Spin Networks in Quantum Gravity  

Original Penrose Version > s.a. quantum spacetime and discrete models; quantum technology.
* Idea: A trivalent graph, with edges labelled by half-integers j corresponding to representations of G = SO(3), subject to consistency conditions coming from spin composition rules (Clebsch-Gordan coefficients).
@ References: Penrose in(70); Kauffman & Lins 94.

In Loop Quantum Gravity > s.a. 3D quantum gravity; quantum gauge theories; quantum spacetime; semiclassical quantum gravity.
* Motivation: A complete, but not overcomplete, set of orthonormal states in the kinematical gauge theory Hilbert space.
* Idea: "Colored graphs" for a group G, taken to be SU(2), i.e., triples S = (, j, I) of graphs with edges e labeled by irreps je of SU(2), and vertices n by intertwiners; In the connection representation, spin network states are

S(A):= e n In R j_e(U(e, A)) .

* Intertwiners: Maps Iv: incoming e  jeoutgoing e  je associated with vertices v of graphs.
* Properties: S | S' = gamma, gamma' jj' II', and the eigenvalues of area and volume operators are discrete.
@ Precursors: Loll NPB(92), NPB(93); Smolin in(92).
@ General references: Baez AiM(96)gq/94, gq/95-in; Rovelli & Smolin PRD(95)gq; Foxon CQG(95)gq/94; Borissov et al CQG(96)gq/95; Barbieri gq/97 [vertices]; Barrett & Crane JMP(98)gq/97; Smolin gq/97; Reisenberger JMP(99)gq/98; Major AJP(99)gq [primer]; Barrett & Steele CQG(03)gq/02 [asymptotics]; Mikovic CQG(03)gq [and vacuum]; Lorente gq/05-in [rev].
@ Evolution: Markopoulou gq/97, & Smolin NPB(97)gq, PRD(98)gq/97, PRD(98)ht/97; Borissov PRD(97)gq/96, & Gupta PRD(99)gq/98 [including dual triangulations]; Mikovic CQG(01)gq [quantum field theory]; Smolin & Wan NPB(08) [braid states]; > s.a. spin foam.
@ Spin webs: Lewandowski & Thiemann CQG(99)gq [all piecewise smooth].
@ Invariants: Gambini IJTP(99), et al NPB(98)gq, Di Bartolo et al PRL(00)gq/99 & CQG(00)gq/99, CQG(00)gq/99 [Vassiliev knot invariants]; Carbone et al gq/99.
@ Related topics: Freidel & Krasnov JMP(00)ht/99 [Feynman graphs]; Lewandowski & Marolf IJMPD(98) [T* states]; Zizzi Ent(00)gq/99 [holography]; Ma & Ling PRD(00)gq [Q]; Baez & Barrett CQG(01)gq [integrability]; Pfeiffer ATMP(02)gq [positivity of evaluations]; Mikovic a0706 [and graviton propagator]; Wan a0710, Smolin & Wan NPB(08)-a0710 [particle-like braid excitations]; > s.a. gravitational thermodynamics; string theory.

Modifications > s.a. supergravity.
* Extended: Non gauge-invariant spin network states, given by quintuplets N = (, j, I, , M).
* Deformed: Edges of spin networks are enlarged to ribbons or tubes, so the network becomes a tubular, genus-g manifold, decomposable into trinions, separated by circles; Each circle is labeled by a representation of SU(2)q, each trinion by an intertwiner; Motivation are inclusion of a cosmological constant, symmetries.
@ Deformed: Markopoulou & Smolin PRD(98)gq/97 [(p, q) string evolution]; Barrett & Crane CQG(00)gq/99 [Lorentzian]; > s.a. topological field theories.
@ Other: Ashtekar & Lewandowski CQG(97)gq/96 [extended]; Baez & Sawin JFA(98)qa/97 [diffeomorphism-invariant]; Ling JMP(02) [supersymmetric]; Freidel & Livine JMP(03)ht/02 [non-compact G]; He & Wan a0805, a0805 [framed, braid excitations and C, P, T].

Related Models and Topics > s.a. graph types; ising model; lattice field theory; quantum information; spin foam; spin models; SU(2).
@ References: Martins & Mikovic CMP(08)gq/06 [and 3-manifold invariants]; Chen & Zhu gq/07 [evolution of spin labels and self-organized criticality].

Online Resources > Greg Egan's page.


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Send feedback and suggestions to bombelli at olemiss.edu – Modified 12 jun 2008