Maslov Anomaly and the Morse Index Theorem

Our starting point is again the phase space integral $$\displaystyle{ \text{e}^{\text{i}\hat{\varGamma }[\tilde{M}]} =\int \mathcal{D}\chi ^{a}\,\text{e}^{\text{i}S_{\text{fl}}[\chi,\tilde{M}]} }$$ (31.1) with periodic boundary conditions χ(0) = χ(T) and $$\displaystyle{ S_{\text{fl}}[\chi,\tilde{M}] = \frac{1} {2}\int _{0}^{T}dt\,\bar{\chi }_{ a}(t)\left [ \frac{\partial } {\partial t} -\tilde{M}(t)\right ]_{\phantom{a}b}^{a}\chi ^{b}(t)\;. }$$ (31.2) Here we have indicated that Sfl and \(\hat{\varGamma }\) depend on ηcl a and A i only through \(\tilde{M}_{\phantom{a}b}^{a}\): $$\displaystyle{ \tilde{M}(t)_{\phantom{a}b}^{a} =\omega ^{ac}\partial _{ c}\partial _{b}\mathcal{H}{\bigl (\eta _…

Fractal Spacetime Structure in Asymptotically Safe Gravity

Four-dimensional Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG) is likely to be an asymptotically safe theory which is applicable at arbitrarily small distance scales. On sub-Planckian distances it predicts that spacetime is a fractal with an effective dimensionality of 2. The original argument leading to this result was based upon the anomalous dimension of Newton's constant. In the present paper we demonstrate that also the spectral dimension equals 2 microscopically, while it is equal to 4 on macroscopic scales. This result is an exact consequence of asymptotic safety and does not rely on any truncation. Contact is made with recent Monte Carlo simulations.

On Riemann’s Ideas on Space and Schwinger’s Treatment of Low-Energy Pion-Nucleon Physics

We begin with a demonstration of how great an influence Riemann’s habilitation essay had on the development of field theory. His ideas about the origin of physical space and the importance of a metric field were clearly outlined as early as 1854, and praised highly by the old C.F. Gauss, who died 1 year later. There is but one formula in Riemann’s article. This formula and its relevance will be explained at the beginning of the present chapter. The basic principle which is omnipresent in Riemann’s entire work is to understand the physical behavior of nature from its smallness. Hence partial differential equations stand at the beginning of any field theory. In our case, it is not the metric …

Time-Independent Canonical Perturbation Theory

First we consider the perturbation calculation only to first order, limiting ourselves to only one degree of freedom. Furthermore, the system is to be conservative, ∂ H∕∂ t = 0, and periodic in both the unperturbed and perturbed case. In addition to periodicity, we shall require the Hamilton–Jacobi equation to be separable for the unperturbed situation. The unperturbed problem H0(J0) which is described by the action-angle variables J0 and w0 will be assumed to be solved. Thus we have, for the unperturbed frequency: $$\displaystyle{ \nu _{0} = \frac{\partial H_{0}} {\partial J_{0}} }$$ (10.1) and $$\displaystyle{ w_{0} =\nu _{0}t +\beta _{0}\;. }$$ (10.2) Then the new Hamiltonian reads, up t…

Dynamische Analyse von Osteosynthesen am Olecranon: ein in-vitro Vergleich zweier Osteosynthesesysteme / Dynamic analysis of olecranon osteosyntheses – an in vitro comparison of two osteosynthesis systems

INTRODUCTION The aim of the present study was to develop a test setup with continuous angle alteration to imitate elbow joint motion for the mechanical evaluation of tension band wiring and a newly designed intramedullary nail. MATERIALS AND METHODS The servo-pneumatical test stand worked with a rotational angle-adjusted and a linear force-adjusted engine. The fracture model was dynamically tested under cyclic loading imitating elbow joint motion. In total, 14 fresh cadaver upper extremities underwent olecranon fracture by means of transverse osteotomy and were assigned to two groups: tension band wiring and intramedullary nailing. There was a continuous angle alteration between 0 and 1000 …

Ultraviolet Fixed Point and Generalized Flow Equation of Quantum Gravity

A new exact renormalization group equation for the effective average action of Euclidean quantum gravity is constructed. It is formulated in terms of the component fields appearing in the transverse-traceless decomposition of the metric. It facilitates both the construction of an appropriate infrared cutoff and the projection of the renormalization group flow onto a large class of truncated parameter spaces. The Einstein-Hilbert truncation is investigated in detail and the fixed point structure of the resulting flow is analyzed. Both a Gaussian and a non-Gaussian fixed point are found. If the non-Gaussian fixed point is present in the exact theory, quantum Einstein gravity is likely to be r…

Propagators for Particles in an External Magnetic Field

In order to describe the propagation of a scalar particle in an external potential, we begin again with the path integral $$ K(r',t';r,0) = \int_{r,(0)}^{r',(t')} {[dr(t)]} \exp \left\{ {\frac{{\text{i}}} {\hbar }S[r(t)]} \right\} $$ (1) with $$ S[r(t)] = \int_0^{t'} {dt} L(r,\dot r). $$

Spacetime structure of an evaporating black hole in quantum gravity

The impact of the leading quantum gravity effects on the dynamics of the Hawking evaporation process of a black hole is investigated. Its spacetime structure is described by a renormalization group improved Vaidya metric. Its event horizon, apparent horizon, and timelike limit surface are obtained taking the scale dependence of Newton's constant into account. The emergence of a quantum ergosphere is discussed. The final state of the evaporation process is a cold, Planck size remnant.

Asymptotic Safety, Fractals, and Cosmology

These lecture notes introduce the basic ideas of the asymptotic safety approach to quantum Einstein gravity (QEG). In particular they provide the background for recent work on the possibly multi-fractal structure of the QEG space-times. Implications of asymptotic safety for the cosmology of the early Universe are also discussed.

Running Newton Constant, Improved Gravitational Actions, and Galaxy Rotation Curves

A renormalization group (RG) improvement of the Einstein-Hilbert action is performed which promotes Newton's constant and the cosmological constant to scalar functions on spacetime. They arise from solutions of an exact RG equation by means of a ``cutoff identification'' which associates RG scales to the points of spacetime. The resulting modified Einstein equations for spherically symmetric, static spacetimes are derived and analyzed in detail. The modifications of the Newtonian limit due to the RG evolution are obtained for the general case. As an application, the viability of a scenario is investigated where strong quantum effects in the infrared cause Newton's constant to grow at large …

Quantum Gravity Effects in the Kerr Spacetime

We analyze the impact of the leading quantum gravity effects on the properties of black holes with nonzero angular momentum by performing a suitable renormalization group improvement of the classical Kerr metric within Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG). In particular we explore the structure of the horizons, the ergosphere, and the static limit surfaces as well as the phase space avilable for the Penrose process. The positivity properties of the effective vacuum energy momentum tensor are also discussed and the "dressing" of the black hole's mass and angular momentum are investigated by computing the corresponding Komar integrals. The pertinent Smarr formula turns out to retain its classical f…

A class of nonlocal truncations in quantum Einstein gravity and its renormalization group behavior

Motivated by the conjecture that the cosmological constant problem could be solved by strong quantum effects in the infrared we use the exact flow equation of Quantum Einstein Gravity to determine the renormalization group behavior of a class of nonlocal effective actions. They consist of the Einstein-Hilbert term and a general nonlinear function F(k, V) of the Euclidean space-time volume V. A partial differential equation governing its dependence on the scale k is derived and its fixed point is analyzed. For the more restrictive truncation of theory space where F(k, V) is of the form V+V ln V, V+V^2, and V+\sqrt{V}, respectively, the renormalization group equations for the running coupling…

Poincaré Surface of Sections, Mappings

We consider a system with two degrees of freedom, which we describe in four-dimensional phase space. In this (finite) space we define an (oriented) two-dimensional surface. If we then consider the trajectory in phase space, we are interested primarily in its piercing points through this surface. This piercing can occur repeatedly in the same direction. If the motion of the trajectory is determined by the Hamiltonian equations, then the n + 1-th piercing point depends only on the nth. The Hamiltonian thus induces a mapping n → n + 1 in the “Poincare surface of section” (PSS). The mapping transforms points of the PSS into other (or the same) points of the PSS. In the following we shall limit …

Why the Cosmological Constant Seems to Hardly Care About Quantum Vacuum Fluctuations: Surprises From Background Independent Coarse Graining

International audience; Background Independence is a sine qua non for every satisfactory theory of Quantum Gravity. In particular if one tries to establish a corresponding notion of Wilsonian renormalization, or coarse graining, it presents a major conceptual and technical difficulty usually. In this paper we adopt the approach of the gravitational Effective Average Action and demonstrate that generically coarse graining in Quantum Gravity and in standard field theories on a non-dynamical spacetime are profoundly different. By means of a concrete example, which in connection with the cosmological constant problem is also interesting in its own right, we show that the surprising and sometime…

Superconvergent Perturbation Theory, KAM Theorem (Introduction)

Here we are dealing with an especially fast converging perturbation series, which is of particular importance for the proof of the KAM theorem (cf. below).

Cosmology with self-adjusting vacuum energy density from a renormalization group fixed point

Cosmologies with a time dependent Newton constant and cosmological constant are investigated. The scale dependence of $G$ and $\Lambda$ is governed by a set of renormalization group equations which is coupled to Einstein's equation in a consistent way. The existence of an infrared attractive renormalization group fixed point is postulated, and the cosmological implications of this assumption are explored. It turns out that in the late Universe the vacuum energy density is automatically adjusted so as to equal precisely the matter energy density, and that the deceleration parameter approaches $q = -1/4$. This scenario might explain the data from recent observations of high redshift type Ia S…

Partition Function for the Harmonic Oscillator

We start by making the following changes from Minkowski real time t = x0 to Euclidean “time” τ = tE:

Introduction to Homotopy Theory

Consider two manifolds X and Y together with a set of continuous maps f, g,... $$ f:X \to Y,x \to f(x) = y;x \in X,y \in Y. $$

From Big Bang to Asymptotic de Sitter: Complete Cosmologies in a Quantum Gravity Framework

Using the Einstein-Hilbert approximation of asymptotically safe quantum gravity we present a consistent renormalization group based framework for the inclusion of quantum gravitational effects into the cosmological field equations. Relating the renormalization group scale to cosmological time via a dynamical cutoff identification this framework applies to all stages of the cosmological evolution. The very early universe is found to contain a period of ``oscillatory inflation'' with an infinite sequence of time intervals during which the expansion alternates between acceleration and deceleration. For asymptotically late times we identify a mechanism which prevents the universe from leaving t…

The metric on field space, functional renormalization, and metric-torsion quantum gravity

Searching for new non-perturbatively renormalizable quantum gravity theories, functional renormalization group (RG) flows are studied on a theory space of action functionals depending on the metric and the torsion tensor, the latter parameterized by three irreducible component fields. A detailed comparison with Quantum Einstein-Cartan Gravity (QECG), Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG), and "tetrad-only" gravity, all based on different theory spaces, is performed. It is demonstrated that, over a generic theory space, the construction of a functional RG equation (FRGE) for the effective average action requires the specification of a metric on the infinite-dimensional field manifold as an addition…

Direct Evaluation of Path Integrals

Every time τ n is assigned a point y n . We now connect the individual points with a classical path y(τ). y(τ) is not necessarily the (on-shell trajectory) extremum of the classical action. It can be any path between τ n and τn−1 specified by the classical Lagrangian \(L(y,\dot{y},t).\)

Renormalization group flow of the Holst action

The renormalization group (RG) properties of quantum gravity are explored, using the vielbein and the spin connection as the fundamental field variables. The scale dependent effective action is required to be invariant both under space time diffeomorphisms and local frame rotations. The nonperturbative RG equation is solved explicitly on the truncated theory space defined by a three parameter family of Holst-type actions which involve a running Immirzi parameter. We find evidence for the existence of an asymptotically safe fundamental theory, probably inequivalent to metric quantum gravity constructed in the same way.

The Hamilton–Jacobi Equation

We already know that canonical transformations are useful for solving mechanical problems. We now want to look for a canonical transformation that transforms the 2N coordinates (q i , p i ) to 2N constant values (Q i , P i ), e.g., to the 2N initial values \((q_{i}^{0},p_{i}^{0})\) at time t = 0. Then the problem would be solved, q = q(q0, p0, t), p = p(q0, p0, t).

Particle in Harmonic E-Field E(t) = Esinω 0 t; Schwinger–Fock Proper-Time Method

Since the Green’s function of a Dirac particle in an external field, which is described by a potential A μ (x), is given by $$\displaystyle{ \left [\gamma \cdot \left (\frac{1} {i} \partial - eA\right ) + m\right ]G(x,x^{{\prime}}\vert A) =\delta (x - x^{{\prime}}) }$$ (37.1) the Green operator G+[A] is defined by $$\displaystyle{ \left (\gamma \Pi + m\right )G_{+} = 1\,,\quad \Pi _{\mu } = p_{\mu } - eA_{\mu } }$$ or $$\displaystyle\begin{array}{rcl} G_{+}& =& \frac{1} {\gamma \Pi + m - i\epsilon }\,,\quad \epsilon > 0 {}\\ & =& \frac{\gamma \Pi - m} {\left (\gamma \Pi \right )^{2} - m^{2} + i\epsilon } = \frac{-\gamma \Pi + m} {m^{2} -\left (\gamma \Pi \right )^{2} - i\epsilon } {}\\ & =&…

The KAM Theorem

This theorem guarantees that, under certain assumptions, in the case of a perturbation \(\varepsilon H_{1}(\boldsymbol{J},\boldsymbol{\theta })\) with small enough ɛ, the iterated series for the generator W(θ i 0, J i ) converges (according to Newton’s procedure) and thus the invariant tori are not destroyed. The KAM theorem is valid for systems with two and more degrees of freedom. However, in the following, we shall deal exclusively with the case of two degrees of freedom.

Renormalization group improved black hole spacetimes

We study the quantum gravitational effects in spherically symmetric black hole spacetimes. The effective quantum spacetime felt by a point-like test mass is constructed by ``renormalization group improving'' the Schwarzschild metric. The key ingredient is the running Newton constant which is obtained from the exact evolution equation for the effective average action. The conformal structure of the quantum spacetime depends on its ADM-mass M and it is similar to that of the classical Reissner-Nordstrom black hole. For M larger than, equal to, and smaller than a certain critical mass $M_{\rm cr}$ the spacetime has two, one and no horizon(s), respectively. Its Hawking temperature, specific hea…

On the Possibility of Quantum Gravity Effects at Astrophysical Scales

The nonperturbative renormalization group flow of Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG) is reviewed. It is argued that at large distances there could be strong renormalization effects, including a scale dependence of Newton's constant, which mimic the presence of dark matter at galactic and cosmological scales.

Topological Phases in Planar Electrodynamics

This section is meant to be an extension of Chap. 31 on the quantal Berry phases. In particular, we are interested in studying the electromagnetic interaction of particles with a nonzero magnetic moment in \(D = 2 + 1\) dimensions and of translational invariant configurations of \((D = 3 + 1)\)-dimensional charged strings with a nonzero magnetic moment per unit length. The whole discussion is based on our article in Physical Review D44, 1132 (1991).

A minimal length from the cutoff modes in asymptotically safe quantum gravity

Within asymptotically safe Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG), the quantum 4-sphere is discussed as a specific example of a fractal spacetime manifold. The relation between the infrared cutoff built into the effective average action and the corresponding coarse graining scale is investigated. Analyzing the properties of the pertinent cutoff modes, the possibility that QEG generates a minimal length scale dynamically is explored. While there exists no minimal proper length, the QEG sphere appears to be "fuzzy" in the sense that there is a minimal angular separation below which two points cannot be resolved by the cutoff modes.

Critical reflections on asymptotically safe gravity

Asymptotic safety is a theoretical proposal for the ultraviolet completion of quantum field theories, in particular for quantum gravity. Significant progress on this program has led to a first characterization of the Reuter fixed point. Further advancement in our understanding of the nature of quantum spacetime requires addressing a number of open questions and challenges. Here, we aim at providing a critical reflection on the state of the art in the asymptotic safety program, specifying and elaborating on open questions of both technical and conceptual nature. We also point out systematic pathways, in various stages of practical implementation, towards answering them. Finally, we also take…

Focus on quantum Einstein gravity

The gravitational asymptotic safety program summarizes the attempts to construct a consistent and predictive quantum theory of gravity within Wilson's generalized framework of renormalization. Its key ingredient is a non-Gaussian fixed point of the renormalization group flow which controls the behavior of the theory at trans-Planckian energies and renders gravity safe from unphysical divergences. Provided that the fixed point comes with a finite number of ultraviolet-attractive (relevant) directions, this construction gives rise to a consistent quantum field theory which is as predictive as an ordinary, perturbatively renormalizable one. This opens up the exciting possibility of establishin…

The Action Principles in Mechanics

We begin this chapter with the definition of the action functional as time integral over the Lagrangian \(L(q_{i}(t),\dot{q}_{i}(t);t)\) of a dynamical system: $$\displaystyle{ S\left \{[q_{i}(t)];t_{1},t_{2}\right \} =\int _{ t_{1}}^{t_{2} }dt\,L(q_{i}(t),\dot{q}_{i}(t);t)\;. }$$

The Action Principle in Classical Electrodynamics

The main purpose of this chapter is to consider the formulation of a relativistic point particle in classical electrodynamics from the viewpoint of Lagrangian mechanics. Here, the utility of Schwinger’s action principle is illustrated by employing three different kinds of action to derive the equations of motion and the associated surface terms.

The unitary conformal field theory behind 2D Asymptotic Safety

Being interested in the compatibility of Asymptotic Safety with Hilbert space positivity (unitarity), we consider a local truncation of the functional RG flow which describes quantum gravity in $d>2$ dimensions and construct its limit of exactly two dimensions. We find that in this limit the flow displays a nontrivial fixed point whose effective average action is a non-local functional of the metric. Its pure gravity sector is shown to correspond to a unitary conformal field theory with positive central charge $c=25$. Representing the fixed point CFT by a Liouville theory in the conformal gauge, we investigate its general properties and their implications for the Asymptotic Safety progra…

Bare Action and Regularized Functional Integral of Asymptotically Safe Quantum Gravity

Investigations of Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG) based upon the effective average action employ a flow equation which does not contain any ultraviolet (UV) regulator. Its renormalization group trajectories emanating from a non-Gaussian fixed point define asymptotically safe quantum field theories. A priori these theories are, somewhat unusually, given in terms of their effective rather than bare action. In this paper we construct a functional integral representation of these theories. We fix a regularized measure and show that every trajectory of effective average actions, depending on an IR cutoff only, induces an associated trajectory of bare actions which depend on a UV cutoff. Together …

Linear Oscillator with Time-Dependent Frequency

Here is another important example of a path integral calculation, namely the time-dependent oscillator whose Lagrangian is given by $$\displaystyle{ L = \frac{m} {2} \dot{x}^{2} -\frac{m} {2} W(t)x^{2}\;. }$$ (21.1) Since L is quadratic, we again expand around a classical solution so that later on we will be dealing again with the calculation of the following path integral: $$\displaystyle{ \int _{x(t_{i})\,=\,0}^{x(t_{f})\,=\,0}[dx(t)]\text{exp}\left \{ \frac{\text{i}} {\hslash }\,\frac{m} {2} \int _{t_{i}}^{t_{f} }dt\left [\left (\frac{dx} {dt} \right )^{\!2} - W(t)x^{2}\right ]\right \}\;. }$$ (21.2) Using \(x(t_{i}) = 0 = x(t_{f}),\) we can integrate by parts and obtain $$\displaystyle{…

The WKB Approximation

In this chapter we shall develop an important semiclassical method which has come back into favor again, particularly in the last few years, since it permits a continuation into field theory. Here, too, one is interested in nonperturbative methods.

Running Immirzi Parameter and Asymptotic Safety

We explore the renormalization group (RG) properties of quantum gravity, using the vielbein and the spin connection as the fundamental field variables. We require the effective action to be invariant under the semidirect product of spacetime diffeomorphisms and local frame rotations. Starting from the corresponding functional integral we review the construction of an appropriate theory space and an exact funtional RG equation operating on it. We then solve this equation on a truncated space defined by a three parameter family of Holst-type actions which involve a running Immirzi parameter. We find evidence for the existence of an asymptotically safe fundamental theory. It is probably inequi…

Berry Phase and Parametric Harmonic Oscillator

Our concern in this section is once more with the time-dependent harmonic oscillator with Lagrangian $$\displaystyle{ L = \frac{1} {2}\dot{x}^{2} -\frac{1} {2}\omega ^{2}(t)x^{2}\;. }$$ To present a coherent picture of the whole problem, let us briefly review some of the results of Chap. 21. There we found the propagation function

Cosmological Perturbations in Renormalization Group Derived Cosmologies

A linear cosmological perturbation theory of an almost homogeneous and isotropic perfect fluid Universe with dynamically evolving Newton constant $G$ and cosmological constant $\Lambda$ is presented. A gauge-invariant formalism is developed by means of the covariant approach, and the acoustic propagation equations governing the evolution of the comoving fractional spatial gradients of the matter density, $G$, and $\Lambda$ are thus obtained. Explicit solutions are discussed in cosmologies where both $G$ and $\Lambda$ vary according to renormalization group equations in the vicinity of a fixed point.

Quantum Einstein Gravity: Towards an Asymptotically Safe Field Theory of Gravity

Functional Derivative Approach

Let us now leave the path integral formalism temporarily and reformulate operatorial quantum mechanics in a way which will make it easy later on to establish the formal connection between operator and path integral formalism. Our objective is to introduce the generating functional into quantum mechanics. Naturally we want to generate transition amplitudes. The problem confronting us is how to transcribe operator quantum mechanics as expressed in Heisenberg’s equation of motion into a theory formulated solely in terms of c-numbers. This can be achieved either by Schwinger’s action principle or with the aid of a generation functional defined as follows:

Computing the Trace

So far we have been interested in the general expression for the WKB-propagation function. Now we turn our attention to the trace of that propagator, since we want to exhibit the energy eigenvalues of a given potential. From earlier discussions we know that the energy levels of a given Hamiltonian are provided by the poles of the Green’s function:

Conformal sector of quantum Einstein gravity in the local potential approximation: Non-Gaussian fixed point and a phase of unbroken diffeomorphism invariance

We explore the nonperturbative renormalization group flow of quantum Einstein gravity (QEG) on an infinite dimensional theory space. We consider ``conformally reduced'' gravity where only fluctuations of the conformal factor are quantized and employ the local potential approximation for its effective average action. The requirement of ``background independence'' in quantum gravity entails a partial differential equation governing the scale dependence of the potential for the conformal factor which differs significantly from that of a scalar matter field. In the infinite dimensional space of potential functions we find a Gaussian as well as a non-Gaussian fixed point which provides further e…

Riemann’s Result and Consequences for Physics and Philosophy

Riemann commented on his main result as follows: “The common character of those manifolds whose curvature is constant may also be expressed thus: that figures may be viewed in them without stretching. For clearly figures could not be arbitrarily shifted and turned around in them if the curvature at each point were not the same in all directions at one point as at another, and consequently the same constructions can be made from it; whence it follows that in aggregates with constant curvature, figures may have any arbitrary position given them. The measure-relations of these manifolds depend only on the value of the curvature, and in relation to the analytic expression it may be remarked tha…

Removal of Resonances

From the perturbative procedure in the last chapter we have learned that in the proximity of resonances of the unperturbed system, resonant denominators appear in the expression for the adiabatic invariants. We now wish to begin to locally remove such resonances by trying, with the help of a canonical transformation, to go to a coordinate system which rotates with the resonant frequency.

Classical Chern–Simons Mechanics

We are interested in a completely integrable Hamiltonian system \((\mathscr{M}_{2N},\omega,H).\) Local coordinates on the 2N-dimensional phase space \(\mathscr{M}_{2N}\) are denoted by η a = (p, q), a = 1, 2, … 2N and the symplectic 2-form ω is given by

En route to Background Independence: Broken split-symmetry, and how to restore it with bi-metric average actions

The most momentous requirement a quantum theory of gravity must satisfy is Background Independence, necessitating in particular an ab initio derivation of the arena all non-gravitational physics takes place in, namely spacetime. Using the background field technique, this requirement translates into the condition of an unbroken split-symmetry connecting the (quantized) metric fluctuations to the (classical) background metric. If the regularization scheme used violates split-symmetry during the quantization process it is mandatory to restore it in the end at the level of observable physics. In this paper we present a detailed investigation of split-symmetry breaking and restoration within the…

The Usefulness of Lie Brackets: From Classical and Quantum Mechanics to Quantum Electrodynamics

We know that in Hamiltonian systems a dynamic function f(q, p) develops in time according to

Background independent quantum field theory and gravitating vacuum fluctuations

The scale dependent effective average action for quantum gravity complies with the fundamental principle of Background Independence. Ultimately the background metric it formally depends on is selected self-consistently by means of a suitable generalization of Einstein's equation. Self-consistent backround spacetimes are scale dependent, and therefore "going on-shell" at the points along a given renormalization group (RG) trajectory requires understanding two types of scale dependencies: the (familiar) direct one carried by the off-shell action functional, and an indirect one related to the self-consistent background geometry. This paper is devoted to a careful delineation and analysis of ce…

Renormalization group improved gravitational actions: A Brans-Dicke approach

A new framework for exploiting information about the renormalization group (RG) behavior of gravity in a dynamical context is discussed. The Einstein-Hilbert action is RG-improved by replacing Newton's constant and the cosmological constant by scalar functions in the corresponding Lagrangian density. The position dependence of $G$ and $\Lambda$ is governed by a RG equation together with an appropriate identification of RG scales with points in spacetime. The dynamics of the fields $G$ and $\Lambda$ does not admit a Lagrangian description in general. Within the Lagrangian formalism for the gravitational field they have the status of externally prescribed ``background'' fields. The metric sat…

Jacobi Fields, Conjugate Points

Let us go back to the action principle as realized by Jacobi, i.e., time is eliminated, so we are dealing with the space trajectory of a particle. In particular, we want to investigate the conditions under which a path is a minimum of the action and those under which it is merely an extremum. For illustrative purposes we consider a particle in two-dimensional real space.

Green’s Function of a Spin- 1 2 $$\tfrac {1}{2}$$ Particle in a Constant External Magnetic Field

Our objective here is to find the Green’s function of a spin-\(\tfrac {1}{2}\) particle in an external electromagnetic field. Accordingly we start with the defining equation

Particle in Harmonic E-Field E ( t ) = E sin ω 0 t $$E(t)= E \sin \omega _0 t$$ ; Schwinger–Fock Proper-Time Method

Since the Green’s function of a Dirac particle in an external field, which is described by a potential Aμ(x), is given by

Quantum gravity effects near the null black hole singularity

The structure of the Cauchy Horizon singularity of a black hole formed in a generic collapse is studied by means of a renormalization group equation for quantum gravity. It is shown that during the early evolution of the Cauchy Horizon the increase of the mass function is damped when quantum fluctuations of the metric are taken into account.

One-Loop Effective Lagrangian in QED

Our main goal in this section is the derivation of an expression for the effective Lagrangian in one-loop approximation. So let’s start with the vacuum persistence amplitude in presence of an external field: $$\displaystyle \langle 0_+\vert 0_-\rangle ^A = e^{ iW^{(1)}[A]} = e^{i \int d^4x\mathcal {L}^{(1)}(x)} $$

Composite operators in asymptotic safety

We study the role of composite operators in the Asymptotic Safety program for quantum gravity. By including in the effective average action an explicit dependence on new sources we are able to keep track of operators which do not belong to the exact theory space and/or are normally discarded in a truncation. Typical examples are geometric operators such as volumes, lengths, or geodesic distances. We show that this set-up allows to investigate the scaling properties of various interesting operators via a suitable exact renormalization group equation. We test our framework in several settings, including Quantum Einstein Gravity, the conformally reduced Einstein-Hilbert truncation, and two dim…

The Adiabatic Invariance of the Action Variables

We shall first use an example to explain the concept of adiabatic invariance. Let us consider a “super ball” of mass m, which bounces back and forth between two walls (distance l) with velocity \(\boldsymbol{v}_{0}\). Let gravitation be neglected, and the collisions with the walls be elastic. If F m denotes the average force onto each wall, then we have $$\displaystyle{ F_{m}T = -\int _{\mathrm{coll.\,time}}f\,dt\;. }$$ (9.1) f is the force acting on the ball during one collision, and T is the time between collisions.

Entropy signature of the running cosmological constant

Renormalization group (RG) improved cosmologies based upon a RG trajectory of Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG) with realistic parameter values are investigated using a system of cosmological evolution equations which allows for an unrestricted energy exchange between the vacuum and the matter sector. It is demonstrated that the scale dependence of the gravitational parameters, the cosmological constant in particular, leads to an entropy production in the matter system. The picture emerges that the Universe started out from a state of vanishing entropy, and that the radiation entropy observed today is essentially due to the coarse graining (RG flow) in the quantum gravity sector which is relat…

Canonical Adiabatic Theory

In the present chapter we are concerned with systems, the change of which—with the exception of a single degree of freedom—should proceed slowly. (Compare the pertinent remarks about \(\varepsilon\) as slow parameter in Chap. 7) Accordingly, the Hamiltonian reads: $$\displaystyle{ H = H_{0}{\bigl (J,\varepsilon p_{i},\varepsilon q_{i};\varepsilon t\bigr )} +\varepsilon H_{1}{\bigl (J,\theta,\varepsilon p_{i},\varepsilon q_{i};\varepsilon t\bigr )}\;. }$$ (12.1) Here, \((J,\theta )\) designates the “fast” action-angle variables for the unperturbed, solved problem \(H_{0}(\varepsilon = 0),\) and the (p i , q i ) represent the remaining “slow” canonical variables, which do not necessarily have…

Cosmology of the Planck Era from a Renormalization Group for Quantum Gravity

Homogeneous and isotropic cosmologies of the Planck era before the classical Einstein equations become valid are studied taking quantum gravitational effects into account. The cosmological evolution equations are renormalization group improved by including the scale dependence of Newton's constant and of the cosmological constant as it is given by the flow equation of the effective average action for gravity. It is argued that the Planck regime can be treated reliably in this framework because gravity is found to become asymptotically free at short distances. The epoch immediately after the initial singularity of the Universe is described by an attractor solution of the improved equations w…

Fundamental Principles of Quantum Mechanics

There are two alternative methods of quantizing a system: a) quantization via the Feynman Path Integral (equivalent to Schwinger’s Action Principle); b) canonical quantization.

Do we Observe Quantum Gravity Effects at Galactic Scales?

The nonperturbative renormalization group flow of Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG) is reviewed. It is argued that there could be strong renormalization effects at large distances, in particular a scale dependent Newton constant, which mimic the presence of dark matter at galactic and cosmological scales.

Is There a C-Function in 4D Quantum Einstein Gravity?

We describe a functional renormalization group-based method to search for ‘C-like’ functions with properties similar to that in 2D conformal field theory. It exploits the mode counting properties of the effective average action and is particularly suited for theories including quantized gravity. The viability of the approach is demonstrated explicitly in a truncation of 4 dimensional Quantum Einstein Gravity, i.e. asymptotically safe metric gravity.

Berry’s Phase

Let a physical system be described by a Hamiltonian with two sets of variables \(\boldsymbol{r}\) and \(\boldsymbol{R}(t):\, H(\boldsymbol{r},\boldsymbol{R}(t)).\) The dynamical degrees of freedom \(\boldsymbol{r}\) (not necessarily space variables) are also called fast variables. The external time dependence is given by the slowly varying parameters \(\boldsymbol{R}(t) =\{ X(t),\,Y (t),\,\ldots,\,Z(t)\}\); consequently, the \(\boldsymbol{R}(t)\) are called slow variables.

A Tachyonic Gluon Mass: Between Infrared and Ultraviolet

The gluon spin coupling to a Gaussian correlated background gauge field induces an effective tachyonic gluon mass. It is momentum dependent and vanishes in the UV only like 1/p^2. In the IR, we obtain stabilization through a positive m^2_{conf}(p^2) related to confinement. Recently a purely phenomenological tachyonic gluon mass was used to explain the linear rise in the q\bar q static potential at small distances and also some long standing discrepancies found in QCD sum rules. We show that the stochastic vacuum model of QCD predicts a gluon mass with the desired properties.

Bimetric truncations for quantum Einstein gravity and asymptotic safety

In the average action approach to the quantization of gravity the fundamental requirement of "background independence" is met by actually introducing a background metric but leaving it completely arbitrary. The associated Wilsonian renormalization group defines a coarse graining flow on a theory space of functionals which, besides the dynamical metric, depend explicitly on the background metric. All solutions to the truncated flow equations known to date have a trivial background field dependence only, namely via the classical gauge fixing term. In this paper we analyze a number of conceptual issues related to the bimetric character of the gravitational average action and explore a first no…

Asymptotic Safety in Quantum Einstein Gravity: Nonperturbative Renormalizability and Fractal Spacetime Structure

The asymptotic safety scenario of Quantum Einstein Gravity, the quantum field theory of the spacetime metric, is reviewed and it is argued that the theory is likely to be nonperturbatively renormalizable. It is also shown that asymptotic safety implies that spacetime is a fractal in general, with a fractal dimension of 2 on sub-Planckian length scales.

A new functional flow equation for Einstein-Cartan quantum gravity

We construct a special-purpose functional flow equation which facilitates non-perturbative renormalization group (RG) studies on theory spaces involving a large number of independent field components that are prohibitively complicated using standard methods. Its main motivation are quantum gravity theories in which the gravitational degrees of freedom are carried by a complex system of tensor fields, a prime example being Einstein-Cartan theory, possibly coupled to matter. We describe a sequence of approximation steps leading from the functional RG equation of the Effective Average Action to the new flow equation which, as a consequence, is no longer fully exact on the untruncated theory sp…

Einstein-Cartan gravity, Asymptotic Safety, and the running Immirzi parameter

In this paper we analyze the functional renormalization group flow of quantum gravity on the Einstein-Cartan theory space. The latter consists of all action functionals depending on the spin connection and the vielbein field (co-frame) which are invariant under both spacetime diffeomorphisms and local frame rotations. In the first part of the paper we develop a general methodology and corresponding calculational tools which can be used to analyze the flow equation for the pertinent effective average action for any truncation of this theory space. In the second part we apply it to a specific three-dimensional truncated theory space which is parametrized by Newton's constant, the cosmological…

Classical Geometric Phases: Foucault and Euler

In the last chapter we saw how a quantum system can give rise to a Berry phase, by studying the adiabatic round trip of its quantum state on a certain parameter space. Rather than considering what happens to states in Hilbert space, we now turn to classical mechanics, where we are concerned instead with the evolution of the system in configuration space. As a first example, we are interested in the geometric phase of an oscillator that is constrained to a plane that is transported over some surface which moves along a certain path in three-dimensional space. Contrary to determining the Berry phase, there is no adiabatic approximation of the motion along the curve involved. The Foucault phas…

The Non-Abelian Vector Gauge Particle ρ

So far we have shown how pion self-interaction and pion-mass generation are tied together. This phenomenon, a result of the three-dimensional non-linear realization of the triplet isotopic pion field, is a consequence of a dimensional reduction from four-dimensional Euclidean space to a three-dimensional curved isotopic space with positive curvature, i.e., by way of chiral-symmetry breaking and subsequent pionic mass generation in a curved isotopic spin background with K = λ2, λ = 2f0∕mπ, which is taken from low-energy π − N interaction.

Entropy Production during Asymptotically Safe Inflation

The Asymptotic Safety scenario predicts that the deep ultraviolet of Quantum Einstein Gravity is governed by a nontrivial renormalization group fixed point. Analyzing its implications for cosmology using renormalization group improved Einstein equations we find that it can give rise to a phase of inflationary expansion in the early Universe. Inflation is a pure quantum effect here and requires no inflaton field. It is driven by the cosmological constant and ends automatically when the renormalization group evolution has reduced the vacuum energy to the level of the matter energy density. The quantum gravity effects also provide a natural mechanism for the generation of entropy. It could eas…

Scale-dependent metric and causal structures in Quantum Einstein Gravity

Within the asymptotic safety scenario for gravity various conceptual issues related to the scale dependence of the metric are analyzed. The running effective field equations implied by the effective average action of Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG) and the resulting families of resolution dependent metrics are discussed. The status of scale dependent vs. scale independent diffeomorphisms is clarified, and the difference between isometries implemented by scale dependent and independent Killing vectors is explained. A concept of scale dependent causality is proposed and illustrated by various simple examples. The possibility of assigning an "intrinsic length" to objects in a QEG spacetime is a…

Examples for Calculating Path Integrals

We now want to compute the kernel K(b, a) for a few simple Lagrangians. We have already found for the one-dimensional case that $$\displaystyle{ K{\bigl (x_{2},t_{2};x_{1},t_{1}\bigr )} =\int _{ x(t_{1})=x_{1}}^{x(t_{2})=x_{2} }[dx(t)]\,\text{e}^{(\mathrm{i}/\hslash )S} }$$ (19.1) with $$\displaystyle{ S =\int _{ t_{1}}^{t_{2} }dt\,L(x,\dot{x};t)\;. }$$ First we consider a free particle, $$\displaystyle{ L = m\dot{x}^{2}/2\;, }$$ (19.2) and represent an arbitrary path in the form, $$\displaystyle{ x(t) =\bar{ x}(t) + y(t)\;. }$$ (19.3) Here, \(\bar{x}(t)\) is the actual classical path, i.e., solution to the Euler–Lagrange equation: $$\displaystyle{ \frac{\partial L} {\partial x}\Big\vert _{…

Erratum to: Classical and Quantum Dynamics: From Classical Paths to Path Integrals

Renormalization group flow of quantum gravity in the Einstein-Hilbert truncation

The exact renormalization group equation for pure quantum gravity is used to derive the non-perturbative $\Fbeta$-functions for the dimensionless Newton constant and cosmological constant on the theory space spanned by the Einstein-Hilbert truncation. The resulting coupled differential equations are evaluated for a sharp cutoff function. The features of these flow equations are compared to those found when using a smooth cutoff. The system of equations with sharp cutoff is then solved numerically, deriving the complete renormalization group flow of the Einstein-Hilbert truncation in $d=4$. The resulting renormalization group trajectories are classified and their physical relevance is discus…

Bimetric Renormalization Group Flows in Quantum Einstein Gravity

The formulation of an exact functional renormalization group equation for Quantum Einstein Gravity necessitates that the underlying effective average action depends on two metrics, a dynamical metric giving the vacuum expectation value of the quantum field, and a background metric supplying the coarse graining scale. The central requirement of "background independence" is met by leaving the background metric completely arbitrary. This bimetric structure entails that the effective average action may contain three classes of interactions: those built from the dynamical metric only, terms which are purely background, and those involving a mixture of both metrics. This work initiates the first …

Finite Entanglement Entropy in Asymptotically Safe Quantum Gravity

Entanglement entropies calculated in the framework of quantum field theory on classical, flat or curved, spacetimes are known to show an intriguing area law in four dimensions, but they are also notorious for their quadratic ultraviolet divergences. In this paper we demonstrate that the analogous entanglement entropies when computed within the Asymptotic Safety approach to background independent quantum gravity are perfectly free from such divergences. We argue that the divergences are an artifact due to the over-idealization of a rigid, classical spacetime geometry which is insensitive to the quantum dynamics.

Proper Time Flow Equation for Gravity

We analyze a proper time renormalization group equation for Quantum Einstein Gravity in the Einstein-Hilbert truncation and compare its predictions to those of the conceptually different exact renormalization group equation of the effective average action. We employ a smooth infrared regulator of a special type which is known to give rise to extremely precise critical exponents in scalar theories. We find perfect consistency between the proper time and the average action renormalization group equations. In particular the proper time equation, too, predicts the existence of a non-Gaussian fixed point as it is necessary for the conjectured nonperturbative renormalizability of Quantum Einstein…

ON QUANTUM GRAVITY, ASYMPTOTIC SAFETY AND PARAMAGNETIC DOMINANCE

We discuss the conceptual ideas underlying the Asymptotic Safety approach to the nonperturbative renormalization of gravity. By now numerous functional renormalization group studies predict the existence of a suitable nontrivial ultraviolet fixed point. We use an analogy to elementary magnetic systems to uncover the physical mechanism behind the emergence of this fixed point. It is seen to result from the dominance of certain paramagnetic-type interactions over diamagnetic ones. Furthermore, the spacetimes of Quantum Einstein Gravity behave like a polarizable medium with a "paramagnetic" response to external perturbations. Similarities with the vacuum state of Yang-Mills theory are pointed …

Confronting the IR Fixed Point Cosmology with High Redshift Observations

We use high-redshift type Ia supernova and compact radio source data in order to test the infrared (IR) fixed point model of the late Universe which was proposed recently. It describes a cosmology with a time dependent cosmological constant and Newton constant whose dynamics arises from an underlying renormalization group flow near an IR-attractive fixed point. Without any finetuning or quintessence field it yields $\Omega_{\rm M}=\Omega_{\Lambda}=1/2$. Its characteristic $t^{4/3}$-dependence of the scale factor leads to a distance-redshift relation whose predictions are compared both to the supernova and to the radio source data. According to the $\chi^2$ test, the fixed point model reprod…

Canonical Perturbation Theory with Several Degrees of Freedom

We extend the perturbation theory of the previous chapter by going one order further and permitting several degrees of freedom. So let the unperturbed problem H0(J k 0) be solved.

Path Integral Formulation of Quantum Electrodynamics

Let us consider a pure Abelian gauge theory given by the Lagrangian $$\displaystyle\begin{array}{rcl} \mathcal{L}_{\text{photon}}& =& -\frac{1} {4}F_{\mu \nu }F^{\mu \nu } \\ & =& -\frac{1} {4}\left (\partial _{\mu }A_{\nu } - \partial _{\nu }A_{\mu }\right )\left (\partial ^{\mu }A^{\nu } - \partial ^{\nu }A^{\mu }\right ){}\end{array}$$ (36.1) or, after integration by parts, $$\displaystyle\begin{array}{rcl} \mathcal{L}_{\text{photon}}& =& -\frac{1} {2}\left [-\left (\partial _{\mu }\partial ^{\mu }A_{\nu }\right )A^{\nu } + \left (\partial ^{\mu }\partial ^{\nu }A_{\mu }\right )A_{\nu }\right ] \\ & =& \frac{1} {2}A_{\mu }\left [g^{\mu \nu }\square - \partial ^{\mu }\partial ^{\nu }\righ…

The “Maslov Anomaly” for the Harmonic Oscillator

Specializing the discussion of the previous section to the harmonic oscillator we have for \(N = 1,\ \eta ^{a} = (p,x),\ a = 1,2,\ \eta ^{1} \equiv p,\ \eta ^{2} \equiv x\) $$\displaystyle{ H(p,x) = \frac{1} {2}\eta ^{a}\eta ^{a} = \frac{1} {2}{\bigl (p^{2} + x^{2}\bigr )}\;. }$$ (30.1) The only conserved quantity is J = H. In the action we need the combination $$\displaystyle{ \frac{1} {2}\eta ^{a}\omega _{ ab}\dot{\eta }^{b} -\mathcal{H}(\eta ) = \frac{1} {2}\eta ^{a}\left [\omega _{ ab} \frac{d} {dt} -{\bigl ( 1 + A(t)\bigr )}\mathrm{1l}_{ab}\right ]\eta ^{b} }$$ (30.2) and $$\displaystyle{ \tilde{M}_{\phantom{a}b}^{a} =\omega ^{ac}\partial _{ c}\partial _{b}(H + AJ\,) ={\bigl ( 1 + A(t)…

Flow equation of quantum Einstein gravity in a higher-derivative truncation

Motivated by recent evidence indicating that Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG) might be nonperturbatively renormalizable, the exact renormalization group equation of QEG is evaluated in a truncation of theory space which generalizes the Einstein-Hilbert truncation by the inclusion of a higher-derivative term $(R^2)$. The beta-functions describing the renormalization group flow of the cosmological constant, Newton's constant, and the $R^2$-coupling are computed explicitly. The fixed point (FP) properties of the 3-dimensional flow are investigated, and they are confronted with those of the 2-dimensional Einstein-Hilbert flow. The non-Gaussian FP predicted by the latter is found to generalize to …

The response field and the saddle points of quantum mechanical path integrals

In quantum statistical mechanics, Moyal's equation governs the time evolution of Wigner functions and of more general Weyl symbols that represent the density matrix of arbitrary mixed states. A formal solution to Moyal's equation is given by Marinov's path integral. In this paper we demonstrate that this path integral can be regarded as the natural link between several conceptual, geometric, and dynamical issues in quantum mechanics. A unifying perspective is achieved by highlighting the pivotal role which the response field, one of the integration variables in Marinov's integral, plays for pure states even. The discussion focuses on how the integral's semiclassical approximation relates to…

On selfdual spin-connections and asymptotic safety

We explore Euclidean quantum gravity using the tetrad field together with a selfdual or anti-selfdual spin-connection as the basic field variables. Setting up a functional renormalization group (RG) equation of a new type which is particularly suitable for the corresponding theory space we determine the non-perturbative RG flow within a two-parameter truncation suggested by the Holst action. We find that the (anti-)selfdual theory is likely to be asymptotically safe. The existing evidence for its non-perturbative renormalizability is comparable to that of Einstein-Cartan gravity without the selfduality condition.

Background Independent Field Quantization with Sequences of Gravity-Coupled Approximants

We outline, test, and apply a new scheme for nonpertubative analyses of quantized field systems in contact with dynamical gravity. While gravity is treated classically in the present paper, the approach lends itself for a generalization to full Quantum Gravity. We advocate the point of view that quantum field theories should be regularized by sequences of quasi-physical systems comprising a well defined number of the field's degrees of freedom. In dependence on this number, each system backreacts autonomously and self-consistently on the gravitational field. In this approach, the limit which removes the regularization automatically generates the physically correct spacetime geometry, i.e., …

Matter Induced Bimetric Actions for Gravity

The gravitational effective average action is studied in a bimetric truncation with a nontrivial background field dependence, and its renormalization group flow due to a scalar multiplet coupled to gravity is derived. Neglecting the metric contributions to the corresponding beta functions, the analysis of its fixed points reveals that, even on the new enlarged theory space which includes bimetric action functionals, the theory is asymptotically safe in the large $N$ expansion.

Action-Angle Variables

In the following we will assume that the Hamiltonian does not depend explicitly on time; ∂H/∂t = 0. Then we know that the characteristic function W(q i , P i ) is the generator of a canonical transformation to new constant momenta P i , (all Q i , are ignorable), and the new Hamiltonian depends only on the P i ,: H = K = K(P i ). Besides, the following canonical equations are valid: $$ \dot Q_i = \frac{{\partial K}} {{\partial P_i }} = v_i = const. $$ (1) $$ \dot P_i = \frac{{\partial K}} {{\partial Q_i }} = 0. $$ (2)