Semiclassical limits of simplicial quantum gravity

Oct 13, 1993
14 pages
Published in:
  • Class.Quant.Grav. 11 (1994) 543-556
e-Print:
Report number:
  • DAMTP-R-93-26

Citations per year

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Abstract: (arXiv)
We consider the simplicial state-sum model of Ponzano and Regge as a path integral for quantum gravity in three dimensions. We examine the Lorentzian geometry of a single 3-simplex and of a simplicial manifold, and interpret an asymptotic formula for 6j6j-symbols in terms of this geometry. This extends Ponzano and Regge's similar interpretation for Euclidean geometry. We give a geometric interpretation of the stationary points of this state-sum, by showing that, at these points, the simplicial manifold may be mapped locally into flat Lorentzian or Euclidean space. This lends weight to the interpretation of the state-sum as a path integral, which has solutions corresponding to both Lorentzian and Euclidean gravity in three dimensions.
  • quantum gravity: simplex
  • path integral
  • dimension: 3
  • approximation: semiclassical
  • Clebsch-Gordan coefficients