Lower dimensional gravity
Several problems involving gravity in fewer than four space-time dimensions are considered. The motivation for studying lower dimensional gravity is the hope that, as a simple model for gravity, it may provide new ideas and insights into four dimensional gravity at both the classical and quantum levels. The asymptotic structure of three-dimensional Einstein gravity with a negative cosmological constant is analyzed, and a nontrivial central charge appears in the algebra of the canonical generators. From this example, it becomes evident that the global charges of any gauge theory may yield a nontrivial central extension of the asymptotic symmetry algebra. The analysis makes use of a general theorem also demonstrated, that in the canonical formulation of field theory on open spaces, the Poisson bracket of two differentiable generators is itself a differentiable generator. In two space-time dimensions, the natural analogue of Einstein gravity is the requirement of constant scalar curvature outside sources. The space time with a singular source is shown to possess an event horizon and Hawking radiation, and is therefore the analogue of a black hole. Also considered in two dimensions is particle pair production by an electric field, and the effects of gravity on the process. The electric field contributes to the space-time curvature as an effective cosmological constant.
- Research Organization:
- Texas Univ., Austin (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5272353
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
657003* -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BLACK HOLES
COSMOLOGY
EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EQUATIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
GAUGE INVARIANCE
GRAVITATION
INTERACTIONS
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
PAIR PRODUCTION
SPACE-TIME
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS