Related papers: Chern--Simons states in spin-network quantum gravi…

The Chern-Simons (CS) theory in three dimensions with a compact gauge group G is studied. Starting from the BRST quantization of the theory defined in R^3, the values of gauge invariants observables are computed in any closed and orientable…

This is intended as a broad introduction to Chern-Simons gravity and supergravity. The motivation for these theories lies in the desire to have a gauge invariant system --with a fiber bundle formulation-- in more than three dimensions,…

We propose a resolution to the longstanding problem of perturbative normalizability in canonical quantum gravity of the Lorentzian Chern-Simons-Kodama (CSK) state with a positive cosmological constant in four dimensions. While the CSK state…

As a laboratory for loop quantum gravity, we consider the canonical quantization of the three-dimensional Chern-Simons theory on a noncompact space with the topology of a cylinder. Working within the loop quantization formalism, we define…

In this paper the hamiltonian analysis of the pure Chern-Simons theory on the noncommutative plane is performed. We use the techniques of geometric quantization to show that the classical reduced phase space of the theory has nontrivial…

In a previous paper we formulated axisymmetric general relativity in terms of real Ashtekar--Barbero variables. Here we proceed to quantize the theory. We are able to implement Thiemann's version of the Hamiltonian constraint. We discuss…

We consider the world-line quantisation of a system invariant under the symmetries of reciprocal relativity. Imposition of the first class constraint, the generator of local time reparametrisations, on physical states enforces…

The Hartle-Hawking state is a proposal for a preferred initial state for quantum gravity, based on a path integral over all compact Euclidean four-geometries which have a given three-geometry as a boundary. The wave function constructed…

We construct a topological Chern-Simons sigma model on a Riemannian three-manifold M with gauge group G whose hyperkahler target space X is equipped with a G-action. Via a perturbative computation of its partition function, we obtain new…

A brief review of the development of Chern-Simons gauge theory since its relation to knot theory was discovered in 1988 is presented. The presentation is done guided by a dictionary which relates knot theory concepts to quantum field theory…

A correspondence between three-dimensional flat connections and constant curvature four-dimensional simplices is used to give a novel quantization of geometry via complex SL(2,C) Chern-Simons theory. The resulting quantum geometrical states…

We define a Chern--Simons invariant of connections on stably trivial vector bundles over smooth manifolds, taking values in $3$-forms modulo closed forms with integral cohomology class. We show an additivity property of this invariant for…

The evolution of spin network states in loop quantum gravity can be described by introducing a time variable, defined by the surfaces of constant value of an auxiliary scalar field. We regulate the Hamiltonian, generating such an evolution,…

Similarily as in the Ashtekar approach, the translational Chern-Simons term is, as a generating function, instrumental for a chiral reformulation of simple (N=1) supergravity. After applying the algebraic Cartan relation between spin and…

Starting from Ooguri's construction for $BF$ theory in three (and four) dimensions, we show how to construct a well defined theory with an infinite number of degrees of freedom. The spin network states that are kept invariant by the…

This is the third paper in a series outlining an algorithm to construct finite states of quantum gravity in Ashtekar variables. In this paper we treat the case of the Klein--Gordon field quantized with gravity on the same footing. We…

We argue that the cosmological constant is exponentially suppressed in a candidate ground state of loop quantum gravity as a nonperturbative effect of a holographic Fermi-liquid theory living on a two-dimensional spacetime. Ashtekar…

Various applications of Chern-Simons theory in algebraic topology, in particular knot theory, condensed matter physics and cosmology are reviewed. Special attention is paid to appearances of Chern-Simons actions in the theory of the…

We extend the Chern-Simons perturbative invariant of Axelrod and Singer to non-acyclic connections. We construct a solution of the quantum master equation on the space of functions on the cohomology of the connection. We prove that this…

In this note we present preliminary study on the relation between the quantum entanglement of boundary states and the quantum geometry in the bulk in the framework of spin networks. We conjecture that the emergence of space with non-zero…