Mozota Frauca, Alvaro (2024) Foundational Issues in Group Field Theory. Foundations of Physics, 54 (33). ISSN 1572-9516
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Abstract
In this paper I offer an introduction to group field theory (GFT) and to some of the issues affecting the foundations of this approach to quantum gravity. I first introduce covariant GFT as the theory that one obtains by interpreting the amplitudes of certain spin foam models as Feynman amplitudes in a perturbative expansion. However, I argue that it is unclear that this definition of GFTs amounts to something beyond a computational rule for finding these transition amplitudes and that GFT doesn’t seem able to offer any new insight into the foundations of quantum gravity. Then, I move to another formulation of GFT which I call canonical GFT and which uses the standard structures of quantum mechanics. This formulation is of extended use in cosmological applications of GFT, but I argue that it is only heuristically connected with the covariant version and spin foam models. Moreover, I argue that this approach is affected by a version of the problem of time which raises worries about its viability. Therefore, I conclude that there are serious concerns about the justification and interpretation of GFT in either version of it.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | ||||||
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| Keywords: | Group field theory, Quantum gravity, Spin foams | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Alvaro Mozota Frauca | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 11 Oct 2024 14:51 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 11 Oct 2024 14:51 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 24044 | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Foundations of Physics | ||||||
| Publisher: | Springer | ||||||
| Official URL: | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10701-0... | ||||||
| DOI or Unique Handle: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-024-00763-9 | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics |
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| Date: | 20 May 2024 | ||||||
| Volume: | 54 | ||||||
| Number: | 33 | ||||||
| ISSN: | 1572-9516 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24044 |
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