Related papers: Classical and Quantum W-Gravity
The higher-spin geometries of $W_\infty$-gravity and $W_N$-gravity are analysed and used to derive the complete non-linear structure of the coupling to matter and its symmetries. The symmetry group is a subgroup of the symplectic…
The geometric structure of theories with gauge fields of spins two and higher should involve a higher spin generalisation of Riemannian geometry. Such geometries are discussed and the case of $W_\infty$-gravity is analysed in detail. While…
We quantise the classical gauge theory of $N=2\ w_\infty$-supergravity and show how the underlying $N=2$ super-$w_\infty$ algebra gets deformed into an $N=2$ super-$W_\infty$ algebra. Both algebras contain the $N=2$ super-Virasoro algebra…
We give a review of the extended conformal algebras, known as $W$ algebras, which contain currents of spins higher than 2 in addition to the energy-momentum tensor. These include the non-linear $W_N$ algebras; the linear $W_\infty$ and…
It is believed that any classical gauge symmetry gives rise to an L$_\infty$ algebra. Based on the recently realized relation between classical ${\cal W}$ algebras and L$_\infty$ algebras, we analyze how this generalizes to the quantum…
We give a review of some recent developments in the quantisation of $W$-gravity theories. In particular, we discuss the construction of anomaly-free $W_\infty$ and $W_3$ gravities.
We extend the theory of the gauging of classical quadratically nonlinear algebras without a central charge but with a coset structure, to the quantum level. Inserting the minimal anomalies into the classical transformation rules of the…
The two-dimensional theory of gravity describing a graviton-dilaton system is considered. The graviton-dilaton coupling can be fixed such that the quantum theory remains free of the conformal anomaly for any conformal dimension of the…
The study of general two dimensional models of gravity allows to tackle basic questions of quantum gravity, bypassing important technical complications which make the treatment in higher dimensions difficult. As the physically important…
A generalization of classical gauge theory is presented, in the framework of a noncommutative-geometric formalism of quantum principal bundles over smooth manifolds. Quantum counterparts of classical gauge bundles, and classical gauge…
In this report we discuss three aspects: 1) Semiclassical gravity theory (SCG): 4 levels of theories describing the interaction of quantum matter with classical gravity; 2) Alternative Quantum Theories: Discerning those which are derivable…
A discursive, non-technical, analysis is made of some of the basic issues that arise in almost any approach to quantum gravity, and of how these issues stand in relation to recent developments in the field. Specific topics include the…
Although there is general agreement that a removal of classical gravitational singularities is not only a crucial conceptual test of any approach to quantum gravity but also a prerequisite for any fundamental theory, the precise criteria…
General Theory of Relativity and Quantum theory gives two different description of the same mother nature in the big and small scale respectively. Mathematical languages of these two theories are entirely different, one is geometric while…
We discuss aspects of global and gauged symmetries in quantum field theory and quantum gravity, focusing on discrete gauge symmetries. An effective Lagrangian description of $\Z_p$ gauge theories shows that they are associated with an…
A classical two dimensional theory of gravity which has a number of interesting features (including a Newtonian limit, black holes and gravitational collapse) is quantized using conformal field theoretic techniques. The critical dimension…
Gauge/gravity duality is the conjecture that string theories have dual descriptions as gauge theories. Weakly-coupled gravity is dual to strongly-coupled gauge theories, ideal for lattice calculations. I will show precision lattice…
A new direction to understand gravity has recently been explored by considering classical gravity to be a derived interaction from an underlying theory. This underlying theory would involve new degrees of freedom at a deeper level and it…
We analyse the classical and quantum theory of a scalar field interacting with gravitation in two dimensions. We describe a class of analytic solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation from which we are able to synthesise states that give…
Using gauge/gravity duality, we deduce several nontrivial consequences of quantum gravity from simple properties of the dual field theory. These include: (1) a version of cosmic censorship, (2) restrictions on evolution through black hole…