Gibbsing spacetime: a group field theory approach to equilibrium in quantum gravity

Abstract

The symmetries, subtle nature of observables, and lack of a preferred notion of time evolution all make defining a quantum statistical mechanics of general relativity difficult. The paper of Kotecha and Oriti takes up the challenge of building equilibrium Gibbs states in the group field theory approach to quantum gravity. Their broad perspective and the many open challenges emphasize the potential hidden in a generally covariant quantum statistical mechanics.

Keywords

• general covariant statistical mechanics
• quantum gravity
• group field theory
• Gibbs state
• equilibrium
• KMS condition