlations of Polyakov loops and extract the corresponding potentials between a source and sink separated by a distance $R$. In the confined phase, the potential has a linear form while in the deconfined phase, a screened Coulombic behavior is found. Our results indicate that quantum gravitational effects do not destroy confinement due to non-abelian gauge fields.Comment: 3 pages, contribution to Lattice 94 conference, uuencoded compressed postscript fil

Static Quark Potentials in Quantum Gravity

We present potentials between static charges from simulations of quantum gravity coupled to an SU(2) gauge field on $6^{3}\times 4$ and $8^{3}\times 4$ simplicial lattices. The action consists of the gravitational term given by Regge's discrete version of the Euclidean Einstein action and a gauge term given by the Wilson action, with coupling constants $m_{p}^{2}$ and $\beta$ respectively. In the well-defined phase of the gravity sector where geometrical expectation values are stable, we study the correlations of Polyakov loops and extract the corresponding potentials between a source and sink separated by a distance $R$. We compare potentials on a flat simplicial lattice with those on a fluctuating Regge skeleton. In the confined phase, the potential has a linear form while in the deconfined phase, a screened Coulombic behavior is found. Our results indicate that quantum gravitational effects do not destroy confinement due to non-abelian gauge fields.Comment: 8 pages, to be published in Phys. Lett. B, uuencoded compressed postscript file

On the Continuum Limit of the Discrete Regge Model in 4d

The Regge Calculus approximates a continuous manifold by a simplicial lattice, keeping the connectivities of the underlying lattice fixed and taking the edge lengths as degrees of freedom. The Discrete Regge model employed in this work limits the choice of the link lengths to a finite number. This makes the computational evaluation of the path integral much faster. A main concern in lattice field theories is the existence of a continuum limit which requires the existence of a continuous phase transition. The recently conjectured second-order transition of the four-dimensional Regge skeleton at negative gravity coupling could be such a candidate. We examine this regime with Monte Carlo simulations and critically discuss its behavior.Comment: Lattice2002(gravity

Phase diagram of Regge quantum gravity coupled to SU(2) gauge theory

We analyze Regge quantum gravity coupled to SU(2) gauge theory on $4^3\times 2$, $6^{3}\times 4$ and $8^{3}\times 4$ simplicial lattices. It turns out that the window of the well-defined phase of the gravity sector where geometrical expectation values are stable extends to negative gravitational couplings as well as to gauge couplings across the deconfinement phase transition. We study the string tension from Polyakov loops, compare with the $\beta$-function of pure gauge theory and conclude that a physical limit through scaling is possible.Comment: RevTeX, 14 pages, 5 figures (2 eps, 3 tex), 2 table

Two-Dimensional Lattice Gravity as a Spin System

Quantum gravity is studied in the path integral formulation applying the Regge calculus. Restricting the quadratic link lengths of the originally triangular lattice the path integral can be transformed to the partition function of a spin system with higher couplings on a Kagome lattice. Various measures acting as external field are considered. Extensions to matter fields and higher dimensions are discussed.Comment: 3 pages, uuencoded postscript file; Proceedings of the 2nd IMACS Conference on Computational Physics, St. Louis, Oct. 199

Indications for Criticality at Zero Curvature in a 4d Regge Model of Euclidean Quantum Gravity

We re-examine the approach to four-dimensional Euclidean quantum gravity based on the Regge calculus. A cut-off on the link lengths is introduced and consequently the gravitational coupling and the cosmological constant become independent parameters. We determine the zero curvature, $=0$, line in the coupling constant plane by numerical simulations. When crossing this line we find a strong, probably first order, phase transition line with indications of a second order endpoint. Beyond the endpoint the transition through the $=0$ line appears to be a crossover. Previous investigations, using the Regge or the Dynamical Triangulation approach, dealt with a limit in which the first order transition prevails.Comment: Contribution to the lattice 2003 Tsukuba symposiu