(No) phase transition in tensorial group field theory

Continuum spacetime is expected to emerge via phase transition in discrete approaches to quantum gravity. A promising example is tensorial group field theory but its phase diagram remains an open issue. The results of recent attempts in terms of the functional renormalization group method remain inc...

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Main Authors: Pithis, Andreas G. A. (Author) , Thürigen, Johannes (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 17 March 2021
In: Physics letters
Year: 2021, Volume: 816, Pages: 1-6
ISSN:1873-2445
DOI:10.1016/j.physletb.2021.136215
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2021.136215
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0370269321001556
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Author Notes:Andreas G.A. Pithis, Johannes Thürigen
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Summary:Continuum spacetime is expected to emerge via phase transition in discrete approaches to quantum gravity. A promising example is tensorial group field theory but its phase diagram remains an open issue. The results of recent attempts in terms of the functional renormalization group method remain inconclusive since they are restricted to truncations of low order. We overcome this barrier with a local-potential approximation for U(1) tensor fields at arbitrary rank r focusing on a specific class of so-called cyclic-melonic interactions. Projecting onto constant field configurations, we obtain the full set of renormalization-group flow equations. At large cut-offs we find equivalence with r−1 dimensional O(N) scalar field theory in the large-N limit, modified by a tensor-specific, relatively large anomalous dimension. However, on small length scales there is equivalence with the corresponding scalar field theory with vanishing dimension and, thus, no phase transition. This is confirmed by numerical analysis of the full non-autonomous equations where we always find symmetry restoration. The essential reason for this effect is isolated zero modes. This result should therefore be true for tensor field theories on any compact domain and including any tensor-invariant interactions. Thus, group field theories with non-compact degrees of freedom will be necessary to describe a phase transition to continuum spacetime.
Item Description:Gesehen am 23.06.2021
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1873-2445
DOI:10.1016/j.physletb.2021.136215