5 Conclusions and Outlook4 Dynamical triangulations4.14 Two-point functions

4.15 Summary

In the dynamical triangulations approach, one studies the properties of a statistical ensemble of simplicial four-geometries à la Regge of fixed edge lengths. By summing over such discrete configurations according to (21Popup Equation), one has implicitly assumed that this leads to a uniform sampling of the space of smooth Riemannian manifolds. There is no obvious weak-field limit, but this is no obstacle in principle to the path-integral construction. Numerical simulations indicate the existence of a well-defined phase for sufficiently small tex2html_wrap_inline2917 (inverse Newton's constant) and a sufficiently large cosmological constant. For small tex2html_wrap_inline2917, one finds a ``crumpled'' phase, with small average curvature and a large Hausdorff dimension, and for large tex2html_wrap_inline2917 an elongated, effectively two-dimensional polymer phase. At present, the consensus seems to be that the corresponding phase transition is of first order, with a finite average curvature at the transition point.

Almost all simulations have been done on simplicial manifolds with tex2html_wrap_inline2837 -topology. Neither the inclusion of factors of tex2html_wrap_inline3147 in the measure nor the addition of higher-order curvature terms to the action seem to have a substantial influence on the phase structure. Also matter coupling to spinorial and scalar fields does not seem to lead to a change of universality class, although the inclusion of several gauge fields may have a more drastic effect. The study of singular structures (vertices of high coordination number) has led to a qualitative understanding of the phase structure of the model.



5 Conclusions and Outlook4 Dynamical triangulations4.14 Two-point functions

image Discrete Approaches to Quantum Gravity in Four Dimensions
Renate Loll
http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-1998-13
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