On the constraint algebra of quantum gravity in the loop representation

Although an important issue in canonical quantization, the problem of representing the constraint algebra in the loop representation of quantum gravity has received little attention. The only explicit computation was performed by Gambini, Garat and Pullin for a formal point-splitting regularization of the diffeomorphism and Hamiltonian constraints. It is shown that the calculation of the algebra simplifies considerably when the constraints are expressed not in terms of generic area derivatives but rather as the specific shift operators that reflect the geometric meaning of the constraints.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX, 2 figures included with eps

An analytical expression for the third coefficient of the Jones Polynomial

An analytical expression for the third coefficient of the Jones Polynomial P_J[\gamma,\, {\em e}^q] in the variable $q$ is reported. Applications of the result in Quantum Gravity are considered.Comment: 9 page

More on the exponential bound of four dimensional simplicial quantum gravity

A crucial requirement for the standard interpretation of Monte Carlo simulations of simplicial quantum gravity is the existence of an exponential bound that makes the partition function well-defined. We present numerical data favoring the existence of an exponential bound, and we argue that the more limited data sets on which recently opposing claims were based are also consistent with the existence of an exponential bound.Comment: 10 pages, latex, 2 figure

How the Jones Polynomial Gives Rise to Physical States of Quantum General Relativity

Solutions to both the diffeomorphism and the hamiltonian constraint of quantum gravity have been found in the loop representation, which is based on Ashtekar's new variables. While the diffeomorphism constraint is easily solved by considering loop functionals which are knot invariants, there remains the puzzle why several of the known knot invariants are also solutions to the hamiltonian constraint. We show how the Jones polynomial gives rise to an infinite set of solutions to all the constraints of quantum gravity thereby illuminating the structure of the space of solutions and suggesting the existance of a deep connection between quantum gravity and knot theory at a dynamical level.Comment: 7p

Absence of barriers in dynamical triangulation

Due to the unrecognizability of certain manifolds there must exist pairs of triangulations of these manifolds that can only be reached from each other by going through an intermediate state that is very large. This might reduce the reliability of dynamical triangulation, because there will be states that will not be reached in practice. We investigate this problem numerically for the manifold $S^5$, which is known to be unrecognizable, but see no sign of these unreachable states.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX2e source with postscript resul

Quantum Einstein-Maxwell Fields: A Unified Viewpoint from the Loop Representation

We propose a naive unification of Electromagnetism and General Relativity based on enlarging the gauge group of Ashtekar's new variables. We construct the connection and loop representations and analyze the space of states. In the loop representation, the wavefunctions depend on two loops, each of them carrying information about both gravitation and electromagnetism. We find that the Chern-Simons form and the Jones Polynomial play a role in the model.Comment: 13pp. no figures, Revtex, UU-HEP-92/9, IFFI 92-1

The Extended Loop Representation of Quantum Gravity

A new representation of Quantum Gravity is developed. This formulation is based on an extension of the group of loops. The enlarged group, that we call the Extended Loop Group, behaves locally as an infinite dimensional Lie group. Quantum Gravity can be realized on the state space of extended loop dependent wavefunctions. The extended representation generalizes the loop representation and contains this representation as a particular case. The resulting diffeomorphism and hamiltonian constraints take a very simple form and allow to apply functional methods and simplify the loop calculus. In particular we show that the constraints are linear in the momenta. The nondegenerate solutions known in the loop representation are also solutions of the constraints in the new representation. The practical calculation advantages allows to find a new solution to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation. Moreover, the extended representation puts in a precise framework some of the regularization problems of the loop representation. We show that the solutions are generalized knot invariants, smooth in the extended variables, and any framing is unnecessary.Comment: 27 pages, report IFFC/94-1

NON-PERTURBATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR LATTICE QUANTUM GRAVITY

We propose a new, discretized model for the study of 3+1-dimensional canonical quantum gravity, based on the classical SL(2,\C)-connection formulation. The discretization takes place on a topological $N^3$- lattice with periodic boundary conditions. All operators and wave functions are constructed from one-dimensional link variables, which are regarded as the fundamental building blocks of the theory. The kinematical Hilbert space is spanned by polynomials of certain Wilson loops on the lattice and is manifestly gauge- and diffeomorphism- invariant. The discretized quantum Hamiltonian $\hat H$ maps this space into itself. We find a large sector of solutions to the discretized Wheeler-DeWitt equation $\hat H\psi=0$, which are labelled by single and multiple Polyakov loops. These states have a finite norm with respect to a natural scalar product on the space of holomorphic SL(2,\C)-Wilson loops. We also investigate the existence of further solutions for the case of the $1^3$-lattice. - Our results provide for the first time a rigorous, regularized framework for studying non-perturbative quantum gravity.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures (postscript, compressed and uuencoded), TeX, Jan 9

Does loop quantum gravity imply Lambda=0?

We suggest that in a recently proposed framework for quantum gravity, where Vassiliev invariants span the the space of states, the latter is dramatically reduced if one has a non-vanishing cosmological constant. This naturally suggests that the initial state of the universe should have been one with $\Lambda=0$.Comment: 5 pages, one figure included with psfi

Extended Loops: A New Arena for Nonperturbative Quantum Gravity

We propose a new representation for gauge theories and quantum gravity. It can be viewed as a generalization of the loop representation. We make use of a recently introduced extension of the group of loops into a Lie Group. This extension allows the use of functional methods to solve the constraint equations. It puts in a precise framework the regularization problems of the loop representation. It has practical advantages in the search for quantum states. We present new solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation that reinforce the conjecture that the Jones Polynomial is a state of nonperturbative quantum gravity.Comment: 12pp, Revtex, no figures, CGPG-93/12-