Generating Functional in CFT on Riemann Surfaces II: Homological Aspects

We revisit and generalize our previous algebraic construction of the chiral effective action for Conformal Field Theory on higher genus Riemann surfaces. We show that the action functional can be obtained by evaluating a certain Deligne cohomology class over the fundamental class of the underlying topological surface. This Deligne class is constructed by applying a descent procedure with respect to a Čech resolution of any covering map of a Riemann surface. Detailed calculations are presented in the two cases of an ordinary Čech cover, and of the universal covering map, which was used in our previous approach. We also establish a dictionary that allows to use the same formalism for different covering morphisms. The Deligne cohomology class we obtain depends on a point in the Earle–Eells fibration over the Teichmüller space, and on a smooth coboundary for the Schwarzian cocycle associated to the base-point Riemann surface. From it, we obtain a variational characterization of Hubbard's universal family of projective structures, showing that the locus of critical points for the chiral action under fiberwise variation along the Earle–Eells fibration is naturally identified with the universal projective structure. Received: 29 June 2000 / Accepted: 16 January 2002     

Effective Action for Scalar Fields in Two-Dimensional Gravity

We consider a general two-dimensional gravity model minimally or nonminimally coupled to a scalar field. The canonical form of the model is elucidated, and a general solution of the equations of motion in the massless case is reviewed. In the presence of a scalar field all geometric fields (zweibein and Lorentz connection) are excluded from the model by solving exactly their Hamiltonian equations of motion. In this way the effective equations of motion and the corresponding effective action for a scalar field are obtained. It is written in a Minkowskian space-time and does not include any geometric variables. The effective action arises as a boundary term and is nontrivial both for open and closed universes. The reason is that unphysical degrees of freedom cannot be compactly supported because they must satisfy the constraint equation. As an example we consider spherically reduced gravity minimally coupled to a massless scalar field. The effective action is used to reproduce the Fisher and Roberts solutions.     

Gauge-Invariant and Gauge-Fixing Independent Effective Action in One-Loop Quantum Gravity

The one-parameter dependent family of the gauge invariant and gauge fixing independent effective actions is considered in one-loop approximation. The one-loop unique effective action (chosing as the representative of this family) in d = 4 Einstein quantum gravity with scalar field and Brans-Dicke quantum theory in flat space, in d = 4 Einstein gravity on De Sitter background, in higher derivative gravity on d-dimensional torus compactified background is calculated. The configuration-space metric dependence of the unique effective action in these calculations is investigated. The appearing problems (the configuration-space metric dependence of the physical quantities like induced gravitational constant) are discussed.     

Liouville Quantum Gravity on the Riemann Sphere

In this paper, we rigorously construct Liouville Quantum Field Theory on the Riemann sphere introduced in the 1981 seminal work by Polyakov. We establish some of its fundamental properties like conformal covariance under PSL\({_2(\mathbb{C})}\)-action, Seiberg bounds, KPZ scaling laws, KPZ formula and the Weyl anomaly formula. We also make precise conjectures about the relationship of the theory to scaling limits of random planar maps conformally embedded onto the sphere.     

Vertex Operators in 4D Quantum Gravity Formulated as CFT

We study vertex operators in 4D conformal field theory derived from quantized gravity, whose dynamics is governed by the Wess-Zumino action by Riegert and the Weyl action. Conformal symmetry is equal to diffeomorphism symmetry in the ultraviolet limit, which mixes positive-metric and negative-metric modes of the gravitational field and thus these modes cannot be treated separately in physical operators. In this paper, we construct gravitational vertex operators such as the Ricci scalar, defined as space-time volume integrals of them are invariant under conformal transformations. Short distance singularities of these operator products are computed and it is shown that their coefficients have physically correct signs. Furthermore, we show that conformal algebra holds even in the system perturbed by the cosmological constant vertex operator as in the case of the Liouville theory shown by Curtright and Thorn.     

Free Bosonic Vertex Operator Algebras on Genus Two Riemann Surfaces I

We define the partition and n-point functions for a vertex operator algebra on a genus two Riemann surface formed by sewing two tori together. We obtain closed formulas for the genus two partition function for the Heisenberg free bosonic string and for any pair of simple Heisenberg modules. We prove that the partition function is holomorphic in the sewing parameters on a given suitable domain and describe its modular properties for the Heisenberg and lattice vertex operator algebras and a continuous orbifolding of the rank two fermion vertex operator super algebra. We compute the genus two Heisenberg vector n-point function and show that the Virasoro vector one point function satisfies a genus two Ward identity for these theories.     

Functional Integrals and Quantum Fluctuations on Two-Dimensional Noncommutative Space-Time

The generalized Thirring model with impurity coupling is defined on two-dimensional noncommutative space-time, a modified propagator and free energy are derived by means of functional integrals method. Moreover, quantum fluctuations and excitation energies are calculated on two-dimensional black hole and soliton background.     

Merging Higher Derivative Gravity and Quantum Mechanics

The most general quantum mechanical wave equation for a massive scalar particle in a metric generated by a spherically symmetric mass distribution is considered within the framework of higher derivative gravity (HDG). The exact effective Hamiltonian is constructed and the significance of the various terms is discussed using the linearized version of the above-mentioned theory. Not only does this analysis shed new light on the long standing problem of quantum gravity concerning the exact nature of the coupling between a massive scalar field and the background geometry, it also greatly improves our understanding of the role of HDG's coupling parameters in semiclassical calculations.     

Quantum Cosmology in Higher Derivative and Scalar-Tensor Gravity

The Bicknell theorem states that a non-linear Lagrangian can be recast in the form of a scalar-tensor theory, with a suitable potential, through a conformal transformation. In this paper, we first show that such classical equivalence remains valid at the level of the Wheeler—deWitt equation. Then, we consider a specific case, represented by a Lagrangian f(R) = R + l^–2(l²R)^4/3 whose vacuum cosmological solutions describe a non-singular Universe. The corresponding scalar-tensor theory and its cosmological solutions are written down. We find again non-singular solutions. The Wheeler—deWitt equation for this case is analyzed. The application of the Bicknell theorem leads to the interpretation of the behaviour of the scale factor in terms of the matter content, represented by the scalar field, and consequently to the energy conditions. The problem of classical and quantum regime is discussed and the classical behaviour is recovered, from the quantum solutions, near the maximum of the scale factor where the strong energy condition is satisfied.     

The Quantum Reduced Action in Higher Dimensions

The solution with respect to the reduced action of the one-dimensional stationary quantum Hamilton-Jacobi equation is well known in the literature. The extension to higher dimensions in the separated variable case was proposed in contradictory formulations. In this paper we provide new insights into the construction of the reduced action. In particular, contrary to the classical mechanics case, we analytically show that the reduced action constructed as a sum of one variable functions does not contain a complete information about the quantum motion. In the same context, we also make some observations about recent results concerning quantum trajectories. Finally, we will examine the conditions in which microstates appear even in the case where the wave function is complex.     

Letter: The Quantum Theory of the Quadratic Gravity Action for Heterotic Strings

The wave function for the quadratic gravity theory derived from the heterotic string effective action is deduced to first order in by solving a perturbed second-order Wheeler-DeWitt equation, assuming that the potential is slowly varying with respect to . Predictions for inflation based on the solutionto the second-order Wheeler-DeWitt equation continue to hold for this higher-order theory. It is shown how formal expressions for the average paths in minisuperspace {a(t), (t)} for this theory can be used to determine the shifts from the classical solutions a _cl (t) and _cl (t), which occur only at third order in the expansion of the functional integrals representing the expectation values.     

Quantum Corrections for a Black Hole in an Asymptotically Safe Gravity with Higher Derivatives

By using the quantum tunneling approach over semiclassical approximations, we study the quantum corrections to the Hawking temperature, entropy and Bekenstein-Hawking entropy-area relation for a black hole in an asymptotically safe gravity with higher derivatives. The leading and non leading corrections to the area law are obtained.     

量子引力扩展圈表象中微分同胚约束的作用

以不同方法将微分同胚约束(D约束)对扩展圈表象抽象波函数的作用特殊化到圈表象上.以Chern–Simons两点传播子乘积项为量子引力态基本片段,构造出了满足齐次D约束作用的扩展knot不变量引力态(*φ_G)ⁿ.对其中n=1,2之引力态分别进行了满足齐次D约束的具体证明;对n>2之引力态给出了一般证明.     

Some Possible Roles for Topos Theory in Quantum Theory and Quantum Gravity

We discuss some ways in which topos theory (a branch of category theory) can be applied to interpretative problems in quantum theory and quantum gravity. In Sec.1, we introduce these problems. In Sec.2, we introduce topos theory, especially the idea of a topos of presheaves. In Sec.3, we discuss several possible applications of topos theory to the problems in Sec.1. In Sec.4, we draw some conclusions.     

Brun-Type Formalism for Decoherence in Two-Dimensional Quantum Walks

We study decoherence in the quantum walk on the xy-plane.We generalize the method of decoherent coin quantum walk,introduced by [T.A.Brun,et al.,Phys.Rev.A 67(2003) 032304],which could be applicable to all sorts of decoherence in two-dimensional quantum walks,irrespective of the unitary transformation governing the walk.As an application we study decoherence in the presence of broken line noise in which the quantum walk is governed by the two-dimensional Hadamard operator.     

Precise Constants in Bosonization Formulas on Riemann Surfaces. I

A computation of the constant appearing in the spin-1 bosonization formula is given. This constant relates Faltings’ delta invariant to the zeta-regularized determinant of the Laplace operator with respect to the Arakelov metric. Research supported in part by NSF grant DMS-0505512.     

Normalized Ricci Flow on Riemann Surfaces and Determinant of Laplacian

In this letter, we give a simple proof of the fact that the determinant of Laplace operator in a smooth metric over compact Riemann surfaces of an arbitrary genus g monotonously grows under the normalized Ricci flow. Together with results of Hamilton that under the action of the normalized Ricci flow a smooth metric tends asymptotically to the metric of constant curvature, this leads to a simple proof of the Osgood–Phillips–Sarnak theorem stating that within the class of smooth metrics with fixed conformal class and fixed volume the determinant of the Laplace operator is maximal on the metric of constant curvatute.Mathematical Subject Classifications (2000). 58J52, 53C44.     

Pseudodifferential Symbols on Riemann Surfaces and Krichever–Novikov Algebras

We define the Krichever-Novikov-type Lie algebras of differential operators and pseudodifferential symbols on Riemann surfaces, along with their outer derivations and central extensions. We show that the corresponding algebras of meromorphic operators and symbols have many invariant traces and central extensions, given by the logarithms of meromorphic vector fields. Very few of these extensions survive after passing to the algebras of operators and symbols holomorphic away from several fixed points. We also describe the associated Manin triples and KdV-type hierarchies, emphasizing the similarities and differences with the case of smooth symbols on the circle.