High Energy Theory Seminar

Tensor networks prepare states that share many features of states in quantum gravity. However, standard constructions e.g. are not diffeomorphism invariant and do not support an algebra of non-commuting area operators.  We extend these models towards gravity by generalizing the quantum double model to gauge group SL(2,R), which is obtained by canonically quantizing 3d AdS gravity in the G_N --> 0 limit. This shows how the tensor network description emerges naturally in 3d gravity. In metric variables, the tensor networks we construct satisfy the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and momentum constraints, and so are diffeomorphism invariant. I will also highlight upcoming work showing that the entropy of these states (being careful about relaxing the G_N --> 0 limit) numerically satisfy the correct holographic entropy formula, including for rotating BTZ black holes, by computing the topological entanglement entropy. This is evidence that our tensor networks can describe non-static spacetimes.

Contact [email protected] for Zoom information.