Quantum Pre-Geometry Models for Quantum Gravity
Quantum pre-geometry models for Quantum Gravity by Francesco Caravelli A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Physics Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2012 © Francesco Caravelli 2012 AUTHOR’S DECLARATION I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii ABSTRACT In this thesis we review the status of an approach to Quantum Gravity through lattice toy models, Quantum Graphity. In particular, we describe the two toy models introduced in the literature and describe with a certain level of details the results obtained so far. We emphasize the connection between Quantum Graphity and emergent gravity, and the relation with Variable Speed of Light theories. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A long list of sincere thanks has to be given here. First of all, to my supervisors, Fotini Markopoulou and Lee Smolin, for the continuous and discrete support during the PhD. Then, a sincere thanks goes to the people I have closely collaborated with (and friends), Leonardo Modesto, Alioscia Hamma and Simone Severini, Arnau Riera, Dario Benedetti, Daniele Oriti, Lorenzo Sindoni, Razvan Gurau, Olaf Dreyer, Emanuele Alesci, Isabeau Premont-Schwarz,´ Sylvain Carrozza and Cosimo Bambi. A particular thanks goes also to my family (Mamma, Papa´ e le sorelline), for continuous support, moral and economi- cal. Then a long list of friends goes here. Having shared a double life between Waterloo (Canada) and Berlin (Germany), a list of people from all over the world follows! In Wa- terloo, I have to thank my buddy Cozmin(/Cozster Cosniverse Cosferatu) Ududec and my dear friend Mitzy Herrera, Owen Cherry (on top), Cohl Fur(e)y, Coco Escobedo, John Daly and Jessica Phillips, Jonathan Hackett and Sonia Markes .
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