Canonical quantization and braid invariance of (2+1)-dimensional gravity coupled to point particles

Journal Article · Tue Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.49.R1684· OSTI ID:5323050

Kabat, D; Ortiz, M E ^[1]

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1. Center for Theoretical Physics, Laboratory for Nuclear Science Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massacusetts 02139 (United States)

We investigate the canonical quantization of gravity coupled to pointlike matter in 2+1 dimensions, starting from the usual point particle action, and working in the first order formalism. By introducing an auxiliary variable, we make the theory locally Poincare invariant. The enlarged symmetry group simplifies the analysis of diffeomorphism invariance. In the passage to the quantum theory, a nontrivial cocycle is found. This is responsible for braid invariance analogous to that found in non-Abelian Chern-Simons and conformal field theories, and is responsible for the nontrivial gravitational scattering. Finally the relation to the theories introduced by 't Hooft and Carlip is explained.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ER03069
• OSTI ID: 5323050
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States) Vol. 49:4; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661310* -- Relativity & Gravitation-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONFORMAL INVARIANCE
FIELD THEORIES
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
LIE GROUPS
POINCARE GROUPS
QUANTIZATION
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUANTUM GRAVITY
SYMMETRY GROUPS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS