Related papers: Localization and anomalous reference frames in gra…
This thesis consists of two parts, connected by one central theme: the dynamics of the "shape of space". The first part of the thesis concerns the construction of a theory of gravity dynamically equivalent to general relativity (GR) in 3+1…
We study the cosmological implications of gravity models which break diffeomorphisms (Diff) invariance down to transverse diffeomorphisms (TDiff). We start from the most general gravitational action involving up to quadratic terms in…
We complement investigations of the gauge structure of general relativity with an analysis of the physical consequences of the spontaneous breaking of diffeomorphism invariance which manifests itself in e.g. the socalled Einstein hole…
The proper definition of subsystems in gauge theory and gravity requires an extension of the local phase space by including edge mode fields. Their role is on the one hand to restore gauge invariance with respect to gauge transformations…
We study the degrees of freedom of the metric in a general class of higher derivative gravity models, which are interesting in the context of quantum gravity as they are (super)renormalizable. First, we linearize the theory for a flat…
We study the algebra of observables in semiclassical quantum gravity for cosmological backgrounds, focusing on two key examples: slow-roll inflation and evaporating Schwarzschild-de Sitter black holes. In both cases, we demonstrate the…
We construct explicitly generators of projectable four-dimensional diffeomorphisms and triad rotation gauge symmetries in a model of vacuum gravity where the fundamental dynamical variables in a Palatini formulation are taken to be a lapse,…
We recently described a cosmological quantum spacetime of vanishing spatial curvature, which can be considered as background for the IKKT matrix model, assuming that the resulting gauge theory couples weakly. Building on this example, we…
Conformal algebra on R x S^3 derived from quantized gravitational fields is examined. The model we study is a renormalizable quantum theory of gravity in four dimensions described by a combined system of the Weyl action for the traceless…
A generalized definition of a frame of reference in spaces with affine connections and metrics is proposed based on the set of the following differential-geometric objects: (a) a non-null (non-isotropic) vector field, (b) the orthogonal to…
Based on a family of indefinite unitary representations of the diffeomorphism group of an oriented smooth $4$-manifold, a manifestly covariant $4$ dimensional and non-perturbative algebraic quantum field theory formulation of gravity is…
In this paper we study the effects of spatial curvature of the metric on the phase space of vacuum $f(R)$ gravity. Particularly, we appropriately choose the variables of the dynamical system, in order for this to be autonomous, and we study…
Shape Dynamics is a gauge theory based on spatial diffeomorphism- and Weyl-invariance which is locally indistinguishable form classical General Relativity. If taken seriously, it suggests that the spacetime--geometry picture that underlies…
In the double field theory, gauge symmetries are realized as generalized diffeomorphisms in the doubled spacetime. By consistency of the theory, dependence of tensor fields on the doubled coordinates is strongly constrained. This causes…
Classical higher-derivative gravity is investigated in the context of the holographic renormalization group (RG). We parametrize the Euclidean time such that one step of time evolution in (d+1)-dimensional bulk gravity can be directly…
We discuss reality conditions and the relation between spacetime diffeomorphisms and gauge transformations in Ashtekar's complex formulation of general relativity. We produce a general theoretical framework for the stabilization algorithm…
We use a canonical parametrization of twisted geometries describing the classical phase space of loop quantum gravity on a fixed graph, and establish its explicit correspondence with the associated frame bases and spinorial descriptions.…
In this paper we elaborate on the idea of an emergent spacetime which arises due to the dynamical breaking of diffeomorphism invariance in the early universe. In preparation for an explicit symmetry breaking scenario, we consider nonlinear…
The kinematical phase space of classical gravitational field is flat (affine) and unbounded. Because of this, field variables may tend to infinity leading to appearance of singularities, which plague Einstein's theory of gravity. The…
The issue of local gauge invariance in the simplicial lattice formulation of gravity is examined. We exhibit explicitly, both in the weak field expansion about flat space, and subsequently for arbitrarily triangulated background manifolds,…