The vacuum state of quantum gravity contains large virtual masses

dc.creatorModanese, Giovanni
dc.date2006-05-09
dc.date2007-02-27
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T10:26:37Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T10:26:37Z
dc.descriptionIn the functional integral approach to quantum gravity, the quantum configurations are usually treated to order hbar through a stationary phase approximation around the saddle point of the action where spacetime is flat. We show that from this point a "level line" in functional space departs, which comprises a family of static non-flat metrics with zero scalar curvature, depending on a continuous mass parameter. Furthermore, each of these metrics can be perturbed by an arbitrary function in such a way to still satisfy the condition Int(gR)d4x=0. We thus find a set of zero-modes of the gravitational action which has non-vanishing measure in the functional space. These metrics will contribute to the functional integral as vacuum fluctuations, on the same footing as those near the saddle point.
dc.description13 pages, 4 figures; to appear in Class. Q. Gravity
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0605076
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0605076
dc.identifierClass.Quant.Grav.24:1899-1910,2007
dc.identifierdoi:10.1088/0264-9381/24/8/001
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/176939
dc.subjectGeneral Physics
dc.titleThe vacuum state of quantum gravity contains large virtual masses
dc.typetext

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