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Jun 2–6, 2025
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
America/Toronto timezone

Flatness, Non-flatness, and Orientations in Ponzano-Regge

Jun 4, 2025, 1:30 p.m.
15m
PI/3-394 - Skyroom (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)

PI/3-394 - Skyroom

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

60
Conference Talk

Speaker

Prof. Jonathan Engle (Florida Atlantic University)

Description

The original spinfoam model, the Ponzano-Regge spinfoam model of 3D Euclidean gravity with zero cosmological constant, has two properties in seeming contradiction: (1.) Its connection formulation consists in the imposition of exact flatness, and (2.) Its sum-over-spins formulation has, as its leading order large spin asymptotics, Regge calculus, modified to include an additional local discrete orientation variable for each tetrahedron, which, when fixed inhomogeneously, leads to critical point equations for the edge lengths which do not imply flatness, but rather allow spikes. We explore possible resolutions to this paradox which may also have relevance for the semiclassical regime of both Euclidean and Lorentzian 4D spinfoams, with both zero and non-zero cosmological constant, in which a similar sum over local orientations appears.

Presenter's Name Jonathan Engle
Presenter's Email Address jengle7@fau.edu
Keywords spin-foams, quantum gravity, orientations, classical limit, asymptotics
Recording Permission YES
Virtual Audience Permission YES
Event Photography I understand

Author

Prof. Jonathan Engle (Florida Atlantic University)

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